New enclousure! *Finished and Pic heavy!*

[Evergreen]

UPDATE: 4/24/12 Total costs:
Tank itself: $75
Buying/Installing real glass doors done at a professional glass place: $50
Lighting: $30
Grommets to hold cords: $3
A second set of vents: $15
=$173 from start to ready for in-habitation!

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Wow! Well I've been stalking craigslist since I got my baby boy late last December. He was in a 20L until I was able to set up his big tank I found for him on craigslist for $60 (a 36x18x25 which is on a tall stand so I need a step stool to even get close to reaching the bottom to clean or feed.)

Anyway there are 3 custom tanks for sale in my state right now but they're all asking $250-300 and I just cant afford that. Less then 5 hours ago someone posted a custom reptile enclosure for only $75. The dimensions are "24 3/4 deep 4ft long 20 1/4 high" BUT it doesn't come with a stand and it needs a sliding door and lighting. He said he paid $200 to get it built. (I'll post pictures in a second)

I know a lot of people have built their own enclosures and I was wondering if you could give me a rough estimate on what a door and lighting would cost? I have something to mount my uv light already so all i would need is two basic fixtures for heat lights.

Thanks a lot I told him I'd get back to him tomorrow because I see this one going quick so any help/advice is much appreciated!

 

[Evergreen]

It doesn't look like its been used at all, especially if it doesn't have lighting or a door installed. Here's his quote from the ad...

Custom reptile cage I got made for my bearded dragon. needs sliding door and lighting. Asking $75. Paid $200 to get it built.
Baby bearded dragon setup for beginner reptile owners asking $30. Has everything you need in the 20 long tank.
Baby leopard gecko setup. Asking $30 only used for a month and paid over $100 for it.

$120 takes everything O.B.O

Edit: looking online for prices, found one site offering the same size enclosure *with door and lighting installed* for $400

 

[doe222]

lighting can vary depending on what you buy. what you currently have will most likley do the trick. since your not new im assuming you have a good setup. lighting can go from 30$ to 100$+
for the door i cant see if theres rails or anything setup for a sliding glass door but if there is you can just buy 2 pieces of plexiglass for around 20-30$ at length and thickness and you got yourself a door. if there arent rails you can purchase those as well for a fairly cheap price.

 

[Evergreen]

Thanks for the quick reply! The setup I have now does meet all the recommendations but I just dont like how tall and hard it is to get into since I've got just one big screen and have to move the whole thing every time.

I dont know if there are any rails but I've got a good number of people in my family that spent a majority of their lives as a carpenter so labor is free if it's difficult to install... as for thickness I haven't gone back and looked at other threads yet but would 1/8" be thick enough or 1/4 - 1/2 be better?

edited: I found a couple light fixtures like other people have seemed to use...
http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-9875-Porcelain-Incandescent-Lampholder/dp/B00002N7IM/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1334287642&sr=1-5
http://www.beardeddragons.co/beardeddragon/index.php?route=product/product&path=63&product_id=79
http://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-Lighting-Fixture-Fixtures-Incandescent/dp/B003YC77FC/ref=sr_1_50?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1334287692&sr=1-50

If it was in your area would you consider it a good deal or not so much? I've never shopped for this kind of thing so I dont want to rip myself off! He's selling those other tanks for cheap too, I'm thinking I'd get those and resell them since they cost much more in a pet store.

 

[Evergreen]

Ugh, cant sleep so sorry for another double post!

Since I cant get it out of my head I think I'm going to go ahead and get it if no one can think of any red flags. Ill talk to the guy tomorrow to see if it was ever used and what comes with the other 2 tanks hes selling.

I did more research and it looks like it'll cost roughly $50 to finish it up. Spring is finally here so I can very likely resell the other tanks he has come garage sale time. Assuming they're in good shape and not just plain empty tanks. Downside is its about 90 minutes away so I cant just drive up and take a look since I'm going to need to borrow someones truck and manpower in then first place!

Update: Instead of a 2 hour round trip in a borrowed truck and with borrowed manpower the owner is bringing it into town so that was really the deciding factor this afternoon. He said he'll have it in town by Monday so im hoping to pick it up Monday or Tuesday. To celebrate I've got a pack of 500 reptiworms coming in the mail (first time ordering them)! Just in case he doesn't keep his word im not buying the tracks, door or lighting until I have it. My current tank is up on craigslist and I'm hoping someone will want it.

4/16 9:16-- This guy is really slow at getting back to me but we finally set up a time of noon and the pick up place is still hesitant
"probably" this school in the area but he didn't say anything for sure.

4/16 9:50-- I hate having to rely on other people! I've got to wait until tomorrow now. I also dont have any hired muscle and I can lift about 20lbs so hopefully this person will help me load it into the truck too.

4/17-- whining didn't last long, found plenty to keep me busy! But I met with him today and got the tank, it's in perfect condition, never used and very well built. I was really hoping it wasn't just painted plywood but it's got this beautiful laminate on the outside that looks great. This guy defiantly could have sold it for a lot more and my uncles coming down in an hour to see what he can do to help with doors. I'll make another post with pictures of intalling the doors, light and maybe more ventilation. Can't wait!

 

[Evergreen]

4/24 Done!! It looks 100 times better then my old tank, so much brighter and so so much easier to heat and now i dont need to worry about him getting enough uv because it can reach all parts of his tank. It's got the bare bones but I'll be adding tile and some kind of background in the near future.

(All comments are for the picture directly below)

In the garage, took the doors off and installing lights

Right side (cool side of tank). Other side is same but with two light installed.

First time turning all the lights on! I found the branch down in the flood plain area.

Third time outside! Let him stand in the grass for the first time while I was waiting for the first temperature test to settle out. He's really seems to like it outside which is great because he'll be outside a lot this summer. Once I get a leash that holds him he'll be able to explore without me hanging on to him.

First intro to the completed tank. He had already been in it a few times while I was working on it in the garage.

Not a huge fan of the door being closed but he settled down quickly and the dog rather enjoys having him at eye level now (will be getting locks for the sliding door ASAP!) Darn Golden Retrievers, he watched me open it once and he already starting rubbing his nose against it to push the doors open.

Basking spot

100W got temps to 112 and it was still rising so I swapped it for my 75W basking spot bulb... I took this picture 5 minutes later!

That's all I got for now, it was lights out at 8:30 so he was only in there for about an hour. He's currently sleeping on the cool side of the tank in the back corner between the wall and branch. He ran around and licked everything but tomorrow he'll get a chance to settle in without everyone watching him. Right now (from left to right) I've got two 60W bulbs and the third is empty. I might not even need a bulb on the cool side of the tank but I'll have to mess around with wattage more tomorrow to get the basking spot right.