knightrunner
Member
Since I am a tinkerer and love to work on crazy projects, the idea of having a beardie naturally led to building a custom viv. So here is a short build photo diary.
I love to re-purpose and scavenge pieces and parts for my projects. Not only is it economical and less wasteful, it creates more of a challenge. So most everything for this build was salvaged from one place or another. Here are the glass doors and some pieces of plywood that came from on old building being torn down this last winter. I was allowed to go in and salvage some of the lumber. The doors were in a pile to be thrown out. I considered them a great find.
First I built the structure with some odd dimensions. This is just part of the challenge when the lumber in not uniform. Finding dimensions that you can build too. I manged to come up with a cobbled together L42"xH38"Dx22".
I also have a shelf in place that is important for my design and the tiles are cut and setting in place. I salvaged the tile from a construction site near my place of employment. They were leftover and the contractor gave them to me.
Note the side door. It will make sense... eventually.... I hope.
At this point I moved the structure to my basement close to its permanent home. I did not want to move it far after the interior was done. I painted both the inside and out with water based paint. I found the paint a Lowe's. Here is another money saving tip. If you do not have your heart set on a specific color, browse the discount shelf. It is where they put the paint they mix and people return because they do not like the color. I bought a quart for $1.
Next I carved some styromfoam, again from Lowes. Completely free this time. I just asked and they let me have as much as I wanted from their throw away pile. I then grouted things in place and let it dry.
Then I painted, a lot. Follwed by several coats of modpodge. I added some driftwood and river rocks that I found while hiking. The fake foliage my mother in law gave me. She makes arraignments and had tons of stuff.
Their are currently three lights. On is a 90PAR38 on a line voltage thermostat. This keeps the cage between 80-85f. In the basking spot is a 50par20 on a rheostat and a Reptisun 10 CFL. I hope to eventually replace these both with a Megaray MVB, but I needed something to use until I can get one. the basking spot is running a nice 105f.
And here is where the side door is important. Notice the cave entrance? Well I figured I would need a way to access and clean the cave.
After plenty of drying time and some cleanup, here is Tessien enjoying her new home.
I love to re-purpose and scavenge pieces and parts for my projects. Not only is it economical and less wasteful, it creates more of a challenge. So most everything for this build was salvaged from one place or another. Here are the glass doors and some pieces of plywood that came from on old building being torn down this last winter. I was allowed to go in and salvage some of the lumber. The doors were in a pile to be thrown out. I considered them a great find.
First I built the structure with some odd dimensions. This is just part of the challenge when the lumber in not uniform. Finding dimensions that you can build too. I manged to come up with a cobbled together L42"xH38"Dx22".
I also have a shelf in place that is important for my design and the tiles are cut and setting in place. I salvaged the tile from a construction site near my place of employment. They were leftover and the contractor gave them to me.
Note the side door. It will make sense... eventually.... I hope.
At this point I moved the structure to my basement close to its permanent home. I did not want to move it far after the interior was done. I painted both the inside and out with water based paint. I found the paint a Lowe's. Here is another money saving tip. If you do not have your heart set on a specific color, browse the discount shelf. It is where they put the paint they mix and people return because they do not like the color. I bought a quart for $1.
Next I carved some styromfoam, again from Lowes. Completely free this time. I just asked and they let me have as much as I wanted from their throw away pile. I then grouted things in place and let it dry.
Then I painted, a lot. Follwed by several coats of modpodge. I added some driftwood and river rocks that I found while hiking. The fake foliage my mother in law gave me. She makes arraignments and had tons of stuff.
Their are currently three lights. On is a 90PAR38 on a line voltage thermostat. This keeps the cage between 80-85f. In the basking spot is a 50par20 on a rheostat and a Reptisun 10 CFL. I hope to eventually replace these both with a Megaray MVB, but I needed something to use until I can get one. the basking spot is running a nice 105f.
And here is where the side door is important. Notice the cave entrance? Well I figured I would need a way to access and clean the cave.
After plenty of drying time and some cleanup, here is Tessien enjoying her new home.
