Here's the finished structure I mentioned I was working on a couple weeks ago. The last group of residents moved in this morning.
Just like it appears, it's four separate identically built modules 4' x 2' x 1.5 ' each. The weight is minimal enough that they are easily handleable by a single person. Two heat receptacles, one fluo in each (with no screen to block it), each type managed by separate timers. I could have cut power costs by running the fluos off of a single central ballast, but that would have eliminated the modularity of the system.
There's venting on the non-heat side and air intake at the base of each door. The door pivots on a 1.25" dowel in a way that it won't jam with sand (or scare teh animals) like the sliders on my Vision cages. Locking is achieved simply with a couple pins to hold the door in place.
All interior surfaces have been coated with epoxy resin for durability and moisture resistance (these resins cure to be as hard as aluminum).
Looks like materials costs are pretty basic:
Acrylic $17.99
2' x 4' x 1/4" Birch or oak floor $6.88
2' x 4' x 1/8" Hardboard (2x) $2.25
1"x2"x8' Boards (8x) $1.15
Slow cure epoxy ~$20 (bought in bulk)
1.25" Dowel ~$5
Metal hardware ~$10
So, about $75 per unit (x4) plus fasteners and glue, electrical, time, tools, etc. I think my Vision cages were a good $220 per unit for 3'x2'x1.5'. I'll eventually be making two more units to stack with those so tool and spare material costs carry through to that.
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2.3.0 uromastyx geyri (Saharan/Nigerian)
0.0.4 uromastyx hardwickii (Indian)
3.6.0 uromastyx macfadyeni (Somalian)
1.2.0 uromastyx ocellata (Sudanese)
1.3.0 uromastyx ornata (Ornate)
1.0.0 uromastyx benti pseudophilbyi
