MVB Experts Please Reply !!!

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hello Everyone,

I need your help !! I am going to look at an enclosure someone is selling on craigslist today and need input.
Any and all ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Here is the listing http://pensacola.craigslist.org/pet/1007769029.html

I have already contacted seller and got the dimensions of the tank itself. It is 60" long x 33" tall x 32" deep.
If I was to buy this I would use a mercury vapor bulb. I've never had a mvb, so need some help with that.

My questions are:
-Looking at the enclosure you can see I would have to have the mvb in the center,due to the side doors and not blocking them with a basking spot. So, with that in mind could I put basking spot in the center and still have a cool side to the enclosure?
-Could I make a platform for basking and have it open underneath for cool spot?
-How would I heat an enclosure this size?
-Should I cover one door or maybe half of each door to retain heat?
-What is the optimum distance from MVB to basking spot?

If you have any ideas...please let me know.
I am really excited about this enclosure just need to know how to make it work.

Dawn

 

[akingsley9000]

Hi Dawn -

ok my thoughts -

It is going to be very difficult to get your beardie out when you want and to clean. You are going to have to basically climb in the tank.

That being said - i dont think that in an enclosure that size that having the basking spot in the middle would be an issue. It would still give you 1.5 - 2 feet on each side for a temp gradient.

The optimum distance from the MVB to the basking spot varies depending on the bulb. I believe both the Mega Ray and T-Rex are at least 16" for the 160 and 12" for the 100watt.

As far as coving the doors to retain heat, i think that is going to be trial and error. Alot of us have screen tops and do not have to cover them to retain heat.

You can make a basking platform with a cool spot underneath.

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

It is going to be very difficult to get your beardie out when you want and to clean. You are going to have to basically climb in the tank.

Hi akingsley,

Thanks for the comments, they are very much appreciated.

I don't know that there will be too much of an issue with getting my bd out. Did you look at the size of those doors and they are on both sides. I could probably fit the upper half of my body in them. You did get me thinking though. I measured my arms and from shoulder to fingertips I got 27"(yes, I have monkey arms..LOL.. :lol: ). 27" + 27"= 54",the tank is 60". That is a remainder of 6".
That means my beardie would have to be dead center of the viv for me to have to start getting in. Rex(bd) is nearly 20" long, hopefully it wouldn't be too much of a problem. You made a really good point...you had me wondering :?

Dawn

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hi akingsley,

I just looked at the listing again and I can see why you said that. He states there are doors on the sides, but from the glare on the tank you cannot see the one on the other side. The reason I know for sure that there are 2 is that the guy has had this listing posted three separate times. The first time, the pic was taken in his garage and you can clearly see both doors. He also wanted $300 for it the first two times he listed it. Glad I waited...hope no one gets there before I do.

Dawn

 

[fresnowitte]

I like the enclosure that you have found I think it has potential. With having a door at each end I don't think getting your beardie out for cleaning will be that much of a problem just my opinion. But what does concern me is that the top is removeable glass.............so how are you planning on mounting your MVB?
Are you going to close the top in and leave openings to set your light on top?
Or are you going to close it in and mount the fixture on the inside?

I think that with that length you could get away with a center mounted light. You will probably have to experiment with it though. You may or may not need to block the sides doors.

The optimum distance of the MVB's that I have are in the range of 12 to 18 inches.
If you need any additional heat I suggest a Ceramic Heat Emitter.

Yes you can build a platform type basking spot hide combination. I have in Itty Bitty's viv something like that. We built it out of tile. On the basking spot if her temps are 105* then it is just below 80* in the hide so it is a bit cooler.
These are some sorry pic's but so you can see what I'm talking about........

Itty Bitty On Her Basking Spot(again sorry for the sucky pic's)

Itty Bitty Sleeping on the Ramp to Her Basking Spot
(which is a piece of cut tile that is upside down so she can get grip)

She is Brumating in There Right Now

 

[akingsley9000]

But what does concern me is that the top is removeable glass.............so how are you planning on mounting your MVB?
Are you going to close the top in and leave openings to set your light on top?
Or are you going to close it in and mount the fixture on the inside?

Good catch Barbara! I would:

a. take the glass out and replace it with a piece of wood or plexi with openings cut out for the fixtures - you could even use the glass if you could find someone to cut it for you.

b. just replace it with screen depending on if you need more ventilation.

c. build off the wooden hood thats on there and remove the glass entirely. It would eliminate the need for a dome fixture - you could just use a socket.

Hi akingsley,

Thanks for the comments, they are very much appreciated.

I don't know that there will be too much of an issue with getting my bd out. Did you look at the size of those doors and they are on both sides. I could probably fit the upper half of my body in them. You did get me thinking though. I measured my arms and from shoulder to fingertips I got 27"(yes, I have monkey arms..LOL.. :lol: ). 27" + 27"= 54",the tank is 60". That is a remainder of 6".
That means my beardie would have to be dead center of the viv for me to have to start getting in. Rex(bd) is nearly 20" long, hopefully it wouldn't be too much of a problem. You made a really good point...you had me wondering :?

Dawn

Your welcome! These are just all things i take into consideration when evaluating enclosures for mine.

All in all i think its a great enclosure and wouldn't think twice about getting it especially since you are getting such a great deal on it.

Here is a couple of pics of Chloe's basking spot which she frequently sleeps under (also currently brumating ):

for size comparison:

 

[fresnowitte]

I agree with akingsley I would replace the glass with wood only cutting out an area for the light to set.
You would want to use a wire mesh or hardware cloth instead of screen for the wholes on the top so you get your maximum amount of UVB from you bulb.

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hi Barbara,

Thank you so much for looking at the enclosure for me and for taking the time to post pics...your awesome !!!

I think I like the hide idea underneath the basking spot. Itty Bitty seems to also !!!
As for the glass top, when the seller sent me an email about the tank he said it was three separate pieces of removable glass on top. I want to look at it and see how they are attached or if they are just laying on top. I know I am going to have to put wood up on top somewhere to attach lighting to. He said there are no fixtures in it, which I found surprising, since he said he had a snake in it. Right now I'm leaning towards putting a removable wooden top on it with fixtures attached.
My hubby is going with me and he's pretty handy(he's built us 2 houses, a travel trailer and a boat)...no problem there.

Thanks again....and by the way, I've seen suckier( if that's even a word) pics..... lol... :lol:

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

akingsley...did you build that basking spot yourself ? What is it made of ?

 

[akingsley9000]

Yes i did - its styrofoam with the grout and painted and sealed.

 

[fresnowitte]

Yes i did - its styrofoam with the grout and painted and sealed.

I like it! :mrgreen: Nice job! :wink:
I've been thinking about trying to make one or eight eventually. :lol:

 

[akingsley9000]

Thanks!

It is a long process - it took about 2 weeks to complete working on it nights and weekends- but very very simple and fun if you like crafty things.

A word to the wise though - do not cut Styrofoam indoors- you will have little white Styrofoam balls EVERYWHERE for weeks! :roll:

If you are going to make one - you might as well make eight, by the time you are done with the eight one you should be able to start the next step on the first one. I actually had three projects with it that i did - Chloe's basking platform (obviously) and food dish platforms for both Chloe and Orion so their dishes do not get tipped over and not escape wormies.

Platforms: (each has two cut outs that fit tupperware bowls which are removable for easy cleaning)

 

[fresnowitte]

That's a cool idea too!
I'm thinking that I might beable to create a handicapped ramp up to basking spot that isn't to high for Zak-n-Wheezie by using the styrofoam. I'm thinking that I might even beable to create a handicapped hide. Hmmmm........... :idea:

:wink: Thanks Akingsley!
Just what I need another project. :lol:

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Well, I bought the enclosure last night. Wow...it was so much bigger in person. It definitely needs a little TLC, but other than that I was quite pleased with it. Hopefully it won't take too long to refurbish it. I will post pix when the "mansion" is done. I'm sure Rex will absolutely love it...I hope :roll:

Thanks again Barbara and akingsley for all your input.

Dawn