Just wanted to thank everyone for the help that have given me over the last couple of months. Thought Id give an update...
First my Leopard just got a new winter enclosure check out the link for pics. Overall size is 6'6" x 3'6" (inside) w/ 16" tall walls
-The "frame" is made out of 2x4's ripped to 2x2 size (lowes had NO straight 2x2's) with a notch cut out of the corner.
-Next I glued and nailed the frame together (the mitered cuts were a bit complicated at first).
-The "sides" are made of 1/4" birch plywood paneling with the "beaded" look.
-The bottom is 3/8" BC grade plywood (BC is nicer looking and stronder that MDF or CDX grade plywood)
-Once assembled I primed and painted all the wood (semigloss white in this case.
-Then the lining was installed (glued with liquid nails), I used 1/8" plastic wall paneling (I believe its used in bathrooms and other places where cleanliness is important) and used 100% silicone to seal the corner seams. This will be very easy to clean and will contain any water bowl spills
-The light setup is made out of 1x material, set up in a grid so the lights can be moved and positioned anywhere I please (lights include arcadia compact flourecent for UV, and 200w incandecents for heat, also I have a 150w ceramic heat element that stays on 24-7).
-Each light is attached to a piece of 3/8" plywood with 1/8" hardware cloth or screen to cover the opening (so nothing flamible can get too close to the bulbs), also the UV bulb has no hardware cloth (just the "cage" that is included with the bean farms "brooder" lamps...
This probably sounds confusing, check out the pics, the should help, and by the way, please noone give me crap for the sparseness of the cage right not, I just got her in last night and havent had time to tweak it yet!
Second: My Leopard is doing well, eating like a horse (or should I say tortise...ha), she is still a bit wheezy sometimes, but no mucus, I am beginning to think she has allergies caused by the room she was in before she got her new enclosure (many trips to the vet (yes he is a GOOD herp vet). I am hoping it clears up like the vet thinks it will (any suggestions on the wheezing breathing???)
Third: My 9 month old redfoots are doing really well, eating alot and are very active. I finally decided on a mix of topsoil and cypress for substrate which seem to suit them very well (nice humidity level and they can burrow freely), I feed them on paper plates to help avoid ingestion of the substrate..
Thanks again to those who have responded to my questions....
-Ian
iananderson02@sbcglobal.net
P.S. I will be happy to answer any questions regarding my cage setup if anyone is interested!!
Pics Here!!!
