How to make a viv

[Kirstyx]

Im going to have a go at building my own viv can anyone help me make up a shopping list of what I will need? .. Its going to be for my corn snake, the size im going to build will be 3 x 2 x 2 .. Theirs a B&Q near me so can get everything there, Thanks :tongue:

[TyMilsom]

B&Q have a cutting service, they should, for a small charge, cut to size the 24" wide Contiboard sheets, to save you the hasstle.

[Kirstyx]

Thanks Ty, thats good to know, will save me the hasstle, So I would need to ask for 3 x 36x24x24 (LxHxW) sheets and 2 x 24" sheets? Im going to go B&Q tonight :)

[Kirstyx]

What type of screws and fixings will I need?

[TyMilsom]

What type of screws and fixings will I need?


If I were you, I would use chipboard screws (i guess 40mm length x size 8)as they bite better.
You will need to drill a narrow hole through the first sheet of the two you are screwing together (this is called a pilot hole, ask one of the assistants to advise what size bit you need depending on the screws you select, but for size 8 a 5mm pilot hole should be OK).

I would also glue each joint together with PVA wood glue, this will make the viv last longer.

You will also need the panel through the front to stop your substrate falling out, although you could do this in glass.

Once you have made your viv, it helps to seal the internal edges with silicone sealant. (dont put your herps inside till the smell has disapeared!).

Dont forget your vents, round soffet vents are good, and they can be drilled out and fitted with a special hole cutter bit. (Size depends on vent size, but the assistant should be able to advise).

[TyMilsom]

Thanks Ty, thats good to know, will save me the hasstle, So I would need to ask for 3 x 36x24x24 (LxHxW) sheets and 2 x 24" sheets? Im going to go B&Q tonight :)


Not quite, you say three sheets at 36x24x24, that is OK for the top and bottom, but the back will be slightly shorter by the thickness of the two sides. Normally the sheets are 15mm (but double check), 2x 15mm (thickness) = 30mm to come off the back length. This will allow the back panel to slide in between the other sheets. If you want to screw it to the face of the back edges, then keep the 36" sheets all equal and reduce the 24" side sheets by twice the thickness (which will be 30mm if the sheets are 15mm thick)

lol! does that make sense? It's quite difficult to explain?? If you draw out on a piece of paper exactly how it will go together, you should see what I mean.

:read:

[TyMilsom]

My explaination of that was rubbish! haha!

[mrcarlxx]

you have to make sure some of the pieces are shorter than others otherwise it wont fit together properly

[Spedz]

You may need 2 pieces of the largest contiboard to make a 3ft viv.
I recently made a 2ft one, but then changed it into a cupboard for one of my tarantulas instead ^^
I have the pictures of each stage somewhere, But I used wood-glue as there wouldn't be as much weight as there would be with a 3ft.

[Kirstyx]

I went to B & Q after work today .. Sorry I didnt reply to you earlier Ty, I was in work and got let away early ..

Well I could only find 18mm Contiboard, so I asked one of the guys to cut it for me one long sheet was costing £24.

For the Top & Bottom I got 36 x 24 x 24 (L x H)
For the Back I got the same only I asked him to take an extra 36mm off.
For the 2 sides it was 24 X 24 (W x H) i think i asked him to take 36mm off it too I cant remember lol ..

The overall cost WOULD have cost me just under £50 just for the wood. I think because i was confusing the guy as much as I was confusing mysekf with the sizes, he said he would only charge me cutting costs, which was £1.98 per cut. But when I when to the check out I got charged under a fiver lmao .. no joke, beleive me if you want,,hahaa! ..

Thanks for your help so far guys, and thanks Ty you helped alot today, I even printed what you had said to me in work, to take the B&Q before I left lol ..

Iam going to start building it this weekend, so will do a step by step post. As I bought a new camera :D

[myball123]

What a result, look forward to seeing your step by step photos.

[TyMilsom]

Yea result!!

[Kirstyx]

I know! I dont think I can wait till this weekend to built it, I might start it tonight! It will be easier as the peices have been cut to the sizes I need.

[Kirstyx]

I have still to get the PVA Glue, Silicone Sealant and Chipboard Screws, will the size still be 40mm length x size 8. As the board is 18mm? .. Will it be okay to drill the vents holes last once the viv is built? .. What about the heatmat? Will I drill a hole for the wire to go through?

[TyMilsom]

40mm should still be OK especially if its glued. Yes you can drill the vents out after. and yes drill a small hole for the cable on the mat to come through. ;)

[Kirstyx]

Okay, Thanks Ty :)

[TyMilsom]

Actually on reflection 45mm might be better Kirsty.