Hi all

I have been out of the herp keeping thing for about 5 years now. I kept two big green iguanas, Drako and Iggy, for about eight years. I also had two crocodile geckos, a few anoles, a toad, a garter snake, a praying mantis, and a rose hair tarantula. I had to give them away because I did not have the time needed to care for them properly (work, family, and work around the house). Now that work has changed and kids are older, I would like to get back into it. I recently took an interst in viviaruims. I aways tried make my enclosers look good, but they don't compare to some of the vivariums I have been reading about. I am planning two projects right now. A rainforest viviarium in a 29 gallon aquarium, with maybe some red eyed tree frogs (on the back burner for now). The other is for a leopard gecko. I am making a plywood box 24" long 12" deep and about 24" high. I was going to put a window on each side and sliding glass door on the front. I was thinking about using two 12” x 12” slate floor tiles for the base with a heat mat/thermostat under a portion. I wanted to cover the plywood on the inside of the enclosure with some kind of natural looking fake rock. Then have a couple different levels for the gecko to move around on. I just read a article for a rock wall for a aquarium, ( DIY - Aquarium Background). Would this method work for me? Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could achieve this rocky look and keep the weight down and be still be healthy for the gecko? Any pointers would help.

Thank
Ron

Hello,

Welcome to Herp Center Ron. It sounds like you have some great ideas cooking in your mind. We have several articles that may also be of assistance directly here on the site. Here is one that I know the URL of:

Creating An Artificial Enclosure Wall - Reptile Information - Caresheets Database

There is also a great vivarium I recall seeing built on HC, but its location eludes me. I believe it was being designed for a water dragon, but I could easily be mistaking.

The link you provided is very similiar to the link I have added. Hopefully those users who have recently been working on custom enclosures will add their links. One of them impressed me greatly. Hopefully someone recalls the link.

__________________
.:: Rich ::.

+ Spread The Info

Welcome to Herp Center.
Here's one with some good reading
1st C.W.D. Project Reloaded - Very image HEAVY
and another
Enclosure construction (image heavy)

__________________
Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Mike to the rescue! While both of the enclosures look great, its that second link that I really took a liking to!

__________________
.:: Rich ::.

+ Spread The Info

Thanks Rich

I think I like this method alot more. Seems to be simple and looks great!

Ron

Welcome to HerpCenter!
You might also like this one!
New Enclosure Pics - Rock Wall + Waterfall

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Mike

Thanks those enclosers look awesome. I might have to buy a bigger house. Alot of new ideas are coming to mind.

Ron

It's really not a difficult thing to do. Just take your time and it helps if you have a picture from nature to try and emulate. Be sure to take lots of pics as your make it. It's very interesting to see them all come together.

__________________
Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Thanks Merlin

I started construction on a room in my basement for my iguana years ago. It was about 10 ft. wide by 8 ft. deep by about 6 ft. tall. I never finished it. It is just framed in. After I try a couple of the smaller projects I have in mind, I might try one of these large ones.

Ron

Welcome to HC

__________________
Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan