here we go ..........grin

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Posted by iZ's mom on September 13, 1998 at 21:04:01:

In Reply to: Need a new house... posted by Gilbert The Wonder-Lizard! on September 13, 1998 at 15:08:58:

this is prob'ly yet another topic where you will get MANY varying opinions!!!!
(so here's mine.....*grin*)

before iZ graduated to his own room, i built a condo that fit in the corner of the living room ....i used 1/2" PLASTIC screen/fencing that came in a 4' wide roll .....MUCH easier to work with than the wire kind!)
(don't use the wire mesh that's kinda twisted together and don't use the size that looks like it's for screen windows .... it's the little bitty holes that the claw tips get stuck in ....)
i used lattis (sp?!) for the two sides up against the walls .... it was good for him to climb on and it looked pretty cool with silk vines on it ....(i put sheets of that "shrink-wrap" plastic on the OUTside of those two corners to keep the heat in and the drafts out....the kind you winter-proof your windows with)
the other 2 sides and the door (the condo was 5 sided) i used 1/2" plastic screening hardware and then put plexiglass on the OUTside (heat in/ drafts out)this was both to give him even more surfaces to climb AND to show him there was a barrier there.... (igs do NOT understand the concept of glass OR plexiglass and they will get VERY frantic in trying to get through the "invisible wall".....) (if you use BLACK mesh, it is easier to see IN, it's alot less noticeable, but enough for the ig to see)

the top of the condo i left "just" screened ... no plexiglass .... it let any excess heat out (as if Iowa HAS excess heat in the winter!) and didn't filter the UV light ..... when it did get really cold, i put a blanket over part of the top to keep more heat in ...

glass vs. plexiglass .....hmmmmmmm.....i believe that the main concern with glass is that it does hold heat much better and you run the risk of OVER heating your ig (to a dangerous level!) kinda like the inside of a closed-up car on a summer day ...... glass is cheaper but MUCH heavier (your enclosure won't be as mobile ... if it is at all)...IMO plexiglass is easier to work with ....

don't forget a couple shelves and some branches to climb on/ bask on!!!!!!!! and LOTS of silk (FAKE) plants and vines for looks AND to "hide" behind!!!!!!(one of iZ's shelves was almost totally hidden by vines, etc. so when he wanted to "be alone" he could ....a "big ig" version of a hide-box)

whew .... hope that gives ya a couple ideas !!!
happy building!!!!

:P + :)
iZ + mom

p.s.
one thing i did NOT think of or plan for was "will it fit thru the apt/house door?" 2 months after i built it, we moved and had to 1/2 way dismantle it because it was AN INCH TOO BIG ... aaarrrggggggghhhhhhhhh!

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Re: here we go ..........*grin* Gilbert The Wonder Lizard 9/14/98 (0)

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: this is prob'ly yet another topic where you will get MANY varying opinions!!!! : (so here's mine.....*grin*) : before iZ graduated to his own room, i built a condo that fit in the corner of the living room ....i used 1/2" PLASTIC screen/fencing that came in a 4' wide roll .....MUCH easier to work with than the wire kind!) : (don't use the wire mesh that's kinda twisted together and don't use the size that looks like it's for screen windows .... it's the little bitty holes that the claw tips get stuck in ....) : i used lattis (sp?!) for the two sides up against the walls .... it was good for him to climb on and it looked pretty cool with silk vines on it ....(i put sheets of that "shrink-wrap" plastic on the OUTside of those two corners to keep the heat in and the drafts out....the kind you winter-proof your windows with) : the other 2 sides and the door (the condo was 5 sided) i used 1/2" plastic screening hardware and then put plexiglass on the OUTside (heat in/ drafts out)this was both to give him even more surfaces to climb AND to show him there was a barrier there.... (igs do NOT understand the concept of glass OR plexiglass and they will get VERY frantic in trying to get through the "invisible wall".....) (if you use BLACK mesh, it is easier to see IN, it's alot less noticeable, but enough for the ig to see) : the top of the condo i left "just" screened ... no plexiglass .... it let any excess heat out (as if Iowa HAS excess heat in the winter!) and didn't filter the UV light ..... when it did get really cold, i put a blanket over part of the top to keep more heat in ... : glass vs. plexiglass .....hmmmmmmm.....i believe that the main concern with glass is that it does hold heat much better and you run the risk of OVER heating your ig (to a dangerous level!) kinda like the inside of a closed-up car on a summer day ...... glass is cheaper but MUCH heavier (your enclosure won't be as mobile ... if it is at all)...IMO plexiglass is easier to work with .... : don't forget a couple shelves and some branches to climb on/ bask on!!!!!!!! and LOTS of silk (FAKE) plants and vines for looks AND to "hide" behind!!!!!!(one of iZ's shelves was almost totally hidden by vines, etc. so when he wanted to "be alone" he could ....a "big ig" version of a hide-box) : whew .... hope that gives ya a couple ideas !!! : happy building!!!! : :P + :) : iZ + mom : p.s. : one thing i did NOT think of or plan for was "will it fit thru the apt/house door?" 2 months after i built it, we moved and had to 1/2 way dismantle it because it was AN INCH TOO BIG ... aaarrrggggggghhhhhhhhh!

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here we go ..........*grin*

here we go ..........grin