Posted By: alixdor
DIY custom habitat - 04/16/15 11:36 PM
Hello, I am new hear and not yet a glider mommy but will be on monday.
I am rescuing 2 gliders and will be taking 2 others from a friend as well. I am a bit of a habitat building hobbyist, building custom habitats, terrarium and vivariums in my spare time. I have decided to do the same for my new gliders (hopefully they all end up in 1 big happy colony or I will have to make another habitat)
Here are my plans, please any advice or tips would be appreciated.
I will also attach all links to websites where I am purchasing my products incase anyone would like to buy some, or give me advice on weather or not it is sugar glider appropriate. I am still learning and really want to make sure all products are non-toxic to the gliders and gentle on their paws.
/Users/ChristineBaillargeon/Desktop/11149185_10153121163398700_466703241_n.jpg
^ I am moving my table out of this nook to dedicate the area to the enclosure. They will be in a relatively common area so they will can a lot of attention even when they are not being held.
The area they will occupy is 82.5" wide by 28" deep and 6 feet high (this is the space within, already having accounted for the thickness of materials)
The ceiling itself is 9 feet high, therefore I will build a bench type area on the bottom portion with doors for storage and access to the electric plugs.
The two pot lights will fall within the enclosure, but they are on a separate switch then all other lights in the room and are on a dimmer, I may or may not put in moonlight bulbs (opinions?) There will be 2 inches between light and wire so that the gliders cannot touch it. I will also place a plastic cover on hinges for easy access to lights and stream-line top of enclosure with ceiling.
I have a quote foor a custom shower pan, built to size, which will be placed on the bottom of the enclosure, resting on the bench. I will have a small pvc pipe dumping into a pale. This will only be for ease of clean-up and rinsing. The link to the shower base company is here:
http://www.simpleshowersolutions.com <- also if anyone has tips on drain covers, I could also have it blocked off by the hardware mesh.
In the back right corner, just about the drain, I will utilize that mini nook to store a small water pump and build a full length drip wall. Drip walls are very neat, I will have water dripping along polished pebbles. The system is very slow, and there will be no puddle at the bottom. I will have it pumped through a straw sized tube back through the water filtration. I will have access to the water filtration and pump system from underneath the enclosure. I still haven't made a decision on the pump system yet but I am looking into getting the exo terra cascade pump as the drip wall will be 6 feet high and it is an adjustable system. The drip wall is commonly used in many zoos as the best way to stimulate natural drinking habits, and ensuring water freshness and quality. Like all enclosures I build great care will go into ensuring that EVERYTHING is out of reach from the gliders and there is NO possibility of them drowning or getting stuck. I do have a question.
Does anyone know if silicone is safe for gliders? I would glue pebbles to plastic backing for wall with 100% silicone.
On the second half of the nook, towards the outside of the beam protrusion along the right wall I will build a fake fig tree trunk, I do this by carving foams, sanding, grunting the foam, painting and sealing the grout so it is both water proof and non-toxic. This is a very common method in vivarium building with several sensitive animals. I would have a removable insert which would store a wooden nest. This nest will be purchased from the glider superstore online, and replaced regularly as smell does stick. There will be a whole in the fake trunk to access the nest, multiple plastic branches will be sticking out of the trunk for glider to climb up to nest of have easy access to drip wall for drinking. I have 1 question. Should I be worried that grout will be too hard on the gliders paws? I normally sand everything down before sealing, and my gecko has sensitive paws just like a glider and he is fine.
against all 3 walls and the ceiling, attached to one another and siliconed to the shower pan will be wire mesh specifically this kind > http://www.walmart.com/ip/Honey-Can-Do-6...dingMethod=p13n
If anyone can tell me if this is the proper type of coating for gliders, and if the holes are the right size I would greatly appreciate it.
Inside of the caging I will tightly hang a custom vinyl banner made by a local sign shop and friend. It will be of a tropical australian background (still haven't chosen it. The banner will make it easier to clean and can be punctured to install shelving, toys etc to the mires behind it. The banner will not cost me much so I will buy several, that way when I am changing the set up around and there all holes everywhere I can just replace it.
Over top of the banner I will tightly attach hardware mesh (to the wire behind the banner. This will make it easier for gliders to climb the walls of their cage. the mesh will be clear so we can still see the back ground. this is the product I will purchase > http://www.industrialnetting.com/on4130.html
Advice on this product would be great.
I will also (outside of the cage) over top of the drip wall, attach an air ventilation system which will have a pvc pipe going down user the enclosure and camouflaged so we can't tell it's there. This way the gliders will have constant fresh air. Again the vent will be on the outside of the cage and use the free space in the little nook behind the drip wall. this is the system I will install > http://www.ipscorp.com/plumbing/studor/minivent
I have also been thinking about building 2 more fake tree trunks, one in the middle but against the wall, like a half trunk. And one against the left far corner parallel to the drip wall. within these trunk I would have carved out 4 various "shelves" kind of like caves within the trunk. Imagine an arch with a flat surface inside the trunk. This would be where I feed to gliders, each with their own location and portion of food. There would be various fake branches and ladders to climb to each dinner location.
The extra tree trunk on the left back corner could also incorporate another nest. I will be trying to get two sets of gliders together and with the assumption that they don't all get along I could either build another custom habitat or place a cage wire barrier in the middle, and add an extra drip wall and nesting box on the left side. Please if anyone has any advice about this let me know. I would weave the wall with vines to create privacy between the colonies.
Since the ceiling will be covered in the wire caging I wanted to have various vines with leaves weaved throughout the caging to make it look like the tops of trees.
Using the ceiling cage wire and poking wholes throughout the vinyl banner to attach things to the cage wire along the walls I would have multiple platforms and toys, which I would regularly change around for variety. All of these extras could be stored under the habitat.
Under the habitat I would have a large cut to fit piece of plastic attached to the bottom of the structure by hinges to open for easy access to all the storage, plugs, drainage, water filter/pump and air exchange system. I would decorate the outside of the panel and top panel over the space for the lights with foam which I would carve to look like a trunk again and glue leaves to my ceiling. The habitat would look like a giant fig tree with a habitat inside.
The final part is the front of the cages barrier and doors. I am looking into having safety glass shower doors installed. The doors would be french doors giving me full access to the entire unit for proper cleaning and making it possible for me to open only one side at a time if I needed to instal the middle divider.
The habitat would obviously have a thermometer and hygrometer as well to better control temperature and humidity levels.
To summarize the products and things I have questions on are:
> Did I make a good choice for wire caging?
> Did I make a good choice for hardware mesh?
> Do you think sealed a sanded grout is a good idea?
> Do you have advice on types of drain covers?
> Is silicone safe for sugar gliders?
> Is the exo terra moonlight bulb a good idea?
> Do you think that will be enough ventilation?
> what do you think of my location choice?
> Do you think the shower pan is a good idea?
> Do you think it would be wise to put a divider if the 4 don't get along, or is it better to build a whole new habitat? [img][/img] [img][/img]
I am rescuing 2 gliders and will be taking 2 others from a friend as well. I am a bit of a habitat building hobbyist, building custom habitats, terrarium and vivariums in my spare time. I have decided to do the same for my new gliders (hopefully they all end up in 1 big happy colony or I will have to make another habitat)
Here are my plans, please any advice or tips would be appreciated.
I will also attach all links to websites where I am purchasing my products incase anyone would like to buy some, or give me advice on weather or not it is sugar glider appropriate. I am still learning and really want to make sure all products are non-toxic to the gliders and gentle on their paws.
/Users/ChristineBaillargeon/Desktop/11149185_10153121163398700_466703241_n.jpg
^ I am moving my table out of this nook to dedicate the area to the enclosure. They will be in a relatively common area so they will can a lot of attention even when they are not being held.
The area they will occupy is 82.5" wide by 28" deep and 6 feet high (this is the space within, already having accounted for the thickness of materials)
The ceiling itself is 9 feet high, therefore I will build a bench type area on the bottom portion with doors for storage and access to the electric plugs.
The two pot lights will fall within the enclosure, but they are on a separate switch then all other lights in the room and are on a dimmer, I may or may not put in moonlight bulbs (opinions?) There will be 2 inches between light and wire so that the gliders cannot touch it. I will also place a plastic cover on hinges for easy access to lights and stream-line top of enclosure with ceiling.
I have a quote foor a custom shower pan, built to size, which will be placed on the bottom of the enclosure, resting on the bench. I will have a small pvc pipe dumping into a pale. This will only be for ease of clean-up and rinsing. The link to the shower base company is here:
http://www.simpleshowersolutions.com <- also if anyone has tips on drain covers, I could also have it blocked off by the hardware mesh.
In the back right corner, just about the drain, I will utilize that mini nook to store a small water pump and build a full length drip wall. Drip walls are very neat, I will have water dripping along polished pebbles. The system is very slow, and there will be no puddle at the bottom. I will have it pumped through a straw sized tube back through the water filtration. I will have access to the water filtration and pump system from underneath the enclosure. I still haven't made a decision on the pump system yet but I am looking into getting the exo terra cascade pump as the drip wall will be 6 feet high and it is an adjustable system. The drip wall is commonly used in many zoos as the best way to stimulate natural drinking habits, and ensuring water freshness and quality. Like all enclosures I build great care will go into ensuring that EVERYTHING is out of reach from the gliders and there is NO possibility of them drowning or getting stuck. I do have a question.
Does anyone know if silicone is safe for gliders? I would glue pebbles to plastic backing for wall with 100% silicone.
On the second half of the nook, towards the outside of the beam protrusion along the right wall I will build a fake fig tree trunk, I do this by carving foams, sanding, grunting the foam, painting and sealing the grout so it is both water proof and non-toxic. This is a very common method in vivarium building with several sensitive animals. I would have a removable insert which would store a wooden nest. This nest will be purchased from the glider superstore online, and replaced regularly as smell does stick. There will be a whole in the fake trunk to access the nest, multiple plastic branches will be sticking out of the trunk for glider to climb up to nest of have easy access to drip wall for drinking. I have 1 question. Should I be worried that grout will be too hard on the gliders paws? I normally sand everything down before sealing, and my gecko has sensitive paws just like a glider and he is fine.
against all 3 walls and the ceiling, attached to one another and siliconed to the shower pan will be wire mesh specifically this kind > http://www.walmart.com/ip/Honey-Can-Do-6...dingMethod=p13n
If anyone can tell me if this is the proper type of coating for gliders, and if the holes are the right size I would greatly appreciate it.
Inside of the caging I will tightly hang a custom vinyl banner made by a local sign shop and friend. It will be of a tropical australian background (still haven't chosen it. The banner will make it easier to clean and can be punctured to install shelving, toys etc to the mires behind it. The banner will not cost me much so I will buy several, that way when I am changing the set up around and there all holes everywhere I can just replace it.
Over top of the banner I will tightly attach hardware mesh (to the wire behind the banner. This will make it easier for gliders to climb the walls of their cage. the mesh will be clear so we can still see the back ground. this is the product I will purchase > http://www.industrialnetting.com/on4130.html
Advice on this product would be great.
I will also (outside of the cage) over top of the drip wall, attach an air ventilation system which will have a pvc pipe going down user the enclosure and camouflaged so we can't tell it's there. This way the gliders will have constant fresh air. Again the vent will be on the outside of the cage and use the free space in the little nook behind the drip wall. this is the system I will install > http://www.ipscorp.com/plumbing/studor/minivent
I have also been thinking about building 2 more fake tree trunks, one in the middle but against the wall, like a half trunk. And one against the left far corner parallel to the drip wall. within these trunk I would have carved out 4 various "shelves" kind of like caves within the trunk. Imagine an arch with a flat surface inside the trunk. This would be where I feed to gliders, each with their own location and portion of food. There would be various fake branches and ladders to climb to each dinner location.
The extra tree trunk on the left back corner could also incorporate another nest. I will be trying to get two sets of gliders together and with the assumption that they don't all get along I could either build another custom habitat or place a cage wire barrier in the middle, and add an extra drip wall and nesting box on the left side. Please if anyone has any advice about this let me know. I would weave the wall with vines to create privacy between the colonies.
Since the ceiling will be covered in the wire caging I wanted to have various vines with leaves weaved throughout the caging to make it look like the tops of trees.
Using the ceiling cage wire and poking wholes throughout the vinyl banner to attach things to the cage wire along the walls I would have multiple platforms and toys, which I would regularly change around for variety. All of these extras could be stored under the habitat.
Under the habitat I would have a large cut to fit piece of plastic attached to the bottom of the structure by hinges to open for easy access to all the storage, plugs, drainage, water filter/pump and air exchange system. I would decorate the outside of the panel and top panel over the space for the lights with foam which I would carve to look like a trunk again and glue leaves to my ceiling. The habitat would look like a giant fig tree with a habitat inside.
The final part is the front of the cages barrier and doors. I am looking into having safety glass shower doors installed. The doors would be french doors giving me full access to the entire unit for proper cleaning and making it possible for me to open only one side at a time if I needed to instal the middle divider.
The habitat would obviously have a thermometer and hygrometer as well to better control temperature and humidity levels.
To summarize the products and things I have questions on are:
> Did I make a good choice for wire caging?
> Did I make a good choice for hardware mesh?
> Do you think sealed a sanded grout is a good idea?
> Do you have advice on types of drain covers?
> Is silicone safe for sugar gliders?
> Is the exo terra moonlight bulb a good idea?
> Do you think that will be enough ventilation?
> what do you think of my location choice?
> Do you think the shower pan is a good idea?
> Do you think it would be wise to put a divider if the 4 don't get along, or is it better to build a whole new habitat? [img][/img] [img][/img]