I've been swamped with work lately, so forgive the lack of posts! I was hoping / thought I had posted at least once last month, but with reading week blues and formal labs to hand in, I just didn't get the time.
I've haven't been busy, but my mind has. I've decided I will (eventually!) build my own tank. I feel as though I'll make a ball python habitat first and work from there. It would be a fair-sized build, but not the biggest I'd like to do.
It's not the first time I've thought about, but it is the first time I've actually looked into products, made plans, and generally put more than an evening's worth of thought into it. I'll post my plans in the days to come, as it's a little late tonight to start playing around with SketchUp. I've fleshed them out in 3D, so I can get a real feel for the size.
Looking into some materials, I've come to the conclusion that I will be spending approximately 300.00$ on this, and that's without actually calculating how much wood I'll need, or the price of sliding glass doors. Everything looks like it costs relatively little, but it adds up so fast!
I'll need screening, ventilation, locks, hinges, doors, and wood, not tomention any coating I want to apply for protection and finish. Plus tools.
Maybe more like 500.00$, but it will be nice, sturdy and able to hold temperature. I'll be quite happy with it. I won't pick on anyone in particular, but some of the ideas I saw online looked really cheaply done. My tanks are as much an esthetic part of my environment as they are a self-contained habitat for my animals. I also believe anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
I'm also looking into what kind of product I should use. Right now, I'm basically designing a box that can act as a piece of durable furniture as well! I am hoping to be able to stack it one day, so I want to make sure the weight will be supported.
In the meanwhile, some nice examples of custom built habitats can be seen from Vivexotics.
Showing posts with label building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label building. Show all posts
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Leopard Gecko Build (part 4)
After reviewing my third post on the leo build, I realize I never got around to talking tech about the methods and materials used for the foam rock cave.
Therefore, as promised, methods and material review for my rock cave!
Materials
My best advice here is to keep searching until you have exactly what you want. I spent weeks trying to find Modge-Podge, finally settling for Liquitex, a similar product. Ironically, I later found Modge-Podge at Wall-mart for half the price. Now, I have to say, however, that the Liquitex seems to have worked really well. It was the least toxic substance I could find, it was the right finish, and it is resistant to moisture.
For the paint, all I did was dig through some old (really old) arts and crafts boxes in the basement and found a decent pallet of naturalistic rock colours. I based my pallet choice on some of the rocks I've collected to use in future tanks; rocks found along the shoreline, in fields, etc. Rocks are one of the few things I prefer to find outside than actually buy. They aren't porous (obviously) so they're easy to disinfect and use. Sorry, side-bar. This is one of the parts of the build that might require a bit of an artistic background. I've been taught colour selection and identification since I was young, so it's all fairly second nature to me. Luckily for everyone, the rules of art are somewhat flexible. And by that, of course, I mean it's all up to you. It all comes down to what you're able to achieve. Choose colours that reflect the type of habitat you want to create for your animals. For this build, as I recall, I used the following colours; a creamy white, a deep blue, a dark grey, a mocha brown, and bit of black.
Lastly, the right tools for the right job. I'm lucky enough to have a plethora of brushes both new and old kicking around. I used just one brush for the majority of the painting, one sponge brush for the sealant, and one fine brush for the cave painting details. I originally wanted to use a spray-bottle to apply the sealant, but Liquitex specifies not to mix with water, which would have been necessary to reduce its consistency. The sponge brush work fairly well, leaving a nice pitted texture, which I found worked better than the unnatural strokes of a course brush.
Methodes
The best way I can describe how to get a natural rocky look is to just dump on the paint. Don't mix it on the pallet, mix on the canvas (the rock). This makes for a blotchy, heterogenous mix of colours which looks much more natural than straight lines of different, solid colours. Another tip is just that, the tip. Use the tip of the brush and... just... tap it on. Hard to explain. Let the bristles give the rock that "sprayed on" look like that of centuries of mud and weather working on the stone. Once you've got a nice mix of colours, don't over work it! This will blend the colours and ruin that natural texture you've jsut spent fifteen minutes getting!
Also, don't feel rushed, but if you can establish a base over the entire build while the initial coat is still wet, you'll have a much easier time mixing the colours up just the way you want them. If, by chance, you want a dusty look, try a little dry brush action, which I won't get into detail here. I'll leave that up to the much artsier people of the internet.
You want to see the third phase of the leo tank? Yeah you do.
For anyone who's followed the progression of my leo tank, much change can be observed. Chief among them, the substrate. Although the use of sand makes me leery, this is not your run of the mill sand. It's Zoo-Med's Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate. Before I launch into it, I have to mention the following:
This is a clay-based substrate; there IS a risk of impaction.
Having said that, here's why I still chose to use it.
First of all, the clay is a great base to hold all the driftwood and stones in place, and it makes for great hills and depressions. It also holds heat far better than the Eco-Carpet. It's also more natural and visually appealing, though by no means should you compromise functionality for looks. This clay sand compacts nicely and forms a fairly solid base. It's much harder to accidentally ingest this than regular sand. Also, in my case, the crickets usually make for the dark "safety" of the cave. As such, the cave still makes use of the Eco-Carpet, for exactly that reason. It becomes the feeding ground for crickets. Another designated feeding area is the large flat stone I sunk into the clay sand just outside of the cave. So far, it's been great.
The clay is made of sculpt burrows and tunnels, but I've heard tales of the tunnels collapsing, most likely due to poor construction. I didn't even try this, for exactly that reason; I didn't want to risk having a tunnel collapse on my leo.
The overall result has so far been pretty good. The cave, thanks to the new Heat Wave Desert under-mounted tank by Exo-Terra, I'm holding a pretty cozy temperature inside the cave. I haven't yet been able to buy the thermometer I've been eying to get an exact reading, but it's certainly around 30 °C. Bronka spends most of his time basking half inside the cave, half outside, sleeping right under the heat lamp. I put not a small amount of thought into the layout of this setup; the cave is both the first and second floor of a three-storey "bungalow", the third being the old piece of driftwood I've been using since I first got him. This layout effectively creates a sort of Rete's stack, despite the fact that it's far warmer at the bottom. The new piece, clearly visible on the right, was a great find! It's hollow, making for a very cozy natural hide out of the direct light. I will be placing moist moss in it soon enough, finally providing the two natural hides he should have; cool and warm, dry and moist. I've seen him out exploring much more since he's moved in. I truly thinks he enjoys it! The front door access has made picking him out ofthe tank much easier, allowing me to handle him much more than before!
Although I could fit a couple extra furnishings, I think I'll limit myself another rock or two, just to minimize the overall amount of open sand, effectively reducing risk of ingestion. He has a lot to climb on as it is, and I think he appreciates the wide open spaces he now has as well.
Coming up in the next post, I'll talk about the creature I'm really working on acquiring, and possibly revisit some of my previous product reviews.
Therefore, as promised, methods and material review for my rock cave!
Materials
My best advice here is to keep searching until you have exactly what you want. I spent weeks trying to find Modge-Podge, finally settling for Liquitex, a similar product. Ironically, I later found Modge-Podge at Wall-mart for half the price. Now, I have to say, however, that the Liquitex seems to have worked really well. It was the least toxic substance I could find, it was the right finish, and it is resistant to moisture.
For the paint, all I did was dig through some old (really old) arts and crafts boxes in the basement and found a decent pallet of naturalistic rock colours. I based my pallet choice on some of the rocks I've collected to use in future tanks; rocks found along the shoreline, in fields, etc. Rocks are one of the few things I prefer to find outside than actually buy. They aren't porous (obviously) so they're easy to disinfect and use. Sorry, side-bar. This is one of the parts of the build that might require a bit of an artistic background. I've been taught colour selection and identification since I was young, so it's all fairly second nature to me. Luckily for everyone, the rules of art are somewhat flexible. And by that, of course, I mean it's all up to you. It all comes down to what you're able to achieve. Choose colours that reflect the type of habitat you want to create for your animals. For this build, as I recall, I used the following colours; a creamy white, a deep blue, a dark grey, a mocha brown, and bit of black.
Lastly, the right tools for the right job. I'm lucky enough to have a plethora of brushes both new and old kicking around. I used just one brush for the majority of the painting, one sponge brush for the sealant, and one fine brush for the cave painting details. I originally wanted to use a spray-bottle to apply the sealant, but Liquitex specifies not to mix with water, which would have been necessary to reduce its consistency. The sponge brush work fairly well, leaving a nice pitted texture, which I found worked better than the unnatural strokes of a course brush.
Methodes
The best way I can describe how to get a natural rocky look is to just dump on the paint. Don't mix it on the pallet, mix on the canvas (the rock). This makes for a blotchy, heterogenous mix of colours which looks much more natural than straight lines of different, solid colours. Another tip is just that, the tip. Use the tip of the brush and... just... tap it on. Hard to explain. Let the bristles give the rock that "sprayed on" look like that of centuries of mud and weather working on the stone. Once you've got a nice mix of colours, don't over work it! This will blend the colours and ruin that natural texture you've jsut spent fifteen minutes getting!
Also, don't feel rushed, but if you can establish a base over the entire build while the initial coat is still wet, you'll have a much easier time mixing the colours up just the way you want them. If, by chance, you want a dusty look, try a little dry brush action, which I won't get into detail here. I'll leave that up to the much artsier people of the internet.
You want to see the third phase of the leo tank? Yeah you do.
For anyone who's followed the progression of my leo tank, much change can be observed. Chief among them, the substrate. Although the use of sand makes me leery, this is not your run of the mill sand. It's Zoo-Med's Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate. Before I launch into it, I have to mention the following:
This is a clay-based substrate; there IS a risk of impaction.
Having said that, here's why I still chose to use it.
First of all, the clay is a great base to hold all the driftwood and stones in place, and it makes for great hills and depressions. It also holds heat far better than the Eco-Carpet. It's also more natural and visually appealing, though by no means should you compromise functionality for looks. This clay sand compacts nicely and forms a fairly solid base. It's much harder to accidentally ingest this than regular sand. Also, in my case, the crickets usually make for the dark "safety" of the cave. As such, the cave still makes use of the Eco-Carpet, for exactly that reason. It becomes the feeding ground for crickets. Another designated feeding area is the large flat stone I sunk into the clay sand just outside of the cave. So far, it's been great.
The clay is made of sculpt burrows and tunnels, but I've heard tales of the tunnels collapsing, most likely due to poor construction. I didn't even try this, for exactly that reason; I didn't want to risk having a tunnel collapse on my leo.
The overall result has so far been pretty good. The cave, thanks to the new Heat Wave Desert under-mounted tank by Exo-Terra, I'm holding a pretty cozy temperature inside the cave. I haven't yet been able to buy the thermometer I've been eying to get an exact reading, but it's certainly around 30 °C. Bronka spends most of his time basking half inside the cave, half outside, sleeping right under the heat lamp. I put not a small amount of thought into the layout of this setup; the cave is both the first and second floor of a three-storey "bungalow", the third being the old piece of driftwood I've been using since I first got him. This layout effectively creates a sort of Rete's stack, despite the fact that it's far warmer at the bottom. The new piece, clearly visible on the right, was a great find! It's hollow, making for a very cozy natural hide out of the direct light. I will be placing moist moss in it soon enough, finally providing the two natural hides he should have; cool and warm, dry and moist. I've seen him out exploring much more since he's moved in. I truly thinks he enjoys it! The front door access has made picking him out ofthe tank much easier, allowing me to handle him much more than before!
Although I could fit a couple extra furnishings, I think I'll limit myself another rock or two, just to minimize the overall amount of open sand, effectively reducing risk of ingestion. He has a lot to climb on as it is, and I think he appreciates the wide open spaces he now has as well.
***
Coming up in the next post, I'll talk about the creature I'm really working on acquiring, and possibly revisit some of my previous product reviews.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Take Oxygen (O) and Iron (Fe) and You Get?
The answer is rust. And I just noticed I have something of a problem... At first I was pretty ticked with the terrarium for rusting out so much, but it's not technically a defect in the product, per se.
This is the damage. What happened is that one of my Monsoon's suction cups came loose, tilting it's angle way up, but not enough for me to really notice. It was also spraying under the canopy, which is don't move too much as Rocza likes to use its cover as his shelter. Well, I moved it last night, and found this. Not happy. There was still water droplets on it, with rusty water and all. Very unhappy, but mostly at myself.
I read up on this, obviously, found that it's not just me who's had this problem (again, obviously). And although to be fair to Exo-Terra, although their terrariums are listed as tropical, this level of moisture on this particular surface isn't really what one would normally have. This entire paragraph to say "I'm not angry at you, Exo-Terra, just disappointed". I've seen other companies paint their mesh with a sealing coat of paint, so I wonder why Exo-Terra couldn't also do this, even if these pieces are out-sourced.
So some solutions I found range from temporary and simple to complex.
The most basic, which I have begrudgingly done for the time, is to slide a sheet of plastic-wrap between the tank and the lid to create a waterproof barrier. This will also raise the humidity and heat levels, since over half of the relatively open top is now shut off. I'm not disappointed about that though, in fact it's a plus.
The second solution, which I also utilized, was to order a new lid. I ordered through Stacey's rather than to do it independently, since they know the proper channels. I know I probably could have whined to Hagen or Exo-Terra and got a free lid, but I don't really care. This is my bad, I will pay for my own mistakes. I always have. It will take some time, so that's why I also went with the temporary solution.
Solution number three; spray your lid with hydrofuge paint. Simple enough, and I will definitely do that with my new lid, and all subsequent lids from now on.
Now, the fourth solution is kind of cool. I found a thread (where is it now... Oh yes, right here) posted on Reptile Forums UK by KJ Exotics on how to convert the Exo-Terra tops into glass tops with sliding doors. Pretty cool stuff, and easily adapted to my situation. I think once my new lid arrives, I will repair my damaged lid in this way, since I know a bunch of people in the glazing business. Props for working for general contractors!
So for now, it's the El Cheapo method whilst I wait patiently for Emily to get back to me about my lid! Once I get some of the products, I'll be sure to post exactly what I'm using. Which I should probably do sooner than later, as I ahve not updated my list of products in ages...
Side bar here; anyone in the Cornwall region who has questions regarding reptile care, go see Emily. She knows stuff! But that's just, like, my opinion, man.
This is the damage. What happened is that one of my Monsoon's suction cups came loose, tilting it's angle way up, but not enough for me to really notice. It was also spraying under the canopy, which is don't move too much as Rocza likes to use its cover as his shelter. Well, I moved it last night, and found this. Not happy. There was still water droplets on it, with rusty water and all. Very unhappy, but mostly at myself.
I read up on this, obviously, found that it's not just me who's had this problem (again, obviously). And although to be fair to Exo-Terra, although their terrariums are listed as tropical, this level of moisture on this particular surface isn't really what one would normally have. This entire paragraph to say "I'm not angry at you, Exo-Terra, just disappointed". I've seen other companies paint their mesh with a sealing coat of paint, so I wonder why Exo-Terra couldn't also do this, even if these pieces are out-sourced.
So some solutions I found range from temporary and simple to complex.
The most basic, which I have begrudgingly done for the time, is to slide a sheet of plastic-wrap between the tank and the lid to create a waterproof barrier. This will also raise the humidity and heat levels, since over half of the relatively open top is now shut off. I'm not disappointed about that though, in fact it's a plus.
The second solution, which I also utilized, was to order a new lid. I ordered through Stacey's rather than to do it independently, since they know the proper channels. I know I probably could have whined to Hagen or Exo-Terra and got a free lid, but I don't really care. This is my bad, I will pay for my own mistakes. I always have. It will take some time, so that's why I also went with the temporary solution.
Solution number three; spray your lid with hydrofuge paint. Simple enough, and I will definitely do that with my new lid, and all subsequent lids from now on.
Now, the fourth solution is kind of cool. I found a thread (where is it now... Oh yes, right here) posted on Reptile Forums UK by KJ Exotics on how to convert the Exo-Terra tops into glass tops with sliding doors. Pretty cool stuff, and easily adapted to my situation. I think once my new lid arrives, I will repair my damaged lid in this way, since I know a bunch of people in the glazing business. Props for working for general contractors!
So for now, it's the El Cheapo method whilst I wait patiently for Emily to get back to me about my lid! Once I get some of the products, I'll be sure to post exactly what I'm using. Which I should probably do sooner than later, as I ahve not updated my list of products in ages...
Side bar here; anyone in the Cornwall region who has questions regarding reptile care, go see Emily. She knows stuff! But that's just, like, my opinion, man.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Leopard Gecko Build (part 1)
Well, as I now have a part-time job at my old place of work (though somehow I managed to clock 39 hours last week...) and with the release of Diablo 3, I've been too busy to post. But no more! Well, as in, taking time today.
Right, so things I've been up to:
-Browsing hardware stores for tank decor material
-Searching for tropical plants
-Bargain hunting for new pet gear
I'll start with the pet gear. Just a side note really. I managed to score the Exo-Terra terrarium I've been wanting for cheap on a clearance sale at PetSmart. Down side is, I didn't pay for it as it is a Christmas present... But hey, progress.
I also snatched up some Zoo Med Eco Carpet in the tan colour for Bronka's hab. It's better than paper towel, I hope.
Now, for some tropical plant news. After much searching, I have to come to an obvious conclusion; I need to listen to people more. I've been looking through every garden center I can get to with little to no luck. Home Depot has some interesting, colourful plants, but not really the ones I want. people keep telling me to check the florist shop downtown, but I kept shrugging it off. I've been in there before, but never noticed anything very tropical. Long story short, they have some. They're getting some bromeliades in this week actually. I might just look into it. Though I'll probably just grow them in one of my empty tanks till I get my new one up and running so I can grow out any excess of fertilizers they may have.
Now, for the bigger news. I've found some decent products for building some rocky outcropping for Bronka at my local Home Depot. It's all fairly cheap too. So far.
Quick shopping list:
-Six-pack of rigid board insulation: 10.00$
-"No More Nails" adhesive: 8.00$
-Silicone Aquarium Sealant: 13.00$
I probably don't even need the silicone for this particular project, though I will need a water-resistant sealant to go over the grouting, though making a water dish might be fun.
Now, some pictures!
Behold the colour-appropriate Eco Carpet by Zoo Me, as it is being explored for the first time by a curious Bronka.
And finally, construction of the desert rock formation after day one.
I'm building it in two general pieces to facilitate getting it in the tank, since it's the full length.
It's admittedly wider than I had originally wanted but I fell it'll work out in the end.
I plan on squeezing my brown rock in front of this on a bed of sand to add stability and block out the access of crickets.
I have a nice little hide carved out right over the under-mounted tank heater. This is obviously going to be Bronka's warm hide. I plan on either using his current hide as the moist hide on the opposite side of the tank.
It's not glued yet because I want to have a better idea of the final product before I start shooting glue everywhere.
And lastly, simple tools for a simple job: adhesive, sealant, metal straight edge, steak knife, and of course a Sharpie.
More pics to come as I progress.
Today's work was definitely a good learning experience. I learned that this is an uber messy project, as one can clearly see. I learned that doing this without a shirt on is a bad idea, unless you want to look like a polar bear afterwards. I learned plans are useless, but planning is essential.
I wonder what I'll learn next session.
Right, so things I've been up to:
-Browsing hardware stores for tank decor material
-Searching for tropical plants
-Bargain hunting for new pet gear
I'll start with the pet gear. Just a side note really. I managed to score the Exo-Terra terrarium I've been wanting for cheap on a clearance sale at PetSmart. Down side is, I didn't pay for it as it is a Christmas present... But hey, progress.
I also snatched up some Zoo Med Eco Carpet in the tan colour for Bronka's hab. It's better than paper towel, I hope.
Now, for some tropical plant news. After much searching, I have to come to an obvious conclusion; I need to listen to people more. I've been looking through every garden center I can get to with little to no luck. Home Depot has some interesting, colourful plants, but not really the ones I want. people keep telling me to check the florist shop downtown, but I kept shrugging it off. I've been in there before, but never noticed anything very tropical. Long story short, they have some. They're getting some bromeliades in this week actually. I might just look into it. Though I'll probably just grow them in one of my empty tanks till I get my new one up and running so I can grow out any excess of fertilizers they may have.
Now, for the bigger news. I've found some decent products for building some rocky outcropping for Bronka at my local Home Depot. It's all fairly cheap too. So far.
Quick shopping list:
-Six-pack of rigid board insulation: 10.00$
-"No More Nails" adhesive: 8.00$
-Silicone Aquarium Sealant: 13.00$
I probably don't even need the silicone for this particular project, though I will need a water-resistant sealant to go over the grouting, though making a water dish might be fun.
Now, some pictures!
Behold the colour-appropriate Eco Carpet by Zoo Me, as it is being explored for the first time by a curious Bronka.
 |
| "Dafugg is dis? Dafugg is dat? Dafugg are you?" |
And finally, construction of the desert rock formation after day one.
I plan on squeezing my brown rock in front of this on a bed of sand to add stability and block out the access of crickets.
And lastly, simple tools for a simple job: adhesive, sealant, metal straight edge, steak knife, and of course a Sharpie.
More pics to come as I progress.
Today's work was definitely a good learning experience. I learned that this is an uber messy project, as one can clearly see. I learned that doing this without a shirt on is a bad idea, unless you want to look like a polar bear afterwards. I learned plans are useless, but planning is essential.
I wonder what I'll learn next session.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Back From Vacation and Right Back Into It...
The lack of posts over the last week and a half would definitely be caused by the fact that I was in Halifax, visiting a friend. But this is not a travel blog, so I will dispense with the details.
A couple updates for now, but they're not small updates.
Firstly, I have been doing research and have decided that in the coming years I will be buying a Ridge-Tail Monitor, more commonly called an Ackie. It's an Australian species of dwarf monitor that grows to about 2' (60 cm) in length, most of that being tail. They're very energetic, active and inquisitive. The other cool thing about getting this animal is that no tank on the market will do to hold it; I must go into the realm of custom-built tanks. Don't think I'm serious? I'm going to the hardware store today.
The tank definitely has to come first. I might even have it for a year or so before I decide it's good enough to get the ackie. The tank dimensions will be (L x H x W) 4' x 3' x 2 or 3' (still on the fence about the width). It's a bit bigger than recommended for a single monitor, but hey, maybe I'll get two. If not, no problem. Lots of room to grow big and strong.
I've already done a couple preliminary sketches for the overall construction plan, which I will post in a bit. I guess those three years of architectural technology are paying off!
Second bit of new; after much head-scratching and the purchase of a tube of aquarium silicone, which I will be saving for my ackie tank, I've realized that the solution to the wire problem with my plastic plants is simple. Hot glue gun. It dries hard and so shouldn't be a problem, as long as I let it cure properly. Thanks for the advice, mom.
Thirdly, and this one is unfolding presently, I'm getting a Leopard Gecko.
"But Zach, why not save the cash for the awesome ackie?". True, very true. I would totally agree, if I were paying anything at all.
A friend of my mom is giving it away because her daughter left for Vancouver and couldn't bring it along.
It's seven years old, really well behaved, and it comes with all the fixin's. In truth, I wanted to do a bit more research into leos and get a proper space set up, but some people aren't good at handling the "pushy saleswoman" type. Long story short, I'm getting the gecko today.
Already, I'm making plans to change up it's habitat. I'm told it uses a heating rock, which have been know to malfunction and fry lizards. I'll be changing it up for an under-tank heater. Also, I plan on changing the substrate to something more friendly, assuming it's something like Calci-sand, which I have recently learned to be a pretty dangerous product.
I'm thinking of a name like Lokar. It sounds interesting.
Pics to follow.
A couple updates for now, but they're not small updates.
Firstly, I have been doing research and have decided that in the coming years I will be buying a Ridge-Tail Monitor, more commonly called an Ackie. It's an Australian species of dwarf monitor that grows to about 2' (60 cm) in length, most of that being tail. They're very energetic, active and inquisitive. The other cool thing about getting this animal is that no tank on the market will do to hold it; I must go into the realm of custom-built tanks. Don't think I'm serious? I'm going to the hardware store today.
The tank definitely has to come first. I might even have it for a year or so before I decide it's good enough to get the ackie. The tank dimensions will be (L x H x W) 4' x 3' x 2 or 3' (still on the fence about the width). It's a bit bigger than recommended for a single monitor, but hey, maybe I'll get two. If not, no problem. Lots of room to grow big and strong.
I've already done a couple preliminary sketches for the overall construction plan, which I will post in a bit. I guess those three years of architectural technology are paying off!
Second bit of new; after much head-scratching and the purchase of a tube of aquarium silicone, which I will be saving for my ackie tank, I've realized that the solution to the wire problem with my plastic plants is simple. Hot glue gun. It dries hard and so shouldn't be a problem, as long as I let it cure properly. Thanks for the advice, mom.
Thirdly, and this one is unfolding presently, I'm getting a Leopard Gecko.
"But Zach, why not save the cash for the awesome ackie?". True, very true. I would totally agree, if I were paying anything at all.
A friend of my mom is giving it away because her daughter left for Vancouver and couldn't bring it along.
It's seven years old, really well behaved, and it comes with all the fixin's. In truth, I wanted to do a bit more research into leos and get a proper space set up, but some people aren't good at handling the "pushy saleswoman" type. Long story short, I'm getting the gecko today.
Already, I'm making plans to change up it's habitat. I'm told it uses a heating rock, which have been know to malfunction and fry lizards. I'll be changing it up for an under-tank heater. Also, I plan on changing the substrate to something more friendly, assuming it's something like Calci-sand, which I have recently learned to be a pretty dangerous product.
I'm thinking of a name like Lokar. It sounds interesting.
Pics to follow.
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