Recent content by drewdizzo

Sorry for the late response, but I have already done this on 3 vivs for my kids. I basically used the crossfire design, but instead of using nails or screws I used bolts and mating cross dowels (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=367). I bought mine from a local specialty screw supplier...

I have used acrylic (plexi) in all my vivs. I like it because it is lighter than glass and you never have to worry about it cracking or chipping. I often pull out the doors on mine to clean and don't have to worry about them breaking. For the hammock I would use teacup hooks... you will find...

I have been thinking about this problem for a while as well. I am considering making a travel enclosure which is slightly smaller and much lighter. The real problem is the cost of the materials. I really have not thought of an inexpensive way to make it happen, but if cost is not a concern you...

I am not sure if they sell half sheets anywhere, so you will probably end up spending 3 times as much on the wood. Also, one thing to consider is that a cage which is 3 feet deep may be difficult to reach into and clean all areas. A height of 3 feet also means that you will have to carefully...

Has Liz gotten any better? My girl, Nesta, has still been moping around. I removed the fake plants that were giving her hide opportunities and she has started basking a bit more. Nesta loves phoenix worms and will always perk up for them. The only way she will eat crickets is if I have run out...

You should consider just making your enclosure and then placing the tiles in without attaching them. I know for myself and have seen others say that it is far more convenient to have tiles that are loose. This way you can pull them out to clean them and even put them in the dishwasher to...

If you are going to be using the mdf with the melamine laminate then all you would have to do is seal the edges with a bead of silicon to ensure the wood itself never gets any water in it.

Not sure why there everyone thinks melamine laminated mdf is so expensive. It is only $29 at lowes for a 3/4" x 4' x 8' sheet, and a 3/4" x 4' x8' sheet of plywood is the same if not more.

Seems to me like if you are going to spend $29 on 3/4" plywood that you may as well hit up Lowes and get 3/4 inch MDF with melamine for the same price. That way you don't have to seal it. If you like the look of the plywood better though it makes sense to go for the look that you want. Just my 2...

I will work on getting a picture up over the weekend. It is true that you would have to tailor your enclosure setup in order to accommodate a shorter basking area. I personally put my mvb's over to one side of the enclosure. Essentially you have a four foot long enclosure, so I have a heat...

The service I got was pretty bad too. I ordered back in the beginning of December, at the time I knew they were on backorder so I expected a long turnaround. My first major gripe was they charged my cc right away, instead of most place that wait until they ship the item. That is one part of...

Not sure why you think you can't use your mega-ray in the crossfire. I have done it a couple times now. Distance works out well. I use a standard ceramic fixture from Home Depot ($1.50) and just install it flush with the ceiling. Flush just requires you to rout out a small channel for the wiring...

I have a mega-ray 100W SB running in a 4x2x2 enclosure with similar venting to the crossfire enclosure. My temps at 14-15 inches run about 105F, but it has been in the 50s and 60s lately. During the summer it will probably run around 110-115 until the thermostat shuts it down. I let my mega-ray...

I have a ~10 month old female that is in a similar situation. She was housed with two males of the same age until about 4 months ago. She will sit in one corner of the tank all day unless she is moved under her MVB, then she will sit there for a bit before going back to her corner. She has a...

Here are two options for the sliding tracks. Not sure how they compare in cost to the other suggestions here. I personally use the aluminum ones from plumbersurplus, but the problem is it can't be used directly with the crossfire plans. I get my plexiglass cut directly at TAP plastics, because...