Gail_NV
Member
So I wasn't going to post anymore, as noted before, since I didn't want to end up saying something that gets taken the wrong way. However, the new semi-permanent home (next 2 to 3 years) I came up with was so cost effective and easy to do that I figured there may be others here that would benefit from seeing it. I decided to come up with something like this that could sustain Henry for another 2 to 3 years because, of course, my ideas for the full room conversion as his final indoor home keep getting bigger and grander and well.. they are going to take a lot more time than I had originally intended. So I wanted him to have more space sooner. I have no idea if this will meet with approval of the experts, but I think it is pretty decent and does a good job of giving Henry space, heat, humidity and proper lighting.
Note: Not all lights are on in these photos as it was late and I was winding him down for bed. Also, don't panic, that reptile water dish you see is not for water. I put his snapdragon sprigs with their ends in his shallow water dish and the flower spikes in the reptile dish. Keeps them fresh for him. I also feed his other 'treat' foods (flowers, butternut squash, Mazuri mini pellets) in this dish.
This thing does almost too good of a job keeping in the heat and humidity when you zip it up so it is a fully enclosed chamber. With the heat we have had here, I've had to slightly unzip during the day to keep it from getting too hot and humid. Note: The pictures were taken with the doors rolled up, but that is not how they are normally. I only open up all the way to feed and clean.
Materials list:
Note: Not all lights are on in these photos as it was late and I was winding him down for bed. Also, don't panic, that reptile water dish you see is not for water. I put his snapdragon sprigs with their ends in his shallow water dish and the flower spikes in the reptile dish. Keeps them fresh for him. I also feed his other 'treat' foods (flowers, butternut squash, Mazuri mini pellets) in this dish.
This thing does almost too good of a job keeping in the heat and humidity when you zip it up so it is a fully enclosed chamber. With the heat we have had here, I've had to slightly unzip during the day to keep it from getting too hot and humid. Note: The pictures were taken with the doors rolled up, but that is not how they are normally. I only open up all the way to feed and clean.
Materials list:
- Vinyl Raised Garden Bed, 6x3x1ft - I used 2 stacked for height. Made wooden spacers for the center to hold the board up off the bottom, so Henry can walk under the center board, and I only used one center board just to add stability to the whole thing.
- Waterproof extra heavy grow tent fabric - I don't have a link for this, I just had a roll of it left from previous projects. I put two layers of this down, tucked up against the wall in the back and side, as extra precaution against any water leakage that might get through the waterproof camping tarp liner.
- Waterproof Camping Tarp 87" x 51" Tucked in between the first and second boards to secure it. Tested it and this thing really is waterproof. I put the side that would be facing down if used for a tent as facing up, since that is the side with the waterproofing on it.
- Rubber mat - Cut to be slightly smaller than the interior dimensions. This is just so that when a full cleaning needs done, it will be easier and less likely to puncture the camping tarp.
- Mini Greenhouse - to get the top of the frame to fit into the openings on the grow bed posts, you will need to cut approx. 1/2" off of the 6 side/top poles using a pipe cutter tool. I only used the top of the frame, no need for the side legs or bottom connections. I repurposed some of those extra pieces to make a UVB light hanging frame.
- Arcadia Reptile Pro T5 Kit, Desert 12% UVB, 24W, 24"
- Coco Coir as base layer, moistened well and tamped down.
- Zoo Med Forest Floor
- Ollas pots - these are only very slightly buried, they do a fantastic job of keeping humidity up without the need to have everything super saturated.
- Reptile Heat Lamp Stands - these are sturdier than most of them out there, but I still put a rock on the base of each for more security.
- 4 Pcs Reptile Thermometer and Humidity Gauge - these are pretty good, with variance of only about 1 or 2 degrees across the three that worked - one was dead, seller refunded $7 - I tested these against my other gauge, and they are almost right on with it, so who knows which is good and which is not - I was tired of tearing my hair out worrying over a couple of degrees. I'm just making sure that one side of the enclosure is cooler so he can get away from the heat if he wants to.
- Wooden Hamster Exercise Wheel - this is not in the pictures because it is in the process of being treated with bees wax to ensure it will last longer in the humidity. I saved the rubber strips that I cut off of the mat to use as replacement walking surface when the two cork walking surfaces wear out. This was an expensive investment but he really likes walking and it is a good way to ensure he has enrichment and exercise beyond just walking around the enclosure and his time outside.
- Various lamps, two with dimmer switches, to house spotlight bulbs and CHE.
- A plant light hanging from top of the frame for the plants (I have more plants to put in, just haven't got them in there yet).
- Flat sandstones for his climbing pleasure - they seem to be doing a good job of keeping his nails trimmed, and I've seen him rubbing his beak on them and nibbling on them too, so I presume they are helping his beak stay trimmed too. I put his food on them for that purpose as well.
