[ReptileOverload]

Hello,

As some of you know i got my first Tokay gecko about 3 weeks ago. I am planning a cage out right now. My plan as of right now, is to make a 4x2x2 cage, and split it in half. This would make 2 2x2x2 cages. I plan on using Melamine. as the building material. I will have 2 door one for each tank. I want to make is a naturalistic viv. So i plan on making the bottom 6 inches water proof. I want to have a little pond, and on the middle of the pond i will have my fogger, so it is like fog on the water.
Here is my blue prints i made in photoshop, i will cut the wood like this:


Here is what it will look like from the front:


So what kind of plants can i keep in there with him, I have pathos.

Let me know what you guys think,
-Daniel

[Riverside Reptiles]

If you're making a custom viv, I'd go with something a lot taller than 2 feet for a tokay. Personally, I'd go with 4 feet tall. Why bother to custom make something and not do it right? They're arboreal geckos, give it an arboreal enclosure.

[bdreptiles]

I have thought about doing something similar for cresteds. The problems that have kept me from building one are mostly humidity related. The core of melamine will expand and possibly break apart if exposed to moisture. I'm unsure how well silicone would stick to the finish.

I've wanted to take a small piece of melamine shelving and cut it up to do some testing. I would most likely build mock edges and test how well silicone would seal the edges. Things to try would be how well it sticks to plain melamine finish, slightly sanded finish, and applying the silicone while your assembling the cages (so the silicone is between the entire joint. You'll also want to seal the entire interior, so there is no chance of ruining your cage when misting.

I had trouble figuring out an inexpensive door solution, since adding acrylic large enough for the openings would push the price above 2 exo terras for me. I did figure out how to use screen moulding to brace a smaller, less expensive piece of acrylic. I thought about screen, but my house is often very dry.

Last but not least a 2 x 4. Ft melamine cage is heavy. Yet another disadvantage.

-Brian


-Brian

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[Riverside Reptiles]

Originally Posted by bdreptiles

I have thought about doing something similar for cresteds. The problems that have kept me from building one are mostly humidity related. The core of melamine will expand and possibly break apart if exposed to moisture. I'm unsure how well silicone would stick to the finish.

I've wanted to take a small piece of melamine shelving and cut it up to do some testing. I would most likely build mock edges and test how well silicone would seal the edges. Things to try would be how well it sticks to plain melamine finish, slightly sanded finish, and applying the silicone while your assembling the cages (so the silicone is between the entire joint. You'll also want to seal the entire interior, so there is no chance of ruining your cage when misting.

I had trouble figuring out an inexpensive door solution, since adding acrylic large enough for the openings would push the price above 2 exo terras for me. I did figure out how to use screen moulding to brace a smaller, less expensive piece of acrylic. I thought about screen, but my house is often very dry.

Last but not least a 2 x 4. Ft melamine cage is heavy. Yet another disadvantage.

-Brian


-Brian

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

See our "naturalistic vivarium" and "DIY" section on GU. Lot's of good building advice. I do agree that melamine might not be the best of materials.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Just checking in......

[Tokayy]

Originally Posted by Riverside Reptiles

If you're making a custom viv, I'd go with something a lot taller than 2 feet for a tokay. Personally, I'd go with 4 feet tall. Why bother to custom make something and not do it right? They're arboreal geckos, give it an arboreal enclosure.

I agree.. If you are making your own cage, go taller than 2 feet.

[rhino43grr]

you would still need another 2x2 square, unless you were using a different material for the inside barrier, and a 2x4 rectangle unless the top is going to be screen.

why not make a split 4x2x4 cage instead? it would be the same footprint as your split cage idea and not leave you with a bunch of leftover wood.
you could cut the first 8x4 sheet of whatever material you're using into a 4x4 square and two 2x4 rectangles for the back and outside sides. cut the second into four 2x4 rectangles for the bottom, middle wall and doors and use screen for the top.