Temp iguana caging...

[Conner]

So here's whats up. My rhino iguana Ash is currently in a glass terrarium, laid on its back. The footprint is 60" by 34". I am planning on listing my house to sell it (and move to another house) sometime in the next 2-3 months. I need to start cleaning up and moving things out so I can get my house staged and looking really nice for potential buyers.

The current glass terrarium takes up a good bit of space in the room its in. I was wondering what would be a good enclosure size to downgrade my rhino iggy to for a couple of months (maybe 3-4 total). His current length is about 17".

Would something 3x2x2 or 4x2x2 work, or maybe a 55g or 75g aquarium? I can find 55g tanks pretty cheap on craigslist, or I could probably make something closer to 4x2x2 for not too expensive if I needed to.

What do you guys think?

 

[latshki]

a 4x2x2 would be great for him, and if you custom make it you could fancy it up to make it look like a peice of furniture

 

[Conner]

a 4x2x2 would be great for him, and if you custom make it you could fancy it up to make it look like a peice of furniture

Well, this is gonna have to be done pretty cheap. Even though I just got a raise at work, I'm still running pretty tight trying to get projects done on the house to get it ready to sell.

I figure I got maybe $50-60 to spend on this whole thing. I already have the heat lamps, UV lamp, and under tank heater, I just need to get something big enough for him, but small enough not to take up too much space like his current enclosure...

 

[Conner]

And once at the new house (and once renovations are finished there, and once he's outgrown whatever I get him now) I'll be building him a larger, custom enclosure out of plywood that I will really deck out nice. But this is just a quick temporary enclosure to last 3-6 months or so.

 

[latshki]

last week i made a 4x2x2 tank for about 50 bucks and it only took me 3 hours or so with lots of breaks lol
I just used wood glue, 1/2" ply one sheet, screws and a piece of plexi looks good and was cheap/easy
it will look better when I finish the foam background

 

[Conner]

I might borrow my dads nail gun this weekend (makes projects go so much faster) and pick up a sheet of plywood. I don't have any plexiglass, but I do have a local shop that sells 1/8" glass really cheap. I guess I could do a sliding glass (or hinged) front pretty easy...

Did you coat the inside with anything? Even though rhino iggy's don't need very high humidity, I still worry about humidity in a wood tank...

 

[latshki]

I already had some sealant form previous projects but I think a few coats of latex paint would be enough for a few months especially for a rhino iggy

 

[Conner]

Hmm, how about I make it 48x20x20? I've got a dresser we use for art supplies that would make a good stand, but its only 48x20.

 

[Conner]

Also, which would you do, 2 sliding glass doors, or 2 hinged glass doors (glass because its what I have available for cheap, and it doesn't scratch as easily as acrylic).

I could probably do either one pretty easily. I guess the hinged doors would probably have a tighter fit, meaning less heat and moisture would escape, right?

 

[latshki]

Id go with sliding glass as I just prefer it personally but either works
I jsut finding sliding glass easier as I have smashed glass hinged doors on my head, the ground and other cages lol thats why I switches to plexi for those ones lol
also you could still go 4x2x2 it doesnt matter if it over hangs its not a fish tank unless you dont like the looks but IMO the bigger space is much appreciate even if it is only a few inches
I have a 4x2x2 on a 40x20 table and there is still plety of support and it doesnt look bad at all IMO