Re: 2nd Attempt: Building heated outdoor enclosure in Phoenix

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana Forum ]

Posted by IGUANA JOE on September 18, 2002 at 15:29:27:

In Reply to: 2nd Attempt: Building heated outdoor enclosure in Phoenix posted by dougd on September 18, 2002 at 09:31:17:

I don't understand the reason to build a heated out-door enclosure, since the advantage of o/d enclosures is that they use the sun and good weather to keep the animal warm, naturally.

Now, either it gets VERY cold at night in Phoenix, or u are building a heated o/d enclosure for the winter.

The former is a good idea, the latter is not.

However, there is no easy way to actually build a heated o/d enclosure. The best and most popular method is build it like the mesh structures used for houses to cover pools or patios.

That will give u a "roof" and 4 walls (or more). From there, you can hook up all sorts of lamps to produce heat.

Another idea is heating the sleeping place. Since we are talking about iguanas, it has to be BIG. You can use the biggest plastic garbage container (u know, the tall ones with wheels, u can find them @ Home Depot). Put it down on the ground without the cover, and voila`! You got a cave-looking sleeping place. Cut a hole on top to put a ceramic heater bulb or red light to keep the animal wamr inside.
Now, a garbage container is not very eye-candy right? Well, since it is an out-door enclosure, you can cover it with dirt, and plant GRASS, or just cover it with astro-turf and rocks, and why not, throw some fake vines. Make sure all is stable for the animal!

Never make an o/d enclosure with glass, because it will literally cook the animal. Rubber-coated wire mesh is the best way to go. Buy it and do it yourself from Home Depot, or have someone who makes/sells/builds pool mesh structures do it for u.

The keys are ventilation, heat, and proper level of humidity.
That is why I think that if you want an o/d enclosure for the winter it is not a good idea. But if u guys are warm all year round, with only cold nights, then go for it. Test it first prior to placing the animal. Observe temps changes day and night.

I recommed u buy Barlett's book on TERRARIUMS. It's not that expensive, i think it was for $10 or os, maybe $15. It covers all sorts of enclosures for different climates, i/d or o/d.

Good luck!

p.s. since it is a rhino ig, make it HUGE!

Follow Ups: