Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have any experience making artificial rocks/crevices etc. My very patient wife has given me permission to convert a room into a herp room so I would like to create an artificial rock ledge on one wall. Looking at about 8 feet long by 3 feet deep by 5 feet in height. Any links/ideals/experiences would be most appreciated. Also what is the most effecient way to heat a room? I will insulate it and it has a large window for ventilation. Since it is in my basement, it will work well for brumation as well I am thinking. I would appreciate any help..... Right now my animals are in 4 ft diameter stock tanks as well as a 4 ft square home made glass/ screen enclosure. They reside in our living room and I need to get them their own space and give the living room back to my dear wife. Like I said, she is very patient but there are limits

I would divide it up into 2 cages that are 4 foot wide rather than one big cage. You really want to keep the 2 groups seperate so they do not interbreed. With a good tall(3 to 4 foot)rock ledge so they have a lot of vertical area to inhabit 3 x 4 x 5 is plenti big enough. How big is the entire room? Your lights you will use for basking and lighting should be enough to heat up the room. If need be I use an electric space heater to supplement. I would look into commercial metal halides. They are very expensive but I have heard very good anecdotal news about them and I know they use them quite a bit in Europe with great success. Dr. Maek Seward the Gila expert is getting into chucks and is building an awesome enclosure with fake rock and he is going to use metal halides. I believe the commercial ones are a lot cheaper than those made for the reef aquarium hobby. Can't wait to see the finished cage.

That is great advice! The total room is 14'10" x 11'5". I thought about some two sided glass shower enclosures, the ones I have seen are about the size you indicated and they have a door so it is easy entrance. So I would put them in the corners with 2 walls and 2 glass panels. I will do some reading on the metal halides also. Thanks for the advice and your experience. It benefits all of us!

Make a substructur from almost anything that will support the weight of the mortar while it is wet...coat it approx three times, allowing drying inbetween. You can use foam insulation to create your ledges, and you may have to attach some wire mesh to it to give your first coat of mortar to stick to it...apply it like stucco. you can texture your rocks easily with a damp paintbrush...allow the mortar to dry so it is firm to the touch, then use the brush to meld it together. Lots of techniques to paint it with...use acrylic paints, very dilute...check out some faux paint books for ideas on rock coloration etc.

John E.