Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

iriechris · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:41 am Post subject: Building Large Viv

Can anyone tell me what wood to use for a Adult Bosc Viv, i want to create a 8X3X3, i want to use a wood that will be able to cope with the humidity for years, so i wont have to worry about bowing and water damaging the structure of the tank

Thanks alot for your ideas. Smile

_________________
Curently Keeping:

Varanus 0.0.1
Rhacodactylus 1.0.0
Uromastyx 1.1.0

Terry-rhac.cil · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

Marine ply wont bow but its not very astheticly pleasing and it can splinter

GJ · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject:

For it to last a few years you could seal it up with a polyurethane varnish (G4 Concrete sealer), or epoxy resin(West system two-part epoxy), and line the base with some tough pond liner or a heavy duty lino. Alternatively you could look into the stuff the Americans use, FRP, commonly none as GRP(fiberglass sheets) over here.
http://www.watco.co.uk/asp/autopage.asp?stkGroup=GRPSH
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Light-Grey-Flat-GRP-Sheets-Roofing-sheets_W0QQitemZ330230090184QQcmdZViewItem
Cheaper option would be polycarbonate, PVC or ABS panels.

What ever materials you decide to use, or depending on whats available to you , I would try to avoid using melamine,particleboard, MDF and similar materials as they don't seem to hold up for very long without having to be repaired.

mark_w · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

Hi,

I built a tegu viv which is 10'6" x 3'8" x 3'8" (or 3.15m x 1.12m x 1.12m).

I used 15mm ply (not marine ply). Basically, I screwed it together using brass screws and then 'retro-fitted' an internal frame using 2x2 planed timber. I then gave it three coats of 'Diamond Hard' floor varnish and then siliconed all edges. Glass is 4mm toughened.

My only problem has been where I have dragged big rocks around I have scratched the bottom. Lining the bottom and lower sides with perspex would get around this. Also, if I did it again I would say FIVE coats of varnish to be sure.

Hope this helps,
Mark.
_________________
Turtles: Chrysemys, Clemmys, Cyclemys, Phrynops, Rhinoclemmys, Sternotherus.
Skinks: Egernia, Lygosoma, Tiliqua, Tribolonotus.
Geckos: Phelsuma, Ptychozoon.
Tegus: Tupinambis.
Tortoises: Testudo.

iriechris · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject:

That sounds great thanks alot guys, The flooring idea is great, but seems damn expensive, is there any cheaper alternatives?

I think I'm going to do it out of 16mm ply and use 5 coats of the same varnish as you 'Mark W'

Also what do you mean by 'retro fitted'???

Can you guys post a few pics of the Viv's you created, that would be a great help!!!

Thanks again
Chris
_________________
Curently Keeping:

Varanus 0.0.1
Rhacodactylus 1.0.0
Uromastyx 1.1.0

mark_w · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 11:07 am Post subject:

By retro-fitted, I mean that I screwed the thing together out of the ply, and then installed the frame on the inside, instead of building the frame first, and attaching the panels to it.

Cheers,
Mark.
_________________
Turtles: Chrysemys, Clemmys, Cyclemys, Phrynops, Rhinoclemmys, Sternotherus.
Skinks: Egernia, Lygosoma, Tiliqua, Tribolonotus.
Geckos: Phelsuma, Ptychozoon.
Tegus: Tupinambis.
Tortoises: Testudo.

johne.ev · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject:

Chris.
When i kept an argus monitor, it was in a 8x4x4. this was made out of 18mm OSB (sterling board) the bottom & 18" up sides i tiled with cheap stone tiles from topps tile centre. these were about £1 each. you must use flexible adhesive & grout. above the tiles i used three coats of yacht varnish. in this enclosure i had 18" of soil/sand substrate. stood up to the argus digging no problem.