Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just thought I'd share a recent project that I have been working on that I think turned out really well! I decided that Ojay needed more usable space in his 55 gallon tank. So I built him a platform that gets him within 12 inches of the UVB basking light, gives him more basking room, and has a cave underneath. Here's a photo of what his enclosure looked like before...

And this is what his enclosure looks like now...

There's more photos and all the details of this project here ...
Homemade Platforms

Let me know what you think about Ojay's new platform/cave. I'm thinking of making more for our other enclosures. It was a fun project and fairly easy.

Hugs,
Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

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Signature file edited; [phw 8/31/04]

veronica that is awesome! Looks like we think a lot alike. I just finished doing something like this for a fishtank and have been researching on making something for my 55 gallon tank for my new beardie. Mines going to be very detailed though. I'm going to do the whole back wall of the tank and have stuff come off that. heres a link to my 10 gallon fish tank i used to practice on. I'm actually going to be taking more pics of it tonight now that i have the tank ready for fish. (with substrate and light etc.... plus i have a nice camera now)

http://community.webshots.com/album/322535465MhaqAo

Love the photos of your new beardie. He has such a sweet face when he's sleeping...

Thanks for sharing the photos of the concrete wall you made. I think I'll try using the Quik concrete stuff next time. Is that what's its called?

Good luck with the new beardie!

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

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Signature file edited; [phw 8/31/04]

Thanks! I couldn't stop lookin at him when he was sleeping. he looked so peaceful. I'm sure i'll have more pics tonight.

Yes its called Quikrete and you can get it from home depot or lowes. $4 for a 60lb bag (i have TONS left over from the project) and i used an acrylic fortifier since it will be under water. I don't think thats needed for the reptile environment.

the coolest thing is that they have like 8 colors to choose from for dying the concrete. you can virtually make any natural color you want! Heres a link to the quikrete site for more info.

this is the mason mix. works well because it doesn't use fiberglass
http://www.quikrete.com/catalog/MasonMix.html

heres the color additive
http://www.quikrete.com/catalog/CementColor.html

i used a lot of the color charcaol to get the black color of my tanks background. Looks nice with the contrasting light tan sand nad will look cool with algea on it.

I'm still not sure how to smoothen out the mix so its a litle less harsh on the beardie.

Do you think I would have to seal the concrete after it's dried? Concrete is waterproof already, just didn't know what was best to do for a reptile. I did a lot of research before starting this project and several people used tile grout and sealant. I'll be using chemicals like Nolvasan and Bleach to clean the platform.

By the way, love the photos of you in the ski mask with the chunks of styrofoam all over you! Been there, done that! LOL

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

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Signature file edited; [phw 8/31/04]

haha! yeh everyone seemed to enjoy those pics and get a laugh but it was the most effective hardware i had to use at the time! LOL

I'm not quite sure on sealing the concrete. Its something i have been trying to find out myself actually. If you find something let me know and i will do the same for you

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Beautiful Dragons

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Signature file edited; [phw 8/31/04]

Very cool! Can you tell me the details of it? I would love to make something like that...but am not very skilled! Was it hard?
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These stand for me
Name your god and bleed the freak
I like to see
How you all would bleed for me
-Alice In Chains-
1.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo & Chiquita
2.2 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki & Delilah

Too many details to type... but I have all the info you need on my site, photos too....

Beautiful Dragons

Good luck building your first one! They are very addicting and suprisingly easy. I had so much fun making my first one I've already started another!

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

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Signature file edited; [phw 8/31/04]

I'm in the middle of building one very similar myself.

When its don't i'll post pics of it.

I used nearly the same technique as you except between the foam and the tile grout I used an expandable spray foam, like the stuff you use to insulate in cracks and windows. made it look a little rougher and more natural.

Sand throwing didn't work you say? I was going to use that technique since i had heard it mentioned before. Maybe I'll give the weathered stone stuff a try. Sounds much easier anyways

Great job though I recommend your site to everyone that's considering a dragon... Even my vet was impressed

Derek Campbell

Thanks Derek! I appreciate the kudos...

About the expanding foam... a friend of mine tried using it and when her project was finished, it started to crack under the heat of the basking bulb a few days later. And her basking spot was only 105. That's why I decided not to use it. I hope it works for you though. Please let me know how it goes and I'd love to see photos of it when your done.

Hugs,
Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

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Signature file edited; [phw 8/31/04]

hadn't heard anything about the foam cracking under heat but i'll keep an eye on it for sure.

i'm planning on putting it opposite the heat basking spot anyways... this is more just for him to climb on.. make more use of the space in the ank so to speak.

coming soon.... just got the sealer and paint today

Derek