Built this thing a few days ago. My father helped me with the very beginning, but I did most of this overall. It is 6 ft high, 2 ft wide, and 4 ft deep. Considering I'm a pansy and can't do anything that requires much labor -- I'm quite proud of it! It turned out exactly like I had imagined, though it is not 100% complete. I still have to cut out the large squares where the basking lights will be. The whole idea is let the lizards bask, rather than use belly heat. Almost every large reptile breeder I've talked to has said they've had thermostats to fail, so I'm swaying from it. Yes, I know heat lamps can, too; I'd rather take my chances with a heat lamp.
I'm still at the drawing table as far as how I'm going to mount the basking lights. Some have suggested to mount them at the high point (roughly 30 cm, 12 in), others have suggested getting a dimmer switch to place right above the tubs (only about 7 in gap). What would you guys do? I'm up for suggestions. If I mounted the lights up high, then I'd have to get a halogen bulb, so the heat directs downwards. I may or may not need to get a dimmer for this idea (will need to test, obviously). If I do the dimmer, I'm going to be placing the lamps right on top of the screen I'm placing in, leaving about a 7-8 gap between the lizard and the basking light. The light will be kinda close to the lizard, but with the dimmer, the output will be lowered making it an appropriate basking area (not too hot). I'm trying to decide the safest, most practical way of doing this. I'm starting on the second one (building two for now) once this one is done.
Thanks for viewing! If anyone is wondering the tubs are CB-110 by IRIS, roughly 20 in x 40 x 7 in.
