This is a project I've been working on for the last few weeks and have almost finished - I've just got the finishing touches to add then it'll be ready for setting up / temperature testing etc.

Overall it's 5' x 5'6" x 2', with the viv itself being 5' x 2' x 2'.

The lights are all individually timed, so the cage has a realistic daylight and temperature cycle - during the hottest months, wild beardies generally bask in the morning / afternoon and hide during midday when it's too hot; this is something I wanted to replicate in the new cage.

The cage has a ventilation system linked to a thermostat - if the cage gets too hot, rather than dim / switch off the lights the hot air will simply be sucked out and replaced with cooler air. This means there will always be lights on during the day, and the temperature can fluctuate somewhat with room temperature rather than being at a constant temperature all the time. Hopefully this will encourage the beardie to be more active with his basking - rather than just finding a comfortable temperature and sitting there, he will have to move to respond to temperature changes throughout the day.


Framework under construction:



Foam carved to form a base for the fake rock:



Grouting:



Basecoat of paint:



Final effect of the "rock" after around 10 highlight layers:



I built perches all along the front of the cage for him to sit on and look out:



Cave / grotto to retreat to when it's too hot to bask:



Lighting -

Early morning / evening (40W):


Mid-morning / late afternoon (MVB / low energy):


Midday (everything):



There's still plenty of work left to do before it's ready for its new occupant, so I'll be updating this thread as and when things happen.

Let me know what you think!

Andy

Thats is absolutely amazing

Thats a fantastic looking system your building will be intrested to see how it all works once you have got it going and set up, also how are you sucking the air out and introducing colder air?

Thanks!

There is a fan house and an air duct system built in (hidden behind the chimney in the second photo). There's an intake on the top of the cage around 1/3 of the way in from the cool end; air flows through that, into a duct that runs inside the top (the viv is double-skinned on the top, bottom and sides), then down inside that "chimney" to the fan housing. It's then blown out of a couple of vents on the side of the cage. Two other vents on the top of the cage allow cooler air to sink in (they allow permanant slow gas exchange, but the fan being on makes it somewhat faster) to replace the warm air.

The fan is dual-wired, so one input is from a thermostat, and one from a timer; that means it will come on when required to cool the cage, but can also be programmed to come on at certain times to lower the temperature or to put a breeze through the cage. One of the main times it will be used is around 2.30pm to cool the cage after the heat of midday. This will allow the cage to settle back down to a basking-friendly temperature.

that is so cool!

One of the best vivs ive ever seeen! looks like the ones in zoo`s

Sounds like you have put a lot of thought into it.look forward to seeing it once its all complete

Great enclosure mate! You're quite a handyman! Your dragons will certainly enjoy their new home. Good luck with the finishing touches.

fantastic..........so what has been the outlay costs making this?

That is really impressive!!!
Would love to try that for my vitty and my leo. Thanks for posting

Well done thats stunning !!!