diy enclosure

[fishyfan]

I am considering converting one of the shelves in my bookcase to another lizard cage. The shelf is about 52" long and 10" wide and im trying to figure out how to heat it. I was thinking of putting some 3" heat tape along either the front or the back. Do you guys think that will provide enough of a heat gradient?

Heres a (really) quick diagram:

Ill try to get a pic of the bookcase in a little bit...

 

[brad.a.c]

Sounds cool.

 

[Dom3rd]

only thing i would worry about is burnin the shelves, what are they made out of?

 

[fishyfan]

The shelves are made out of wood, i didn't think heat tape got hot enough to burn wood???

 

[GeckoJunkie]

I think maybe if you add a dimmer to the heat tape you would be fine. Over time withouot a dimmer the heat tape will burn the wood, maybe not enough to start a fire but it will burn it enough to mark it really bad.....I learned this the hard way several years back.

 

[fishyfan]

will the heat tape get hot enough if i add a dimmer switch? Is there anything i can lay down below the heat tape to prevent burning the wood?

Btw, im planning to lay tiles on top of the heat tape...

 

[fishyfan]

Heres a few pics of the bookcase:

I plan on converting the red highlighted area to another lizard cage

A few pics of the golden gecko cage already built into the bookcase:

Access panel (The shelf is divided into 3 parts, 2 larger doors for rearranging decor and cleaning, a smaller one for feeding, pic is of feeding door)

 

[Sidork]

thats a cool enclosure. Would it help if you put a thin sheet of metal underneath the heat tape?

 

[bellicose]

I love the current cage. How did you keep the glass in place?

 

[wings2fly]

I built 3 tanks using a bookshelf. It isn't the greatest, but it works for now.
I put tiles on the bottom to keep the wood from burning and/or getting wet.

Carin

 

[fishyfan]

thats a cool enclosure. Would it help if you put a thin sheet of metal underneath the heat tape?

thanks

the metal flashing is a good idea, i wonder if it'd work?

I love the current cage. How did you keep the glass in place?

Thanks

the plastic is held in place with small finish nails and silicone...

I built 3 tanks using a bookshelf. It isn't the greatest, but it works for now.
I put tiles on the bottom to keep the wood from burning and/or getting wet.

Carin

So maybe like one layer of tiles, then the heat tape, and then another layer of tiles?

 

[wings2fly]

That is the idea. However, I decieded to use heat pads, because the bookshelf is longer than it is wide. That way the geckos have a hot side and a cold side.

Carin

 

[brad.a.c]

I built 3 tanks using a bookshelf. It isn't the greatest, but it works for now.
I put tiles on the bottom to keep the wood from burning and/or getting wet.

Carin

That's an awsome cage shelf thing. :main_yes: