Renster

Does anyone know where i can get sheets of Beech coated iron on veneer????

Gave up on this today will have go tomorrow its too hot!

Dimensions:

2ft 10Inches : 34Inches : 83.3 Cm : 833 Mm Width(Left to Right)

1ft 4Inches : 16Inches : 39.2 Cm : 392 Mm Height(Bottom to Top)

1ft : 12Inches : 29.4 Cm : 294 Mm Depth(Front to Back)

Will hold 30 Gallons.

I will post pics at some point, ive cut all the wood (By hand The beech finish has flaked off )and have White (Fungi/Bacteria Resistant) Acrylic panels for inside lining.


My Main factor now is to Waterproof/Avoid wood rotting

To start with During assembly i will Coat the inside of the Viv with a Layer of Pond Liner which will be either stapled or glued on with a Hot glue gun.

Once this is done i will screw/Aqua Sealant the pre cut panels of acrylic onto the inside of the Viv for more Rigidity and Humidity Resistance(This will also help keep humidities optimal and Temps optimal)

With that done ill work on lighting fixtures and the runners for the Sliding Perspex or Glass Panels.

The original idea i had for runners was to Cut Grooves into the wood but i came up with the better idea of cutting larger than needed Groove in the wood and Using aqua sealant to Fill in the groove with just enough space to allow the Panels to slide through them.

Ventilation will be A 6 Inch in diameter hole which is already cut into the Back Panel, the exposed Conti Board was then sealed with Aqua Sealant. then mark the hole on the Acrylic before applying it, drill 6 holes(5mm in width) through it.


**This Next part is purely a concept theory, If I get my 2 Leos before I do this its not getting done**

**Use a jigsaw and cut a 4 Inch x 6 Inch square out of the Top of the Viv to add a small Viewport(will increase natural lighting, Which will have a clear piece of perspex Slotted into place and Aqua Sealed into place. (Will sketch a concept or do it to a useless piece of board and Post images)**


One of my main concerns was where to seat the heat mat?

Under the Acrylic Floor would be a bad idea as it would warp the acrylic and possible melt the pond liner...

Under the Viv would be Useless....

Attatching it to the side of the Viv is an idea.

Any ideas are appreciated.

jaymz

Hi Renster, if this viv is to house leos may I suggest you do away with the pond liner and acrylic panels as these will be surplus to requirements as the only humid/damp area should be the hide. I seal all my vivs using non toxic mastic to corners/edges and then paint the whole of the inside with 2 coats of water based varnish. Also cutting grooves into your wood and making good with sealant is going to make sliding the doors a nightmare, plastic track will save you time and your sanity. Hope this helps, any qeuries feel free to ask. PS I am a carpenter.

Rob

Wow, please dont take offence but if you hadnt mentioned the dimensions, I would have thought you was building and enclosure for a croc.

Leo's live in dry conditions and therefore I think you are making a lot of work for yourself mate. As Jaymz said, they will require a moist hide but thats about it and that to help them shed.

If I was you, I would screw your boards together then seal it with non toxic silicone. install 2 air vents to the back of the viv. Buy a top and a bottom runner and glue them in place then get glass cut to fit.

That will then be your viv built perfectly for a leo.

Heating is very important for leos. When they eat, they sit on a warm surface in order to digest their food. Heat prove to be far too hot for reps to sit on and if you install the mat to the side there will be no heat source at ground level.

My suggestion would be to fit a 60watt heat bulb controlled by a Habistat temp stat or a Microclimate ministat 300, ensuring that the bulb is fitted to one end of the viv. Then position a rock under the bulb slightly to one side. you want about 85 degrees as an ambiant temp in the viv, once you have reched that by adjusting the stat place your hand carefully on the rock and test for temprature, if it feels too hot, move it further to one side untill it is nice and warm but not too hot to burn the leo.

As mentioned, your leo will need a humid hide, this can be acheived simply by cutting the end off a cricket tub and half fill it with wet sphagnum moss and place at the cool end of the viv.

Hope this info helps but please do ask if you require anymore assistance.

Rob

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Renster

Yeah mate im making it multi purpose as i intend to have more than one species in the near future, so whatever one needs a more Strictly monitored Enviroment will get the One im building, ill just buy another or build another for whatever else i get.

I was originally gonna make a Monster Anole Enclosure (Pretty much what all the humidity controls etc are about)

Have maybe 6 in it.

But I decided Leo's or Steno's are what i want for now and the anoles will come along at some point.

I still think the Idea of having a Massive Viv just for anoles would be Insane.

My best idea for an anole Viv is Buy an old MDF wardrobe with sliding doors(Saw one a week ago at the market for £15), and kit that out with some Perspex and Some Acrylic Interior etc.