[panthergecko]

i made the hides (out of styrofoam)(molded the shape) but what do i do now?
is great stuff a must or can i use which ever foam thing?
how do layer and when to add grout?

[bwoodfield]

Styrofoam is "ok" but you have to make sure you seal the edges and sides really well, either by covering it with a sealer or using a torch and gently melting the surface. If you don't Styrofoam has a tendency to have the little foam balls flake off which your gecko could mistake as an insect and eat. You would be better off getting craft foam or expanding foam. As for grouting, once you have the shape that you're happy with go ahead and start slapping it on.

[panthergecko]

how with great stuff and grout mix?

[M&S-328]

We just made a hide for our leopard gecko too! It came out really great and the leo LOVED it =]

Here (below) is the vid we used step-by-step while creating our hide (we used this same exact process but built the structure different). It took us about a week total.

This vid will show you every step (including proper grouting) so you can get your project done! Good Luck!

Fake rock wall Video for beginners

[LzzrdBoy]

Originally Posted by panthergecko

i made the hides (out of styrofoam)(molded the shape) but what do i do now?
is great stuff a must or can i use which ever foam thing?
how do layer and when to add grout?

I would NOT recommend using great stuff or another expanding foam product now that you've carved the basic shape out of polystyrene. At this point I would say you should move right into grouting. The fake rock wall video posted by M&S is quite thorough and will provide you with enough direction to achieve the look you're going for. Lizard Landscapes is a great source of detailed information and how-tos on building your own faux rock structures so take advantage and check out the entire site. There's no need to worry about polystyrene pieces being eaten by your gecko so long as you grout and seal the structure properly.

Hope this helped!

[panthergecko]

has anyone successfully made an enclosure with underground?

[LzzrdBoy]

Originally Posted by panthergecko

has anyone successfully made an enclosure with underground?

What exactly is underground? Is that some sort of expanding foam like Great Stuff?

[panthergecko]

no like styrofoam that has tunnel under

[LzzrdBoy]

Originally Posted by panthergecko

no like styrofoam that has tunnel under

Well that's the great part about polystyrene. You can do anything you want with it. Simply carve and mold it as you wish to create any structure you desire. If you're talking about making a hide which will ultimately be covered in substrate, no worries. So long as you seal the structure properly you can do just about anything with it, including submerging it in water. If I'm still off track please let me know.

[panthergecko]

on youtube theres a how to unground video 1.. i want it like that except 20 gallon long.
also how to make ledges?