MetallicatTim
Member
I got some request to post the making off my custom viv, so I decided to translate it for you and here it is
Note: I've had this setup for about 5 years after my beardie Jaymz died in 2009 After that I decided to throw it all away and start over.
Now I'm in the process of building a new egyptian style viv. I will post pictures of this after I pass the "experimenting-fase"
Anyway, here is the making of my old viv:
It's 80x24x20 inches in size and all glass except the lid, thats wood ( forgot wich kind hehe ). I've drilled almost 500 holes in the top for ventilation. I'll post a pic of that later.
This all cost me about 90 euro ( about 135 dollar, and I have to say, the lid was sponsored by my dad ), it's nice to know some people who work in a glass factory The black cornerstrips and glass-rails were more expensive than the glass itself hehe.
I used polyurethane foam ( the expandig kind ) and lots of it! I sprayed it on a garbagebag ( you can easily pull it off afterwards )
Fase 1: Spraying the foam for the backwall
A side-wall
A plateau
Fase 2: Tile adhesive ( I think you call it grout? )
We filled the holes, so no crickets or superworms can get through.
Starting to take shape!
A side-wall and one of the plateaus, almost ready to paint.
Here are 2 layers of grout, another one added later.
Everything... Luckily my dad enjoyed it, so he didn't mind all the mess in the attick
I used this as reinforcement, because of the length of the viv, the wooden lit would slighty bend and obstruct the glass sliding doors.
This would later become one of Jaymz' favorite places to "hang" out
"Scratching pole"
Fase 3: Paint ( I used a special paint called rust-oleum, it has no harmfull fumes, don't know wether you can get this in the US or somewhere else )
The result:
Fase 4: Le Grande Finalle
Behind this is the UVB
Later I added some more sand ( I know you ppl here don't like sand, but here in The Netherlands EVERYONE uses sand... ) and also a hiding place:
I later buried him under this roofing-tile, he always liked it so it felt appropriate to use it for his grave, still miss him to date ( R.I.P Jaymz 2001 - 2009 ).
I will post some pics of Jaymz now
Wow, you're still reading this far? Thanks
Note: I've had this setup for about 5 years after my beardie Jaymz died in 2009 After that I decided to throw it all away and start over.
Now I'm in the process of building a new egyptian style viv. I will post pictures of this after I pass the "experimenting-fase"
Anyway, here is the making of my old viv:
It's 80x24x20 inches in size and all glass except the lid, thats wood ( forgot wich kind hehe ). I've drilled almost 500 holes in the top for ventilation. I'll post a pic of that later.
This all cost me about 90 euro ( about 135 dollar, and I have to say, the lid was sponsored by my dad ), it's nice to know some people who work in a glass factory The black cornerstrips and glass-rails were more expensive than the glass itself hehe.
I used polyurethane foam ( the expandig kind ) and lots of it! I sprayed it on a garbagebag ( you can easily pull it off afterwards )
Fase 1: Spraying the foam for the backwall
A side-wall
A plateau
Fase 2: Tile adhesive ( I think you call it grout? )
We filled the holes, so no crickets or superworms can get through.
Starting to take shape!
A side-wall and one of the plateaus, almost ready to paint.
Here are 2 layers of grout, another one added later.
Everything... Luckily my dad enjoyed it, so he didn't mind all the mess in the attick
I used this as reinforcement, because of the length of the viv, the wooden lit would slighty bend and obstruct the glass sliding doors.
This would later become one of Jaymz' favorite places to "hang" out
"Scratching pole"
Fase 3: Paint ( I used a special paint called rust-oleum, it has no harmfull fumes, don't know wether you can get this in the US or somewhere else )
The result:
Fase 4: Le Grande Finalle
Behind this is the UVB
Later I added some more sand ( I know you ppl here don't like sand, but here in The Netherlands EVERYONE uses sand... ) and also a hiding place:
I later buried him under this roofing-tile, he always liked it so it felt appropriate to use it for his grave, still miss him to date ( R.I.P Jaymz 2001 - 2009 ).
I will post some pics of Jaymz now
Wow, you're still reading this far? Thanks