Custom-built terrariums?

[Poppy243]

I'm in need of a larger terrarium to house my geckos, but I have some specific needs pertaining to style and size and I feel that a custom terrarium is going to be my best bet. One of my geckos is somewhat skittish at times and it's easier to work with her with a front-opening terrarium. I've looked around but I haven't found anything I really like. I've talked to a few people, and I found someone who can make exactly what I wanted (McCarthy Boas) but I'm worried I won't hear from them, so I need to look elsewhere. Does anyone know a good place to get a custom cage?

 

[Akari_32]

I'm actually about the make my own tank. Lowes and Home Depot sell and cut glass, as have the silicon, caulk gun, tape, wire and everything else you need to build your own tank. For $50 I got enough glass to build a 24x19x13 tank, silicon and painters tape. Once that's put together I need to figure out a top.

You can easily build a tank with sliding or swinging doors on the front of it.

 

[Poppy243]

I don't have the time to dedicate to building my own tank at the moment. I won't have the time until we leave for Christmas break in December. College is wonderful and you get a solid month! Lol. Although that seems like the best option for me, I don't want to wait til then... My new gecko that's prompted this upgrade is temporarily set up in a carrying case. She's small and it's enough room for her for a while, but I don't want to have to leave her in there that long.

 

[Akari_32]

It actually only takes about a day, once you have all the materials. It was the price shopping and figuring out how much glass I needed that took up the most time for me. About a week to get it all figured out. Most of it can be done online in down time.

Othe wise, just check around. It's not hard to glue stuff together, so just about anyone could do it. Your best bet would be a locally owned fish or reptile shop, or like a furniture place, or someone who deals directly with glass.

 

[Poppy243]

I wish we had more locally owned reptile shops around here! I don't think there are any actual reptile shops, just breeders that go to shows every couple of months. Other than the chains, of course, but I may never buy a gecko there. It's kind of a bummer not to have shops though. I will definitely look into the fish store thing though. There are lots of people here who are wealthy enough to have custom aquariums in their homes or offices, so I bet I could talk to one of the fish stores and see if we could work out a deal. Because, unfortunately for me, college students don't often have a day to spend building something. Especially with my area of study… But people around here are generally pretty nice and I'd happily compensate them for their time. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Akari_32]

I actually drive over an hour to the only good reptile shop around here LOL I buy most of my feeder there, since I'm in Thr area twice a week for class. Everything but the meal worms are cheaper there.

If a fish store can't help you, they may at least know of someone who can. People in the hobby know people There's also a company (well, there are several, I'm sure) online that build custom aquariums and such. I'm sure google could dig them up. I'll ask my fish friends, too. I've got a few with great connections.

 

[Poppy243]

There's all kinds of places that make custom terrariums and aquariums, but the terrariums were never quite to my liking. I'm not a big fan of melamine or any opaque sides, especially since it will be oriented sideways for a while. I wanna be able to keep an eye on the silly geckos even when it's facing like that, so I want something made of glass or acrylic. I'm going to end up building a fake rock canyon to put inside it so I want to get it ASAP.