Help with Design

I just made a quick little layout for my viv. This will be for a water dragon, first attempt at making a viv as well as first venture with a reptile. Please help me if you see anything you would change or add to this. I know the temp has to drop slightly over night, having the flourescent on a timer to shut down i know is a must. Do you believe that having one of the ches shutting down at the same time be sufficient to drop the temp needed?

I know I will have to play around to get the correct wattage to mantain the proper temps. I also plan to have some live plants and such in the viv. Strung on going with a turf substrate or a soil/sand mixture.

Please help me with any or all suggestions. Thanks

Also forgot to add that the main structure will be plywood.

I'd nix the substrate and just go for potted plants. That will be plenty of humidity along with the water feature. Make your fliter/pump easy to take in and out and have some way of draining the pool out. It will need frequent water changes. A siphon or a shop vac will also work for this purpose.

Appreciate the reply, thanks. I do plan on having the pool as a drop in plastic container that will sit below the floor level. I did notice that is is needed to be changed daily.

I would add two more air vents in the top of the right side of the enclosure (on the side you can't see in your drawing). Of course make them so they can be opened or closed.

If you experience a weather change, there may be a need to let out some humidity and it's nice to have the option. At one point I had to add a vent to my Ball Python's tank (it was a pain after the fact) -- I keep it closed most of the time, but it comes in handy in our humid August months! Just a thought!

Good Luck!

And as you start building, please document with pics so we can all learn some tricks!

I would also suggest going with a mercury vapor lamp as opposed to a fluorescent tube. The UV light from the tube is only going to penetrate about 10 inches. With as tall as the cage will be a merc is the way to go.

Originally Posted by Frognut

And as you start building, please document with pics so we can all learn some tricks!

Just started the process tonight, plan to do the plywood and hopefully door and such on the weekend.

Wow, I guess you don't waste any time do you! Looks great, good luck with your build. Can't wait to see the progress of the build from start to finish.

A little more progress from today.
Made a hinged section on the water side as I realized my tub would be too large to remove through the door. This will allow to easily remove for cleaning

Coming along nicely!

WOW! No moss growing under you!! Looks real nice -- too bad Ontario is so blooming far away from Maryland!

Since the left side is against the wall, I would suggest moving the two vents that you show in your drawing that are on the bottom of the left side, to the same bottom area - but to the left on the front. They won't do any good against the wall.

Keep the progress pictures coming -- this should prove to be a nice tutorial for a cool enclosure!!!

EDIT: Ohhh! I really like the hinged section for the water container -- I didn't get what I was seeing at first!! Great idea!