Yuoso
Member
********SEE POST #6 FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WALK-THROUGH**********
Hello. I have two beardies, a Sand Boa, and a 10 gallon tropical aquarium. I want a setup similar to these:
This general setup is simple enough, but it seems the lights are mounted externally.
This looks decent as well, but seems like it would end up being too tall.
I would like the fronts to be solid glass with hinges that fold the entire front down for easy access from the front.
I have the Sand Boa in a 10 gallon aquarium (As a full grown male at 18" that likes to sit perfectly still under aspen for all eternity, no more is needed). I have a matching 10 gallon aquarium. I want these to sit side by side on top of the double enclosure.
My questions are thus:
1) Does anybody have any recommended building plans (Including supply / cut lists if possible) I have never built anything out of wood before; Ever. I want it to be pretty simple.
2) What would you recommend as for adding support to handle the weight of the aquarium? It is around 110 pounds, but I would like to build it to support at least 200 pounds on top to be safe.
3) Lights. This is my biggest problems I am running into. It really boils down to one concern. If I put my heating lights inside the enclosure, with a proper wattage basking light to accommodate the likely shorter vertical distance, is there a large risk of my dragons climbing on the dome and burning themselves? If so, I have two thoughts running through my head. One is possibly putting a heat shield of sorts on top of it to reduce the surface heat of the top of it (I haven't seen such a thing, so recommendations are always welcome if you have.) The alternative, and my least preferable option, is leaving a gap between the top / bottom of the enclosures for external mounting on metal screen for the tops.
3a) If I have to externally mount the lights, How much gap should I leave between the enclosures to prevent fire risk? I really don't want to do this, as my snake enclosure is top access and I don't want to have to use a step-stool to get to it -_-.
4) I was thinking of making the backs, tops, and floors of the enclosures MDF, Plywood, or Melamine (Probably Melamine, seeing as it is already coated and clean looking). I was considering using a screen for the sides for airflow, but I am concerned about stability. Should I use my board of choice for the sides with windows cut into it or can I create stability in other ways? I would like the front to be acrylic, but I am concerned about my dragons scratching it up. Are their nails tough on Acrylic to the point I should invest in mineral glass?
5) I am hoping to end up with a decent looking enclosure set (It is in my living room and appearances are everything, of course 8) ). I would also like some suggestions as to fairly priced stack-able enclosures with enough space for an adult bearded dragon with front door access. After I have decided on a final design, I will compare cost of building vs cost of buying and make a decision from there.
I know this is a lot to answer, but I do hope the experts here can help me achieve my goals
Thanks in advance,
Yuoso
Hello. I have two beardies, a Sand Boa, and a 10 gallon tropical aquarium. I want a setup similar to these:
This general setup is simple enough, but it seems the lights are mounted externally.
This looks decent as well, but seems like it would end up being too tall.
I would like the fronts to be solid glass with hinges that fold the entire front down for easy access from the front.
I have the Sand Boa in a 10 gallon aquarium (As a full grown male at 18" that likes to sit perfectly still under aspen for all eternity, no more is needed). I have a matching 10 gallon aquarium. I want these to sit side by side on top of the double enclosure.
My questions are thus:
1) Does anybody have any recommended building plans (Including supply / cut lists if possible) I have never built anything out of wood before; Ever. I want it to be pretty simple.
2) What would you recommend as for adding support to handle the weight of the aquarium? It is around 110 pounds, but I would like to build it to support at least 200 pounds on top to be safe.
3) Lights. This is my biggest problems I am running into. It really boils down to one concern. If I put my heating lights inside the enclosure, with a proper wattage basking light to accommodate the likely shorter vertical distance, is there a large risk of my dragons climbing on the dome and burning themselves? If so, I have two thoughts running through my head. One is possibly putting a heat shield of sorts on top of it to reduce the surface heat of the top of it (I haven't seen such a thing, so recommendations are always welcome if you have.) The alternative, and my least preferable option, is leaving a gap between the top / bottom of the enclosures for external mounting on metal screen for the tops.
3a) If I have to externally mount the lights, How much gap should I leave between the enclosures to prevent fire risk? I really don't want to do this, as my snake enclosure is top access and I don't want to have to use a step-stool to get to it -_-.
4) I was thinking of making the backs, tops, and floors of the enclosures MDF, Plywood, or Melamine (Probably Melamine, seeing as it is already coated and clean looking). I was considering using a screen for the sides for airflow, but I am concerned about stability. Should I use my board of choice for the sides with windows cut into it or can I create stability in other ways? I would like the front to be acrylic, but I am concerned about my dragons scratching it up. Are their nails tough on Acrylic to the point I should invest in mineral glass?
5) I am hoping to end up with a decent looking enclosure set (It is in my living room and appearances are everything, of course 8) ). I would also like some suggestions as to fairly priced stack-able enclosures with enough space for an adult bearded dragon with front door access. After I have decided on a final design, I will compare cost of building vs cost of buying and make a decision from there.
I know this is a lot to answer, but I do hope the experts here can help me achieve my goals
Thanks in advance,
Yuoso