| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jain |
Posted - 22/11/2008 : 17:10:39
Hi all....
My daughter is not handling her corn as much as she should - still a bit unsure of him due to size and the fact that he is always on the move, so I am considering building a stack for lounge and using it for corn in bottom and thinking of the possibility of getting maybe frog or toad for middle and OH is considering a gecko or similar as they float his boat more than snakes!
Can I have your thoughts on housing different things in same stack please, and any possible problems I may encounter.
I have a sort of stack type of bookcase I bought from Ikea years ago, that consists of two side poles that you attach basic boxes (sides and tops only - no back and front) to via bolts. Not sure what type of wood, but likely to be pine or similar. I also stained them a darkish brown. Two larger rectangles at bottom, two smaller rectangles above with spaces between. Overall height around 6 foot.
My thinking is to fill backs - maybe with perspex, as may like to put lighting behind instead of inside?? use sealant along all cracks at edges, yatch varnish a few times and then add runners and glass or perspex fronts.
Was thinking that with one for frog / toads, may need to use glass liners and seal?? and also include a lip at front to allow for damp substrates.
Any feedback gratefully appreciated - even if its just links to where I can get useful info... Already started to research into different animals on web, and they will be the longer term part of the project, but would really like to have a go at the stack as a project over the time I am off at Christmas, as the materials I would need should be able to afford in that time scale... leaves me all next year then to consider inhabitants and their requirements.
Many thanks  ... AND to Lewy and Kaz......
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see what you're responsible for by starting your flaming websites!!  |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Jain |
Posted - 25/11/2008 : 15:37:07
Thought about a 'slide in' but no tanks will fit the units I've got. Been pricing a few things up online, and think I may be able to get the 4 pieces of 5mm perspex cut to size for £29.86 including postage.
Local glazing shop has quoted me £6 per piece of glass for ordinary or £10 per piece for toughened. Was thinking of trying double glazing manufacturers, but don't think they would cut it and finish the edges for me, and not at all sure about trying that myself??... any thoughts on how hard/easy that would be - also bear in mind that if I had to buy special tools to cut, the cost may be more expensive than having them done for me.
Priced up aquatic sealant from Pondcoat, and guy there told me a 1 litre should do two coats of the smaller rectange box - cost £19.10 (plus postage presumably). Did think of using ordinary sealer, as someone on TCS said they did, and as long as left to go off properly was ok for snakes... but as I thought this would be extremely humid all the time, may be best to stick with aquatic stuff...
Other bits and pieces like runners and handles generally less costly, and am presently considering potential of running long UV tube down back at side to give light to all vivs if use perspex backs..... may reconsider and go for seperate lighting and cage protectors though, as this would add to depth, and presently already looking at depth of 21" without lighting behind it.
Looking like a long term project here...lol. Would appreciate any feedback / thoughts you may have, including any places I may be able to find cheaper stuff from if you are aware of any... Have already trawled through cornsnake viv building threads to try to get as much of possible off there, but may have missed some. Also tried the Red Plastics site GP mentioned, but the site would not load properly - so not sure if its still up and running or what.
Many tanku's for your input so far.... J |
| dazb |
Posted - 24/11/2008 : 22:18:20
why not slide the tank in to the viv stack if you get wot i mean... |
| lewy |
Posted - 24/11/2008 : 19:39:34
well leos would need crickets, and to be honest most amphibians aren't great on a staple diet of mealies, the more varied the diet the better really. You can culture your own meal worms though which brings down the cost, and most amphibians love eating the beetles which are part of the mealies life cycle. Small locust are good also, and woodlice are good as long as they aren't the big armoured ones you get in some places across the UK.
PVA goes white and sticky when it gets wet - if you are going to line with glass or perspex its best to seal with rep safe silicon... you can get small tubes on cornish crispa http://www.cornishcrispa.co.uk it's also great for other bits and pieces.
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| Jain |
Posted - 24/11/2008 : 19:29:16
Only got rid of two 3' tanks early this year ... but reason I was thinking of stack is a space thing...
Thought about sealing the inside wood of the one I could line with glass with watered down pva glue a good few times... maybe this would give it some protection, as damp would undoubtedly seep between wood and glass...
Read somewhere about window companies for cheaper glass... or may look up using perspex... still not costed anything out yet... just formulating some idea's.
Also arguing with OH about what else to house in it!! I'm not too fond of things like crickets and other little insect type stuff... so would probably do more mealworms etc, with just occassional crickets...
He's still thinking of leo's or other similar type reps
Oh well... away to do a bit of research!!
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| Kazerella |
Posted - 24/11/2008 : 15:56:39
I think Lewy is right with the amphibian thing- a tank would be easier, but if you're willing to try and damp proof the stack, then there should be no problem with snakes and frogs being near eachother.
Geckos would be ok in a stack too.
As for websites- it was all lewy's idea! Blame him  |
| lewy |
Posted - 24/11/2008 : 09:31:52
I thought about doing the same thing a while ago - but realised you can't get better than an old fish tank for keeping amphibians in. Unless like you say you line the inside with glass (hard to cut and work with) or perspex/acrylic (need special glue which bonds the edges) to make water tight.
I thought why all the hassle when you can get an old fish tank for next to nothing (I've acquired 4 tanks of various sizes in the last two weeks)
The thing with fish tanks is they are easy to clean out and customise with plants and water features. I'll be adding a post when I've bought all the stuff to plant one of my new tanks up so you can see how easy it is - ordering the stuff off Cornish Crispa today hopefully.
You should use the middle part of the stack for maybe a king or a milk snake.
The lighting from the back sounds interesting, let us know how you get on!
Oh and sorry for encouraging your addiction  ... but remember we are here to help if you need it |
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