Alligator Enclosure

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
T

takagari

Candiru
MFK Member
Jan 13, 2009
221
23
48
Manitoba
Gator Tank 1.JPG
I'm doing up an Alligator enclosure, Overall size will be 3x2x6
I have a large piece of 3/8 glass given to me for the window.
This is obviously a junior enclosure as he will out grow it in a few years.

The bottom will be styrofoam and covered in pond shield. with a center floor drain. The over flow and drain off will all be external (pics to come). And of course only 5 or 6 inches will be submerged. With a raised lid (the front part which is open will have a 2x4 brace across the front once the inside is done and a 2x6' lid.
the back will be raised to allow flood lights etc. And I will be running everything on day/night timers for the heat lamps and moon lights.

First big Question for everyone!:
the bottom will be made out of styrofoam (house insulation sheets) too allow for texture and drainage to the main bottom drain.

My issue is with the strength. Can I put pond armor over styro and it will be good? I'm concerned about strength. So has anyone experienced this? Or maybe know of an easy way/hardener to put on the foam.

I'm fairly concerned about it giving out. although I know the foam is very hard. I'm just looking for some confirmation that I won't be punching threw the armor into foam.

Thank You

More to come. won't be super fast progress but I will update you guy's as we go.

Gator Tank 1.JPG
 
I'm not DIY guy and I'm horrible when it comes to construction but as a fellow gator owner i wish you the best of luck.

My little guy has got quite the attitude but is one of the most rewarding pets i own :)

Sent from my LGL35G using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
takagari said:
View attachment 850918

The bottom will be styrofoam and covered in pond shield. with a center floor drain.

My issue is with the strength. Can I put pond armor over styro and it will be good? I'm concerned about strength.
Click to expand...

I like the idea of using foam for shaping to make slope down to a floor drain. I've built a few crocodilian enclosures and with the amount of solids they produce it's nice to open a drain and let it all flow out.

Epoxy will bond well to extruded polystyrene foam but if it were me I'd want some fiberglass reinforcement. I would use cloth instead of mat or roving. My only concern would be with the Pond Shield which is a thicker epoxy and it might not be as easy to work with on fiberglass. I would prefer to use a less viscous epoxy.

You could also use polyester resin to wet out cloth and to build up a strong layer and then topcoat that with Pond Shield. The problem here is that polyester will eat into extruded or expanded polystyrene foam. So you'd either have to use polyurethane foam, which polyester won't eat into, or put some sort of barrier coat over a polystyrene based foam.
 
Dimensions are 6' Wide, 3' front to back and 2 high.
my little guy is 18" and is tame as a puppy :) I have him clicker trained for food ;)
Obviously he will move to something larger in a few years.

Here's a photo of the progress of me playing with the foam. It's misleading but all cavities will be filled with strap foam eventually.
As well as a picture of my planned drainage. The center floor drain will go to an external T, one goes down and act's as a solid's catch as well as will have a ball valve for quick draining of the tank as well as a quick flush of all settled solid waste. It will also go up, to an open T with goes Horizontal to act as the over flow, than to filter.
Gator Tank Filter.jpg
Gator Tank 2.JPG

I have found you can shave this stuff really smooth and easily with a small grinder and or sand paper. I plan to latex paint all the foam and than apply fiberglass cloth over that, in multiple layers, adding texture and detail as I go.
Than applying the pond armor over that.
Although I'm considering painting the fiberglass and than putting clear pond armor on. Letting me add more color and make it look nicer, add depth and darker area's.

Oh and here's a picture of Little Man (until I am able to sex him).
Gator.JPG

Thanks For looking.

Gator Tank 2.JPG

Gator Tank Filter.jpg

Gator.JPG
 
The reptile place up the street from my parents house has a small gator in a custom enclosure. It looked like a giant koi pond in the middle with a kind of swampy setup around the pool in the middle. The glass was bullet proff glass they installed from a old bank teller booth. That's the only place I know of where you can buy a gator.

Sent from my GT-I5510M using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
I've ordered enough fiberglass Cloth to cover the inside 3 times, obviously some will need to be thicker than other areas.

Should be getting more done tomorrow and have more pictures.

As for the glass, a Juvi 2 or even 3 foot Gator will have a hell of a time smashing 3/8" tempered glass. But thank you for your concern.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom