A new 8-enclosure condo in the works!!!! :)

[Kona's Daddy]

Can you post some instructions in how you built your 4 level one??

To be honest...I don't really have any 'instructions.' I built it on the fly, really. Kinda made things up as I went along.

I did have a draft sketch of what I was trying to do...but that's long gone now.

What I CAN tell you is that it took about a month - start to finish - to get it done. That includes all the sanding/staining/clearcoating/silicone sealing I had to do to it.

In about another month, it will be for sale. My 8-stack condo will be replacing it...and my wife was VERY clear that I don't need 12 enclosures in the house. I went from 4 to 8...and that's enough.

[jbabybulldog]

Those enclosures look great! I was wondering on the 4 story high how did you secure the glass on it? also what type of glass is it?

[M_sharpton]

Ok well can you atleast tell me what wood you use and how you heated it??

[MrLang]

That is RAD!


I'm not sure if you need 2x Herpstat 4s unless you're really balling and money isn't an issue. If you use the same size and strength flexwatt, usually running them to a power strip and putting 1 probe to one of the middle enclosures will give acceptable temps in all of the enclosures.

Either way, really cool stuff.

[Kona's Daddy]

Those enclosures look great! I was wondering on the 4 story high how did you secure the glass on it? also what type of glass is it?

Jen,

The glass for each enclosure is Optix plexi-glass. It’s about 1/5” thick…and secured by standard cabinet hinges, screen window pane tabs, and a window lock at the top center.
I’ve noticed that the plexi is slightly bent in a couple places on two of the vivariums…but nothing severe. It’s lasted me almost two years, and has worked wonderfully!!

[Kona's Daddy]

Ok well can you atleast tell me what wood you use and how you heated it??

Sorry….didn’t mean to get all “secret formula” on ya!!!
I used ¾” oak plywood for the enclosure…with solid oak trim to cap things off and create the substrate dams.
As for heating…each enclosure has an Intellitemp heatpad. All four are plugged into an analog T-stat I got from an online dealer. Since I have two BPs and two Corns in there, I balance the temps by adding more substrate to the Corn vivariums.
The BP hotspots hover around 88-92 degrees, while the Corn enclosures stay around 80-84.
I’m building my new one quite a bit different. I’t’s far more substantial in size and construction…but will be heated with the same type of pad. I put a flat sheet of linoleum on the tank ‘floor,’and silicone seal it down. Then I put the heat pads in…and cover them with another sheet of linoleum…which is, again, silicone sealed.
Since I’m going to continue to keep BPs and Corns…I am switching to Herpstat 4s for my T-stats…so I can control each tank individually.

[Kona's Daddy]

That is RAD!


I'm not sure if you need 2x Herpstat 4s unless you're really balling and money isn't an issue. If you use the same size and strength flexwatt, usually running them to a power strip and putting 1 probe to one of the middle enclosures will give acceptable temps in all of the enclosures.

Either way, really cool stuff.

Thanks!!

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m rolling in dough….far from it.

BUT…..I figure that if I’m going to do things, I wanna do them right. Since I’m keeping two different types of critters in the same condo, I want to be able to control their particular requirements with ease. The T-stat I have now works okay…but the temps fluctuate up to 5 degres…and I’m not diggin’ that.
Having each enclosure monitored independently gives me a lot of peace-of-mind…and provides my babies the best home I can afford.
I gave up a couple expensive hobbies to focus on my snake collection…so I’ll throw my ‘fun money’ at it, with a passion!!! J

[youbeyouibei]

That looks awesome and very well made! I do woodworking as a hobby (mostly I make sawdust!) so I can appreciate the time you put into that. Nice choice with the oak plywood; that'll be much more stable than solid wood and shouldn't give you as many issues with seasonal movement. Poplar/Baltic birch would be cheaper but wouldn't take stain at all and has next to no grain pattern. That looks good and gives me some ideas if I can convince my wife to let me get a Gila monster, lol! Look forward to the updates on how it progresses and how the temps hold once you have it all set up.

[Kona's Daddy]

First coat of poly applied today. Second coat on tap for tomorrow!!!

[Badmonkey17]

It's looking good!!!!!