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I made a new wood enclosure for my juvie mali, Osiris. My previous tank was all acrylic with a screen top, and it was a hassle to access and it let out way too much heat. With the new cage, I've eliminated the need for TWO 100w bulbs. One 160w MVB heats up the warm end to 100-105F ambient, and the rest of the tank is also a bit warmer than before due to the heat retention. I can keep my air conditioner on now without worrying about her.

- About the same dimensions as before, approx. 72" x 18" x 18".
- Rock walls are styrofoam and grout, sealed with grout sealer (hardly any smell to that stuff)
- Sliding doors - I recycled one side of my acrylic cage. I'll switch to glass when the scratches get real bad.
- Vinyl tile substrate, as before.
- Built-in light box on the top that opens. I was going to install a fixture in there, but instead I am just using a normal 10" porcelain dome like before.

The poor thing wouldn't come out of her log hole for 4 days, but she finally emerged today with great courage and is exploring all the new nooks and crannies.

I LOVE the new look. The wood, the rock wall, and having the lamp inside the tank... it makes the previous set-up look real messy and cheap (and it was NOT CHEAP! o_o). My mother says it looks like something you'd see in a museum. *blush* I'm probably going to add a couple sandstone-colored egyptian decorations in there soon. (theres already a scarab in the back, can't see it in the picture)

It was my first carpentry project.

Hope you like it!

Osiris' Photo Album

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~ Vamppire
Queens, New York City

Looks good!The only question I have.Is that where the feeding dish is going to be?Doesnt look like to much extra room to stand and feed at the dish.Looks good though
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1 Saharan named "Flick"
1 Mali named "URO" We will never forget you button!

The dish is going to be in the front right corner (its a corner dish) so i dont have to open the door too much to feed her.

Shes only 7" or so, remember the tank is 72" long. Shes absolutely tiny right now compared to the tank She has plenty of room to eat.

Glad you like it!
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~ Vamppire
Queens, New York City

Hi Vamppire, love the design. How did you make the rock shelving? I am thinking about doing the same and would love to know how you accomplished that! Great job...perhaps you should go into carpentry.

Thanks!

I used styrofoam sheets (meant as packing materials for shipping stuff.) Most people seem to use polystyrene from home depot, but I didnt see it there (I missed the aisle, cause I saw someone with it another day -_-) I used a hobby rasp (a big metal file) to shape the pieces and a hot glue gun to put them together. Be prepared to have styrofoam bits EVERYWHERE!

I then bought powdered grout which was already the right color, and I mixed it up and put a couple coats on with my hands (gloved). A couple days later, I mixed some brown RIT fabric dye wth water and I brushed it on for highlights. Its a very subtle difference, but still worth doing. Then I brushed 2 coats of grout sealer on.

Its not particularly hard (except in the tight spaces), but its a bit time consuming.

Here are some links that helped me:

http://www.reptilerooms.com/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-34.html

http://www.inlaw-outlaw.com/construction/index.shtml

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?lp=de_en&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acanthurus.org%2FTerrariumbauTeil1.htm
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~ Vamppire
Queens, New York City

Good job on the overall construction. But, IMO it needs more light. A small fluorescent bulb would do good, unless you want to get a Reptisun or something similar.

Thanks for the suggestion The dark photos are darker than it is in person (and the light ones are lighter - thats why I included both)... its actually pretty good and I don't think it needs another light. Energy-saving was one of my objectives, and the MVB provides enough light and UVB for her anyway, I believe.
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~ Vamppire
Queens, New York City

Your cage is awesome, an incredible job. The rock wall really makes it interesting too. I only wish I had such talent. IF you decide you want more light, I have one of those kitchen florescent fixtures, about 15 inches long, mounted in the middle of my wood cage with a hole drilled in the cage for the cord to go through. It gives the extra light I wanted with very little energy usage. Thanks for sharing your new cage.

Pam
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1.1.4 varanus acanthurus brachyurus
1.1 varanus acanthurus acanthurus
1.0 varanus storri
1.1 u. macfadyeni
1.2 u. ornata
1.1 u. ocellata
1.2 rhacodactylus ciliatus
1.1 hyla chrysoscelis

Hi Vamppire, love the design. How did you make the rock shelving? I am thinking about doing the same and would love to know how you accomplished that! Great job...perhaps you should go into carpentry.

I love the "shelves" in the cage. Are you sure that the sealer used is ok for them when they lick? That would be my only concern.
Damn good looking cage!

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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)

that is really awesome and your first self built cage, so that makes it all the better. good job
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

nt
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~ Vamppire
Queens, New York City

Impressive! Very well done.
The dimensions are incredible, great job and you will have VERY happy uro(s) in there for sure.