Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For the past year I've just been using some thin cheap acrylic pieces setting on top of my rubbermaid stock tank (for torts, so escape isn't a big concern). I had built a wooden frame that sets in the enclosure that I mounted the heat lamps off of, and that helped support the plexi, but I feel like I could do a lot better.

I've seen pictures of thick acrylic (looked like half inch) cut to the contours of the trough, which hinges in the middle. I've seen this on pro exotics' site, with heat lamps set over a wire covered opening, and I've also seen this done with heat lamps mounted to the acrylic. I have cats in the house, so I like to keep everything contained whenever possible, so the latter seemed like a better idea to me (mounting heat lamps in the enclosure on the acrylic).

What kind of acrylic should I use that will avoid warping etc., how should I go about cutting it, and how can I mount heat lamps on the underside of it? I actually think I remember seeing a post a while back where someone had pictures of how they did theirs, but I can't seem to find it in the archives.

Any links/tips are appreciated.

Polyacrylic is more expesive but alot better. It doesn't absorb moisture or warp and can handle the heat.
Cheers
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"Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Homebrew!" Charlie Papazian

Hello,

Is polyac- the same thing that is sold under the name Lexan? Thanks- Mike

no freakin post!
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"Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Homebrew!" Charlie Papazian

Hey there, I used the cheap thin acrylic you were talking about before, but had nothing but problems with it warping and cracking. So I decided to go with the thicker 1/4" acrylic that is sold at Home Depot/Lowes, it has held up great. It is much stronger and easier to work with than the thin stuff. You can just cut it with a jig saw to round off the corners and I borrowed RSG's pop rivet idea to hinge the two halves together. and for lighting, just wire up a simple ceramic fixture under the acrylic. I also added a drain vent on the cool end to help get rid of condensation. Here are a couple crappy pics of my lid but you get the idea...

Cheers, Lance

Acrylic is plexiglass or other trade name, its soft and scratches and yellows.

Polycarbonet is Lexan or other trade names. Its harder and can be scratch resistant(Lexan MR5)

As mentioned, the thin stuff sucks. Use 1/4 inch, half inch is not all that smart(overkill)

Acrylic may or may not, need bracing, depending on your application. Polycarbonet will not in most trough lid applications. Polycarb is EXPENSIVE. But its up to you.

I used polycarb when I build mine back in 91 and they are fine to this day. Cheers

Hello FR,

Thank you for the clarity... As my numbers are very low compared to some collections and businesses, I used the Lexan and will until price/number of captives is an issue. I also made the mistake of buying the thin stuff once- its over some turtles now... Thanks and best to you- Mike

Hi Mike, I like what you just said. Over the turtles. Hmmmmmm but turtles live in water, why would they need to be covered? hahaahhahahahahahaha.

Its funny, turtle folks know to cover or reduce dehydration with turtles. Specially young ones, in air-conditioned rooms. But monitor folks do not have a clue. Oh, its just sad. Best to you sir

Hello FR,

We have applied this hydration method to each and every enclosure that we have and are trying to find an appropriate way to "greenhouse" in our pond and tortoise pens as well. We adopted (stole or copied) these methods from you, Sir(kindly, thank you), I hope you do not mind as our animals have responded with more eggs(that hatch!) than previously. We have discussed that the environment even here in the "sub-tropics" is not the same as the tropical lands that these animals thrive in. There is a severe and lethal lack of humidity except in the hottest and rainiest months- which is few... Best to you- Mike

Looks like I'll be shopping for some 1/4" lexan then. The cheap acrylic is not only a pain in the butt (it warps, so I have to flip it every day), it looks like crap too. I'm not in the reptile hobby to make pretty enclosures, but the tort trough is in the basement, and I feel a little bit guilty when I go downstairs and it just looks like I threw the torts in a trough and tossed it in the corner. I like things to be fairly simplistic and have a clean appearance (meaning not overly complex).

I intend to mount some ceramic fixtures to the lexan...do you think I should put them on junction boxes?

Thanks again for the help.

P.S. FR: I believe my male is too young to be fertile (though he does give it a shot just about every day). He is under 2 years old (CBB). Very big for his age (a hair shy of what is considered 'fully grown' for a male russian), but I don't think he has any swimmers yet. All I've gotten so far from the females since the last clutch (last fall, that actually hatched out a tort from some retained sperm) was a clutch of three or four duds that one of them laid on the surface a couple months ago (that they promptly ate). My big question though is why am I not seeing more infertiles? I think you're familiar with my setup (it's a monitor setup, as we discussed before). What would you do?

Thanks.