- Joined
- Aug 25, 2008
- Messages
- 768
So as I slowly migrate out of the hobby of herps, and more into inverts, I ended up with a 4'x2' glass tank that needed to be used or sold. And considering the price tag I paid for it, I wanted to keep it
So I went about customizing it.
It started as a double sliding screen top glass cage essentially. I decided that not only was one big cage that size too much for any tarantula, but the screen top needed to go as well.
After removing all the rails, and track, I used silicone to divide the tank into three sections. The two side sections I planned on using for large arboreals, or big deep burrowers. And the larger, center section was to be used for my wifes Blondi when we got her one (which we have now). I used 1/4" thick plastic to divide the sections for a few reasons. It was more sturdy, (since the rails on top I removed offered structural support for the tank), they wouldn't bow with lots of dirt, and I had it lying around from my burmese tank build (which is pictured in the background of a few of the below pics).
I decided to go with .09" plastic for the tops, and essentially used Robc's tank top build videos to be my direction I wanted to go.
See below for the almost finished product
Now because my design was different, and there were no rails to "secure" the lids down with, I had to fab up a different style of lock for the lid's. (residential electricians might recognize the stuff used to make the locks)
As you can see, the locks are cemented to the front glass and the little tab slides over the door to hold it down. The added benefit of this design too is the play in the door going up and down between the lock can be adjusted simply by loosening or tightening the screw from the bottom.
I have a conundrum though.... My wifes Blondi is happily in another enclosure... What am I to fill this monster with???? :8o
So I went about customizing it. It started as a double sliding screen top glass cage essentially. I decided that not only was one big cage that size too much for any tarantula, but the screen top needed to go as well.
After removing all the rails, and track, I used silicone to divide the tank into three sections. The two side sections I planned on using for large arboreals, or big deep burrowers. And the larger, center section was to be used for my wifes Blondi when we got her one (which we have now). I used 1/4" thick plastic to divide the sections for a few reasons. It was more sturdy, (since the rails on top I removed offered structural support for the tank), they wouldn't bow with lots of dirt, and I had it lying around from my burmese tank build (which is pictured in the background of a few of the below pics).
I decided to go with .09" plastic for the tops, and essentially used Robc's tank top build videos to be my direction I wanted to go.
See below for the almost finished product
Now because my design was different, and there were no rails to "secure" the lids down with, I had to fab up a different style of lock for the lid's. (residential electricians might recognize the stuff used to make the locks
)
As you can see, the locks are cemented to the front glass and the little tab slides over the door to hold it down. The added benefit of this design too is the play in the door going up and down between the lock can be adjusted simply by loosening or tightening the screw from the bottom.
I have a conundrum though.... My wifes Blondi is happily in another enclosure... What am I to fill this monster with???? :8o
