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19-Aug-07, 04:41 PM
|  | Pineapple Inhabitant Subscriber | Join Date: Mar-05 Location: Bikini Bottom | | |
Well it’s been a wet Sunday in Bikini Bottom so spongie has been busy making some more enclosures. I like to raise my terrestrial geckos individually in rack systems and as I was making another one, I thought I’d take some photos to show how I do it.
The are a few different brands of plastic shelving containers around, and when looking for one for geckos such as Nephrurus it is important to get ones that are clear or opaque. I recently found this four draw stack in Bunning’s that is perfect, and would suit even adult levis. Has access holes between the levels so no drilling is required and even comes with castors. Cost me under $52 dollars, and with a 25 watt heat cord , a bit of glue and flyscreen, all up around $80.
The first photo shows the cord in position and held in place with tape. It’s important to make sure each level has the same amount of cord, and seeing as the cord will never be the exact size for the rack system the excess is equally distributed and tucked into the upright part. I lay the cord along one side and along the back to give a thermal gradient.
Once in place I glue it with ‘Liquid Nails’-second photo. A few bits of tape may be needed to keep it in place. By plugging in the heat cord the drying time is greatly speeded up!
In other designs I’ve created ventilation by drilling lots of holes, but in this one I’ve used aluminium flywire (hopefully they wont nose rub - that is always a risk), a line of fluon keeps the roaches under control-third photo.
Last 2 photos shows other racks I’ve made. A thermostat is required with the probe inserted through a drilled hole and glued into place. I’ve found that as long as the ratio of heat cord used to the surface area of each draw is the same, a number of racks can be run off one thermostat.
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19-Aug-07, 04:46 PM
| | Suspended | Join Date: Mar-05 Location: Sydney | | | |
Unreal mate, looks great.
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19-Aug-07, 06:06 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Dec-05 Location: Karalee QLD | | | |
That looks awesome Spongebob,
I'm off to Bunnings tomorrow to see if they have them up here. great idea.
Cheers
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19-Aug-07, 06:14 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Sep-06 Location: South Australia Gender:  | | | |
I have storage shelving similar to your blue one doing nothing out in the shed, suppose I could get out there and make something similar.
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Various Geckos, Pygopods, Dragons, Frogs and Sugar Gliders.
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19-Aug-07, 06:22 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Jul-07 Location: nowra/nsw Age/Gender: 26 | | | |
How hot does it get?
Bought a 25w 4m cord,all the cord is under roach tub and only get about 27 total at bottom of tub,thats only 1 tub,don't think tere warm enoughf.
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19-Aug-07, 06:48 PM
| | Pineapple Inhabitant Subscriber | Join Date: Mar-05 Location: Bikini Bottom | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brettix  How hot does it get?
Bought a 25w 4m cord,all the cord is under roach tub and only get about 27 total at bottom of tub,thats only 1 tub,don't think tere warm enoughf. | The cord is in direct contact with the draw and I use sand as substrate which seems to warm up fine. My racks are in an unheated shed and the temps as the warm end are set at 27C
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19-Aug-07, 06:53 PM
|  | jellybean club Subscriber | Join Date: May-06 Location: Newcastle Age: 36 | | | |
looking good Bob...plenty of room for all those bubs..
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19-Aug-07, 07:03 PM
|  | Subscriber | | | | |
fantastic set up bob, rack systems make everything eaiser like feeding and cleaning especially when you have alot of them.
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19-Aug-07, 07:06 PM
| | Subscriber | | | | |
do you get your levis to lay in thier cages or layng ontainers? just wondering if the weight of the sand might be a problem when opening and closing if you don't use a container?
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19-Aug-07, 07:11 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-07 Location: Moorebank Age/Gender: 14 | | | |
ok well i am going to steel this idea of you sponge. this will be grat for my hatchie beardies
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The Master |
19-Aug-07, 07:13 PM
| | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-07 Location: Moorebank Age/Gender: 14 | | | |
thanks for posting as well this will be grate help
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The Master |
19-Aug-07, 07:17 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-06 Location: newcastle Gender: | | |
nice rack spongebob!  |
19-Aug-07, 07:18 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Oct-06 Location: South Australia Gender: | | |
Nice setup and great idea!
I had a look at those in Bunnings a while ago but thought heating them may be a bit awkward- but you seem to have that sussed  |
19-Aug-07, 07:25 PM
| | Pineapple Inhabitant Subscriber | Join Date: Mar-05 Location: Bikini Bottom | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by levis04 do you get your levis to lay in thier cages or layng ontainers? just wondering if the weight of the sand might be a problem when opening and closing if you don't use a container? | I only use a thin layer of sand in these rack systems. I have others with deeper sand in a more sturdy arrangement for egg laying-I've given up on laying containers for levis, just makle sure i have a damp area when they are about to lay-opposite corner to the heat cord
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19-Aug-07, 07:26 PM
| | Pineapple Inhabitant Subscriber | Join Date: Mar-05 Location: Bikini Bottom | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Reptile_Boy ok well i am going to steel this idea of you sponge. this will be grat for my hatchie beardies | No good for dragons as they need a basking site/source of UV
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