Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are the lids regular plexiglass?
I was wondering how you cut the dome light holes in the lids? Do you think a jig-saw would work?
Do you prfer the dome lights inside the trough or on top?
Also I noticed the newer pics use different hinges for the tops than the older pics...are these new ones better?

Thanks for any help. I am currently using a trough for my tegus but i want to get another for my argus...so I am looking for some new ideas.

- we have used acrylic and lexan, i don't know if those are the exact same thing : ) usually 3/8" thick.

-we have a bunch of lids made at one time, and the company uses a computerized router to cut most of it. we have used a roto-zip type tool to make our own cuts. a jigsaw may melt it back together after cutting...

-with a lot of substrate, it is easier to put the lights on the top, as opposed to inside. that lets you run a deeper soil.

-for old lids, we used long piano hinges. that was dumb. every hole is another spot waiting to crack. those hinges had a million holes, and now a million cracks. simple gate style hinges work well (large), three holes per side, and we use rubber cushion washers when tightening the bolts to prevent further cracking and splitting. works pretty well.

-four foot is about the largest lid i would consider making out of straight acrylic. and that is 2 ft per side. after that there is too much warping and cracking, and you are better off with a wood framed lid.

the lids are pricey, although economical when compared to custom caging, but they are still awfully expensive to "practice" on, although you may wreck one or two before getting one that is not destroyed and will last a few years.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Though they are very similar. Lexan also costs more, of course.

They may work fine for lids but they pretty well suck for windows. I have used regular plexi & expensive lexan for windows in some of my cages and though the lexan has held up better they both show scratches very badly. Mine are becoming cloudy & opaque now and difficult to see through.

Might I suggest wood tops with plexi, acrylic, or lexan windows that are a little smaller & easier to replace when marred?

Later.
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Gene

Like this...

I'd still prefer glass, it's just my glass drilling skills are pretty lame. On my next trough I do plan to use mostly glass. It just looks much nicer IMHO. That is plexi, easy to drill, easy to scratch.

--Robert

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Gene

Did you just bolt the wood to the trough?
Have you noticed any warping in your wood?
Is that where you keep your argus?
Do you have any more pics of that top?
Thanks in advance.

id you just bolt the wood to the trough?
I just used sheet metal screws. The wooden part is easily removed, thank god for power tools. I did use plastic weather stripping (between the trough and wood), as the trough was not straight, and I have enough loose crickets, don't need any more.

:Have you noticed any warping in your wood?
Nope, there is a sheet metal screw every 10-12", but the 3/4" oak plywood has not seemed to warp at all, the plexi is a different story.

:Is that where you keep your argus?
No, this 4x2 trough is temp. holding ackies, the argus are in a 6.5x2.5x3 enclosure. I am fairly close to being ready to start on a larger trough for the argus. I do not look forward to digging & sifting the dirt to fit in another trough, so I have been procastinating.

o you have any more pics of that top?
Not already taken, I can give you specific pics if you would like, just tell me what you are looking for and give me a couple days.

Originally the plan was to use some of the glass I had cut for other enclosure that have long since been trashed. Drilling the glass became a problem, so I just gave in and got the plexi for the window/door. I already had 4x6 of oak plywood laying around, so I used that. It was designed to save money using as much leftovers I had from previous enclosures.

--Robert

I am just looking into some different trough lid ideas, so any pics of construction would help.
I don't plan on using any trough under 6' long so maybe your next argus trough will help even more. What do you have them in now? Mine is in a sliding front cage now and I hate it...the litter dam is about 6" so sliding the glass open is not only diffeicult but it also dumps soil onto the carpet...also, the argus is always scratching at the window when he's hungry (which is obviously pretty often).

Take care

np

a 6.5x2.5x3 plywood box with 2 front windows and lined with FRP. The problems are pretty much exactly what yours are. Not deep enough dirt, messy, and the argus like to announce when they are ready to eat. Wouldn't be so bad, except they want to eat a whole lot more than I want to feed them.

I'll get some pics for you later.

--Robert

Nice trough,very nice actually, but whats the blue cage in the backround? Just curious about it...sorry to be nebby...LOL

--Robert

np

n/p

Why not make a wooden frame to go around the glass. You can then fit the bottom of the frame with weather stripping. You wouldn't have to worry about grinding the edges of the glass and your hinges and locks screw into wood. Just a thought...
Steve

yt

Does it work well or does it just get-er-done? Do you think you could cut a decent hole in the plexi (for a dome light) with it?
If it does the job well then i would consider getting one, but if it basically just allows small unprecise cuts then probably not.

I have one. It is a cheaper Black & Decker model but it is perfect for what I do with it. Usually just small cuts & plexi type stuff. I think it cost me about $40.00.

I personally like it.

Hope it helped.
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Gene

it is ok, but that thing spins at about one trillion rpm, and it is easy to get out of control. like i said, you can screw up a FEW lids before you get the hang of it.

one of the cheaper B&D units might be a better choice, simply because they may not spin as fast, and be easier to control.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles