Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, this isn't a reptile question, but more of a vivarium question because herp keepers are the best vivarium makers. Although I do keep reptiles, I think it's pretty silly that mammals are kept in barred cages nothing like their natural habitat and I feel like if they were than they would be much happier. I'm planning on making a vivarium for a small colony of sugar gliders and I need a good way to make some fake trees, some with hollows for them to sleep in and some for them to jump to and climb on. Basically I'm trying to make a treetop vivarium, and I want it to look pretty realistic. Also I have a small problem with my monitors viv. Whenever I change his soil, it will be really nice and holds his tunnels really well for the first week or two and then it becomes dry, even with my auto mister, and acts more like sand so he can't dig very easily. Any solution to that too would be appreciated, thanks!

Search the web for polygem. That stuff is awesome. You make a base out of wood and wire in roughly the shape you want (like a tree stump for example), cover it with this epoxy resin, carve it before it cures (like bark ridges), and you can make whatever your artistic talent can deliver. Once cured, it is waterproof and harmless to animals.

I saw a wood cage with a low shelf. This guy cut holes in the shelf. Then he glued pieces of plywood on the floor and shelf to make low elevated areas. He coated the floor and shelf with ploygem and made the slopes over the plywood pieces. Then he let it cure and painted with acrylic paint. Looked awesome. The snake used the holes to go from shelf to floor. You can clean it easily, though paint touch-up is necessary sometimes after cleaning many times.

Ok, thank you very much.