The Fast Way to Building Your Own Reptile Vivarium
20 Mar 2010
Building your very own vivarium for your well loved reptile pet is easy if you know how. All you need to do is to follow these simple steps carefully and also consider the tips that will be shared along the way to get the best results possible and a vivarium without the cost of purchasing a flat pack or ready made. Clearly your vivarium is unlikely to compare to some of the first class vivariums available for purchase but if your on a budget it is a great start to keeping a reptile.
This guide will teach you the step by step essentials on how to make your own reptile vivarium with the dimensions 4ft x 2ft x 18 inches. This size vivarium would be suitable for keeping most small to medium sized reptiles.
What You Will Need:
• Hand saw
• Drill
• Chipboard screws (no. 6)
• Countersink bits
• Furniture boards / Conti boards (with melamine surface)
• 2 pieces 6ft x 18 inch timber
• Plywood
• Sand paper
• Pencil / marker
• Extra hands for assistance
• Water sealant
• Glass
For the furniture boards, timber, and plywood, it is advised that you get them cut by the store so that you will get fine and exact sized wood. Just make sure that you specify the sizes you will want.
Procedures:
After getting the wood cut from the store, you need to sand the edges of the wood to make it smooth. After smoothing the edges with sand paper, you will need extra help to assemble the wooden pieces together and keep them standing while you mark the top and bottom edges to ease up the drilling process.
Drill two holes at the top and bottom parts of the wood where you marked. Make sure that you use chipboard screws to avoid splitting the timber. Add countersink bits to recess the screws and make them recess with timber.
Before assembling the frames, you must first apply liquid sealant on the bottom parts of the edges for added protection. Applying sealants especially on the bottom parts adds in extra hold and also protection against unwanted leaks. During the application process, try to make the frame as square as possible before you get to add the plywood and the glass.
Also apply sealant on the frame’s edges where the plywood will be placed. Drill in the holes on the edges of the frame and also add countersink bits. Now that you have made your very own reptile vivarium, the last thing that you need to do is to fit in the glass.
There still are a lot of additional features you can put on your very own vivarium. Different types of accessories and supplies for vivariums are easily available on pet shops and it is entirely up to you what to add in.
Maintenance:
Proper maintenance for a reptile vivarium should be done regularly since these tanks are prone to molds. Make sure that your pet reptile is safely placed on a safe temporary vivarium while cleaning.
Remove all of the accessories inside the tank. Clean the tank thoroughly with a cage disinfectant and wash it well, together with the accessories, with spring water before drying with a clean towel.
Once your very own tank is clean, you can now add in fresh eco-barks and reassemble the miniature habitat for your well loved reptile.
