Latest DIY Project for Phin - Enclosure Upgrade!
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:33 pm
Hi everyone!
Not exactly sure if this is allowed in this forum or the off-topic, but I figured I'd give it a go and post here.
I wanted to tell you all about my most recent DIY project - I'm converting our big, beautiful armoire into two big, beautiful enclosures! I'm planning on installing a horizontal panel at the halfway point, splitting the armoire into two "tiers". I couldn't remember the exact measurements and the measuring tape is no where to be found, so I got rough estimates using a weird ruler with inexact numbers! If I recall, it's about 42x22x42, so each lizard (Phineas, the BTS and Kenzo, the uromastyx) would get 42x22x21. Pretty nice improvement from their 55 gallon homes!
Here are some photos of said armoire. The main doors have been removed and are being cut, because they have the same "shutter" pattern as the bottom storage doors. I'm going to replace both entire sections with plexiglass and I was thinking that the open back panel will be lined with a sturdy mesh of some sort so that neither lizard can injure himself, but it still allows for ventilation. Would that be alright, or would you recommend putting wood in the back to cover up the opening and only putting mesh on those mid-sized holes for ventilation? I was just contemplating that because injury and too much ventilation could be an issue with that much opening (though I suppose that much opening isn't much different that a glass tank's screen lid...)
Also, these hinges were going to hold the doors in place. They're actually pretty strong, so neither lizard would be able to push the doors open. I was going to line a strip of wood along the entire back of these hinges to make sure that substrate doesn't fall out when I open the doors and so none gets stuck in them. Does this sound like it would work?
Thank you! I look forward to your feedback and possible advice!
Not exactly sure if this is allowed in this forum or the off-topic, but I figured I'd give it a go and post here.
I wanted to tell you all about my most recent DIY project - I'm converting our big, beautiful armoire into two big, beautiful enclosures! I'm planning on installing a horizontal panel at the halfway point, splitting the armoire into two "tiers". I couldn't remember the exact measurements and the measuring tape is no where to be found, so I got rough estimates using a weird ruler with inexact numbers! If I recall, it's about 42x22x42, so each lizard (Phineas, the BTS and Kenzo, the uromastyx) would get 42x22x21. Pretty nice improvement from their 55 gallon homes!
Here are some photos of said armoire. The main doors have been removed and are being cut, because they have the same "shutter" pattern as the bottom storage doors. I'm going to replace both entire sections with plexiglass and I was thinking that the open back panel will be lined with a sturdy mesh of some sort so that neither lizard can injure himself, but it still allows for ventilation. Would that be alright, or would you recommend putting wood in the back to cover up the opening and only putting mesh on those mid-sized holes for ventilation? I was just contemplating that because injury and too much ventilation could be an issue with that much opening (though I suppose that much opening isn't much different that a glass tank's screen lid...)
Also, these hinges were going to hold the doors in place. They're actually pretty strong, so neither lizard would be able to push the doors open. I was going to line a strip of wood along the entire back of these hinges to make sure that substrate doesn't fall out when I open the doors and so none gets stuck in them. Does this sound like it would work?
Thank you! I look forward to your feedback and possible advice!
