Housing plan, is it ok?

[Emmie]

Hiya,

I've drawn up a little plan for what I am planning on building, there will be lots and lots of vents on the top of the viv as well as in the top and bottom runner pieces of the viv to provide lots of ventilation

I have decided to use up the biggest wall in my bedroom to build the viv there, rather than have them right next to my bed which is was I originally planned but I thought if they started barking it would keep me awake so at least if they are a little bit further away it won't be so bad hopefully lol!

The problem with using the biggest wall in my room means the new viv design is now 13'x3'x7' (LxWxH) if I had it smaller on the big wall then there would be gaps behind the viv because of heating pipes and it wouldn't be worth the risk of them getting burnt or stuck behind there when I let the suggies out, so I thought it would be better to just save for longer and have the bigger viv to fit the whole wall and I'm sure they will enjoy the room

There is a terrible sketch below, I've never been good at drawing 

The sides and back will be covered with flattened rough cork bark, which will be secure so the suggies can't get behind it or get it off but I can still remove it and replace it when it gets dirty
certain plants can climb on the cork bark and so can the suggies, there will also be a few non-toxic tall plants on the floor and in the "tree trunk"
There is a feeding platform where I can put their food in a dish/tray but it will also have a piece of acrylic over the top so its easy to keep clean

Two spaces for two water bottles which will be securly attatched,
The sleeping areas will have a hinged door so they can be opened, checked on, cleaned and I can change the fleece blanket inside. There will be a little piece of acrylic secured inside on all the sides so the mess can't soak into the wood and there will be a little piece to stop the suggies falling out if I open it
There will be a couple of hooped rope toys for them to play on and a stealth or wodent wheel on the floor for them 

Just lots of different sized non-toxic branches, cork bark tubes with holes in so they can also sleep in them if they want too



So what do you think? anything to change? anything to improve on?

[Rhianna]

can my gliders and me come and live with you in that cage?

Emmie that sounds fantastic!

[Mark]

Thats massive, I use flat bark on my frog vivs as it last for ages but, on a 50x50x50 cm viv its quite expensive, so yrs woukd be a fortune.  Also you have to attach it well, and yr gliders are gonna pee on it and chew it.

[Amalthea]

As awesome as it sounds, I think it's unrealistic, if I'm honest....

[helen88uk]

I think the best bet would be to use trellis or mesh on the inside as bark would cost a fortune and be hard to clean. But it sounds amazing! The size is unbelievable! You've definately set yourself a challenge! Good luck!x

[Mark]

Again be careful with treliss as its usually treated

[Rhianna]

ive found this too. The shop where i work is inside a garden centre, and even the plain willow trellis appears to be treated with something or other. i think when i get my vivs i might run bamboo sticks up the back wall for them to grab onto, plus drill branches into the sides.

i still need to sort my ventilation out. im gonna use vivexotic vivs cos im officially too lazy to build my own, but the ventilation is wack!

[Emmie]

I've done a lot of thinking about this and I will admit my first plan was a little over-ambitious

I've changed the plan slightly so now I'm planning on a timber frame/1/4" gap mesh for the top and front to allow me easy access to the enclosure and for better ventilation,
The sides, floor and back will still be wood I am going to be using MDF 12mm thick and I will be sealing it with Japlac high gloss enamel, I will also use it to cover the mesh, timber and I plan on doing around 3-5 coats to make sure its safe
The sides will keep most of the mess of my walls, the front will be easy enough to keep clean or I could always use some plastic covering

I will be using THIS rope, to create a few areas for them to climb on and to secure some cork bark tubes, I will be using live plants a couple of the smaller apple trees which will reach 6' max in height(I'll collect the fruit off them because of the seeds in the apples, wouldn't want the gliders getting ill), I will also be planting Callistemon 'Rigidus'- Stiff bottlebrush, Prostanthera sieberi- Australian mint bush but I will let the plants settle, get adjusted and get a decent near fully grown size before letting any gliders lose on them, so they can stand a chance lol!

I still have the same plan for the nest boxes and I will have a couple of larger branches and vines which I will secure to the enclosure

I will have some large pieces of wood on the floor with holes drilled in which I can fill with bugs or gum for them as a little treat, I know gliders prefer to be up high but I thought they still might enjoy it 

I will be using a hanging bird feeder for a feeding platform for them which will be hanging from the top, I'll use acrylic to put in the bottom so its easy to keep clean

The bottom and up the sides a little bit will be covered with pond liner, then clay pebbles to absorb excess water, weed membrane over the top and then the bio-active soil and leaves

I will have lots of mesh left over so I'm not sure if to put that on the sides? for them to climb on but I'd be scared of the gliders getting their feet/nails caught 

I have worked out an overall price which will be around £850, which isn't too bad compared to the £1700 for the original plan

[Mark]

i still think you are being over ambitious with the plants, you wont have to really worry about the trees getting big or producing fruit as yr gliders are more than likely going to bark them and kill them off and with no light the chances of producing fruit are minimal.  Bamboo may work inside in pots if you change them over, soft leaf plants wont last long at all so unfortunately i think your going to be wasting your money.  on another note, you have to be very carful with MDF, it will be like a sponge for your paint so will use a lot and it also leaches out formaldahyde over time as it is bonded together with formaldahyde resin.  your plans are very good just a bit of tweaking.

[Emmie]

i still think you are being over ambitious with the plants, you wont have to really worry about the trees getting big or producing fruit as yr gliders are more than likely going to bark them and kill them off and with no light the chances of producing fruit are minimal.  Bamboo may work inside in pots if you change them over, soft leaf plants wont last long at all so unfortunately i think your going to be wasting your money.  on another note, you have to be very carful with MDF, it will be like a sponge for your paint so will use a lot and it also leaches out formaldahyde over time as it is bonded together with formaldahyde resin.  your plans are very good just a bit of tweaking.

I might as well try... at least I'll learn from my mistakes if they do kill them off 

If I sealed the MDF with a non-toxic pond sealant before painting it, would that help? 

[Mark]

you can give it a go, i personally would just use plywood, they will cut that at B&Q for you as well, but they wont MDF as it creates to much dust.