6Ft long X 2 Feet wide X 4 Ft tall, two level enclosure.

[BlueButterfly]

ok, so i took pics while we were building the enclosure for our sav, We are aware that it needs to be at least 4 ft wide, and we have designed the cage so we can remove the back and add another section when we move. but this terrarium would work for i think many different types of reptiles with little mods for your spiecies so I figured Id share... so here we go.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/01971e52.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/85879812.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/209afdff.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/f44cf699.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/6ad75529.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/fb9dd355.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/c3145ff4.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/f8cdf39b.jpg

[BlueButterfly]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/9ae66121.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/9f0751c4.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/d7fe1a9f.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/70a0a0fe.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/5d8b1a27.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/e4ffe4a1.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/bf3a02e6.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/f37bd14b.jpg

[BlueButterfly]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/abff06b7.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/2ed75ab3.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/c686dc0a.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/6a07b0f3.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/2b75aaa0.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/06c6dd35.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/bostonianbutterfly/reptiles/7559d2b5.jpg

[hellosugaree]

Awesome! Puts my project to shame. I'm in the process of building a simple rat rack for 6 tubs and it's already drawing all my carpentry skills and forcing me to learn new stuff too.

[BlueButterfly]

If anyone has any questions please ask! It was easy to do and is very light weight!!! I was supprised! Of course, once we added all that savy substrait it is MUCH heavier.. but if you need to move it, my hubby and I carried this completed terrarium accross our driveway up our front steps and into our livingroom by ourselves very easily!!! hope this helps someone. If you plan to move it lots, id add carry handles on it to make it easier as thats the ONLY trouble we had as there is no where to grab lol..

[Terranaut]

Now thats killer!! Fantastic job

[hellosugaree]

What was the total cost for materials?

[jarich]

I like the two floors to give it extra room to roam. And the glass on the sides is a nice touch. My only question is how is the humidity holding up? Thats a lot of heat rising from the top of the lights, which means it is drawing moist air up out of your enclosure. If you encased the lights within the tank, I think you would find that the humidity would stay much more constant and higher. Plus you would only need a couple lights instead of four. Just a thought ;)

[hylia]

Awesome job and your pictures are very helpful. I am going to keep this thread handy for when I start on my snake's enclosure. I really like how you made the window frame, really nice. May I ask what kind of paint/stain you used?

[BlueButterfly]

well the top floor stays at around 20% hum, and bottom is 70 on the left and 60 on the right... its good for our guy as #1. he need the varience in humidity and can go where he choses to get what he needs...... and 2. lights inside the enclosure WILL be clinged to and crawled on and he WILL burn himself on them.. I find the soil mixture holds the humidity perfectly... its actually not to bad... Im suprised... plus he can take a dip in his pool if he needs it too... :) but putting the lights inside would be a great idea for another spiecies.

[BlueButterfly]

It was low or zero VOC water based paint i do know that for sure...ill have to ask hubby as he handled it... we also let the terrarium air dry outside on a sunny day for an entire day and night before we added the doors and plexiglass so it had no fumes at all when we brought it inside.. then it sat for another day inside without him in it while we prepaired it for him. it was great... even when painting it there were like...no fumes... I think i will use this paint again inside when i paint the rooms in the house.. lol I hate the smell of paint.. yuck! the color ia almost a wine... ill find the chip for it. I do know it was a chip from a different paint brand but they made it for me special. they were very helpful as the girl has an iguana and was very knowledgeable...

[alessia55]

Wow, looks great! That is one spoiled sav ;)

[BlueButterfly]

What was the total cost for materials?

oh jeepers... lol i really tried not to keep track of cost... it was around 500.$550?

[USMCgunner11]

looks awesome!!

[KSTAR]

Awesome cage I need to build something like that!

[Freebody]

did you make sure the paint you used is not toxic? and or the clear coat, if you put a few coats on after?

[Gungirl]

It "looks" good but I don't see something like that lasting long at all.

[BlueButterfly]

did you make sure the paint you used is not toxic? and or the clear coat, if you put a few coats on after?


yes of corse lol..

[BlueButterfly]

It "looks" good but I don't see something like that lasting long at all.


i dont see why it wouldnt... We made it with its intended use in mind...I really dont see why it wouldnt last?

[infernalis]

I see air leaks.

Kudos on the nice job, how much soil is in the bottom??

Monitors like to dig tunnels.

[OSMDEATHOWNER]

now thats killer!! Fantastic job

agreed by me!

[OSMDEATHOWNER]

Wow, looks great! That is one spoiled sav ;)

lol I know rite, that's really encouragement for me to make some stuff for ma Ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KORBIN5895]

well the top floor stays at around 20% hum, and bottom is 70 on the left and 60 on the right... its good for our guy as #1. he need the varience in humidity and can go where he choses to get what he needs...... and 2. lights inside the enclosure WILL be clinged to and crawled on and he WILL burn himself on them.. I find the soil mixture holds the humidity perfectly... its actually not to bad... Im suprised... plus he can take a dip in his pool if he needs it too... :) but putting the lights inside would be a great idea for another spiecies.

Sorry but your info on the lights is wrong. I don't have a sav but I have read several different sites and heard several experienced and knowledgeable people say that you should use several lights inside of the cage. I suggest you pm Wayne and ask him why.

[infernalis]

Sorry but your info on the lights is wrong. I don't have a sav but I have read several different sites and heard several experienced and knowledgeable people say that you should use several lights inside of the cage. I suggest you pm Wayne and ask him why.

We covered this, and I suggested insulation just this morning.:D

[knox]

This would be an awesome, if over kill, cage for a climbing snake like a Black Rat. You could have nearly a freaking TREE in there!

Well done! I love building things, but have never tackled anything this ambitious. One day, though...

[KORBIN5895]

Sorry. I must have missed it. I thought it was odd that that was posted a week ago and nobody said anything.

[BarelyBreathing]

It looks great, but it isn't suitable for an animal like a savannah monitor. They need two feet of substrate and a humidity gradient of 40-80%. 20% is way too low.

[BlueButterfly]

there is about 10inches of soil, sand mixture....and
and the humidity is 20 + on the top floor right under the basking spot... (one of the reasons we are moving the lights inside...lowering the wattage etc) thats not the gradient up there it is more humid on the cooler side of the top floor...... there is also the water tub on the top for him...and humidity is over 70 + most of the time on the bottom floor... I realise it isnt as bigs as we'd like, but we are moving in a few months and we made it so we can expand it when we are ready... Considering he WAS kept in an exo terra by the previous owners.. i think it is way better... I realise there are some air leaks around the doors.... we are working on that... going to make some adjustments this weekend...

really trying to do whats best for him.. this is completely new to us and we are doing everything we can... :) wouldnt be able to do it if not for this forum and all of your help...so thank you...

[BarelyBreathing]

It is better, yes, but keep in mind, the minimum humidity level should be 40%, double what your minimum is. Savannah monitors need two feed of substrate, MORE than double what yours is. I would transform this enclosure for the beardies and start again. There are plenty of suitable savannah monitor build plans available on the internet, and Wayne has gone above and beyond with his, and has recorded his progress every step of the way. I recommend you use that as a guide.

[Bradyloach]

i love the enclosure personally! lower the watttages and your humitdy will JUMP.