So here's my latest. Right now I have a rudi and two juv waters in there. That won’t last long I know.
Anyway...it was simple, the idea stolen from Mike's jobi enclosure down below.
Total Cost: not sure exactly...kind of expensive
Trough: $115
Logs: $40
Glass: $120
Screws: $40
Side boards: $25?
Top board (red oak, dont ask): $35
Paint: $25
Marine Grade Sealer: $30
Substrate: $30
Wheels: $30
Sealer: $10
Liquid nails: $10
Lights: $15
Bulbs: $20
Fake plants: $25
Total: ~$570 - pricey, but with just the trough and glass it was nearly $250. Plus you figure it has a total of 350 or so gallons worth of enclosure so it isn’t that bad. The logs were on sale so really they should have been $80.
First I built the base platform with wheels out of logs.
I built the top log portion to rest on the 2x6 trough. I built it on the floor so it was easy to access. I decided to cross-hatch it so it was just a matter of alternating the lengths of the logs. I also had the front sides come in a little (6.5"
.
I painted the trough flat black and sealed it. I think it looks better with the black when you look inside.
When I finished the top I set it on the trough and centered it. I used 2x4 pieces attached from the corners of the top to the wheeled platform for the bottom frame. Then I just screwed in the boards. Oh I happened to need exactly one 2x2 around the bottom to make it all fit.
First I tried wood putty to fill in the gaps. That didn’t work well. Then I tried liquid nails. That worked but not great. Last I used that expanding foam stuff. Well that worked but it expands A LOT and makes quite a mess. I used the fake foliage to cover up the worst of it. I still have too many gaps in it.
I took my forest blend and cypress mulch bags and shredded them 2x more through my big commercial yard vac. It made the pieces really small and compactable.
It weighs a ton of course. I can move it by myself around my reptile room as needed though. If I had it to do over I would spend a little more on heavy duty monster wheels though.
Tom
