Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well some of you may know that I am getting a new tank for my collard so I would like to build a tan kthat is equvelient to a 55 Gallon (48 x 12½ x 21) and probally mad out of wood most likely.Also I would MAYBE MAYBE possibly put in a fake rock wall that of course is non toxic and well yea I have a stand and I am on a bit of a budget Possibly 100 but I might be able to squeeze by that jsut please give me directions Materials and if you cna pictures and websites anything really lol...

THANK YOU BY RESPONDING YOU ARE NOT ONLY HELPING ME AND MAKING MY LIFE EASIER AND HAPPIER BUT YOU ARE MAKING MARTIN`S LIFE MORE HAPPIER THANK YOU!
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1.1.0 Leo Geckos

1.0.0 Collard Lizard

I will be making a similar enclosure for my ball python. I am using an old dresser to start off with. It was free (have had it around the house for probably 7 years since I gave it up for a new one with no use for it. I am also doing to fake rock walls. I have never done them before, but the way I figure it, it will be fairly easy and relatively cheap. Because of the extent of the rock work I want to do, it is going to cost me a little more than it would you (I am making a hide to match, not attached, and probably doing some extra ledges also). I can give you details on what you need to get and how much it will cost (roughly, I priced everything at my local Home Depot) if you would like, just E-mail me. I can also help with construction Ideas as I LOVE wood working, and I have a few rough sketch "blue prints" lying around (for enclosures about the size you are looking for, my plans for my BP before I perfected it with the dresser Idea). I would be happy to help. I have a limited budget too, and I have to buy ALOT more (Thermostat, bulbs, dimmer, etc...). But I think you could still incorperate a rock wall into your design for pretty cheap and it will make it a beautiful display! Good luck! And as I said, if you need anything, just E-mail me.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

$100 may be a bit tough if you want to use wood as stain and sealer gets expensive. I suppose you always have the choice to skip the stain and just use a clear coat.

Have you considered melamine? You can get that in an oak print and it will hold up to the conditions necessary for a Collard Lizard.

For a melamine cage look down for a recent post from RandyT. He built one completely from existing melamine shelving.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Hope this works for you.. It is fairly basic, but has some aspects that you will need help with from your relatives with the power tools.

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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

Hi Randy,

Well I see your html does not show up in my reply so I guess I'll have to try to remember my points rather than reply directly to your text. Darn technology

First, won't the melamine from HD be 49" wide? I'm sure it is and I think it would be easier if the original poster stuck with 49" sections so he or she can limit themselves to cross-cuts for the long pieces.

Much easier, IMO.

Another point is that with an diurnal lizard lighting is a concern. If he has the sides fit outside of the bottom lip, bottom, top, and back panel then he'll have 49" inside of the cage to fit 4' light fixtures - very useful for lizards.

With the side panels spanning between the top and floor 1.5" will be lost from the inside of the cage. Even if the melamine is 49" wide there will only be 47.5" left inside of the cage.

Another advantage of this is that if glass track is used it will stop against the side panels rather than overlap them. This will make the cage more secure for all the annoying insects that will need to be contained in the cage.

Hope I got my points straight. Not having the text and diagram in my reply made it tough to double check my thoughts.

Otherwise, I like your plans. I need to learn whatever software it is you use.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Hello Chris..

The reason I went with the 48" length was the request for the measurements 48x12x21. Also went with inset plexi into routered grooves over sliding doors to prevent potential escapes by the collard and or food..lol I completely know what you mean regarding the lighting requirements and left that portion open as I was unclear on the desired lighting. If they plan to use light shrouds I will draw up a plan to allow screen cut outs for the top hinged doors.

The program I use to do my draw ups on is microsoft paint..lol. I am a cheapy when it comes to that sort of thing.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

>> The reason I went with the 48" length was the request for the measurements 48x12x21.

Oh yeah But really, I would recommend to the original poster that he or she goes with a cage with an inside dimension of at least 48". Light fixtures, ballasts, and bulbs are most readily available in that length. With the depth of the cage only being 12" it won't be possible to angle a 48" fixture in there. A shorter fixture could be used but 1) that's more expensive, 2) you give up light intensity 3) there are typically fewer bulb choices, and 4) you often have to pay shipping costs on the bulbs.

So with a 48" fixture you get more for less. Makes sense to make room for one unless mercury vapor is being used.

>>Also went with inset plexi into routered grooves over sliding doors to prevent potential escapes by the collard and or food

Okay, I guess I did not understand how the door worked. I'll go back and read that part of the post.

At any rate, I hope the original poster is reading this as basically this entire reply is for his use.

I'll have to check out that microsoft program.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

I agree with you on the benefits to increasing the length. With a couple easy modifications a 4' fixture can be used in that set up.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

Well Randy and Chris it is ver nice to meet you both.I am Chris also and I am from South Florida.First off I would just like to THANK YOU! for all the information and questions and advice you both have given to me I apperciate everything Thank you Randy Thank You Chris and Thank You to everyone else =).

Ok now.I am going to say this now I would like to get this Figured out and done so we will do that.Ok someone told me to do this he told me it was cheap and easy to do.I would like to know if there would be any problems with this.Take a peice of Mahagonay(excuse spelling lol)wood that you can get for like 3-17$ for a large sheet and take a peice of acrylic or plexi glass or somewhat along that line and take aluminum for the rest of it I forgot what it was called Alumin edging or something but ummm I think thats was about it.

But The Idea that I like Is A Enclosure ok..and I am not sure about the materials and things but Like I said I am on a bit of a budget soo yeah lol...anyways.A cage that I can put lights inside of the tank and The Collard not to hurt itself and Maybe some Rock wall ledges maybe not the whole thing but some of them and I have a Stand for this that a 55 Gallon will fit on perfectly.I want it the enclosre.I have never heard of the Melamine or at least like seen it or felt it or anything like that but I hope you get the idea...Just let me know if you dont post any questions..O yes and maybe have a Window in the front or have the whole front exposed and Have the hinged top!

THANKS!
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1.1.0 Leo Geckos

1.0.0 Collard Lizard