BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Yesterday I finally got to go to home depot and today I began work on my new bluey tank. Before I begin my step-by-step pictures I'd like to send out a big thanks to jkj1909 for the help and pictures of the tanks. You were amaxingly inspiring.
Melanine cost $35 for the entire 4'x8' sheet and to have it cut into 5 pieces. I had it cut into 2 2'x4' pieces, and 4 1'x4' pieces. I also bought wire mesh glue, screws, and silicon for an aditiional $45 (there is enough for several tanks).
Part 1: The original melanime:

Part 2: The base and top had glass grooves cut into them:

Part 3: Some melamine pieces were cut to sides (2'x1') and the back was trimmed 1.25" (to fit inside the sides). The sides and back were then assembled with glue and screws:

Also some other pictures so show how big this beast of a tank is:


Part 4: Me and my younger sister attatched the top:

The back corner:

And my 13-year old sister decided to crawl in (she's 5'2"):

Tomorrow I will continue on my tank by inserting the inside hides, and perhaps spreading the silicone. Eventually it will look somewhat like this (I got bored in math class):


About the tank:
It's 4'x2' base and will be dividable into 2 sides. It is 1' high, and will have a sliding glass front (the grooves). There will be special built-ins on each side to hold light and have a hide underneath. I will post more pictures tomorrow hopefully with the built-ins installed and perhaps the mesh inserted. Getting ready for my skinks!!!

nice, interested to see how it turns out!

Looking good so far, no need to rush it, measure twice cut once, if you finish it too soon, the emptyness will eat away at you,have you got a date for the new arrival yet?

Very cool! I wish I had the brains to put together something like that.

You had some great models to try it out for ya too!

Leigh wrote:Looking good so far, no need to rush it, measure twice cut once, if you finish it too soon, the emptyness will eat away at you,have you got a date for the new arrival yet?

Actually, I need to get the tank done soon, as within about a month I'll be shipped off for pilot training. I really only have Mondays and Tuesdays to do most of it (about an hour a day wed & thurs), and I'll still need to finish, silicon, prime the ugly edges, and I stll have to order glass. But I am being very careful with my measurements, as I can't afford to make mistakes.

As for the skinks, I'm having 2 shipped into Canada from Andrew Seike. The person I'm working with to ship them could probably be ready within a week, but due to pilot training this summer I'll need to wait until I get back. I plan to have them shipped 1-2 days after I return home, because I can't wait!

Shellyjean wrote:Very cool! I wish I had the brains to put together something like that.

You had some great models to try it out for ya too!

Actually building this tank hasn't been overly hard. I'm putting all this up so people can feel free to steal it or get inspiration if they'd like. I'm hoping to build many of these for lots of skinks and other herps eventually. They are also strong enough to be stackable, especially with the divider in.

The models had different opinions about the tank. My sister was more than happy to get in and take a nap, and Cow really couldn't care less, but Snoopy really didn't appreciate being forced to model. She was upset with me for the rest of the night, and refused to cuddle at night. Ah well, some cheese will set this right again.

Thanks for all the lovely comments. It makes me feel better that no one so far has told me what I'm doing wrong. ^.^ I can't wait to build this beast, set everything up, and be ready for my lovely baby skinks!

I hope you pass with flying colours

Fatal_S wrote:Actually building this tank hasn't been overly hard.

Well when you get your pilots license you can fly down here and help me build one!!

Shellyjean wrote:

Fatal_S wrote:Actually building this tank hasn't been overly hard.

Well when you get your pilots license you can fly down here and help me build one!!

Sounds great. I would love to make a trip down to the states in a plane. I'd visit so many places, and I'd bring my blueys along of course. I'll make sure you're a stop too. Then we can build lots of stuff, and I can steal...visit your skinks ^.^

I remember one of the first questions I ever asked about BTS on this forum was if they could handle flight, and if so would they be okay with somewhat elevated Gs (during turns). I think I worded it wrong and people though I was going to do stunts with my blueys -.-' Someday I'll own a plane and come flying to visit everyone out int he US. Then, I'll head to Australia and convince the law people to let me run off with their skinks.

Wow, looks great!

If you're happy enough to "freeware" your design, maybe you could write up your plan step by step with measurements and instructions, for us DIY amateurs.

I'd certainly love to know how to build a great tank like that, if I give in in the future and get myself a shingle.

Okay. Today I managed to cut and build the hides, and trim the divider to size. The divider is 22 & 3/8" x 1'. The hides are 2 pieces : 22&1/2" x 8" and 11&1/4" x 4".

I didn't have time to screw eveything together, so he's some pictures of the hides, the divider and what they'll look like in the tank:




And once again Snoopy was volunteered to model the tank (she fit easily in one side):

mouseinamilkbottle wrote:Wow, looks great!

If you're happy enough to "freeware" your design, maybe you could write up your plan step by step with measurements and instructions, for us DIY amateurs.

I'd certainly love to know how to build a great tank like that, if I give in in the future and get myself a shingle.

I've added the measurements, but I'll try to get a more through, detailed instruction guide up later. It's actually not too hard if you do it in the steps I am.

1) Bottom and top are same size
2) Cut sides to fit on top of the bottom piece sides (same length)
3) Cut back to fit between the sides and at same height
4) Attach top

Everything is just sizes off the previous work. The grooves are a bit harder, but a table saw makes it fairly easy. The great thing is that even though I've made mistakes while building, it's doesn't need 100% detail to work.

Were you thinking of a window in the divider, so the neighbours could see who's the better decorator, or a skink flap making coffee mornings easier, he,he

Looking good! You're moving right along with that! I agree, some written instructions would be great. I've found a few plans online but they are either too complicated or you have to buy the plans.

You're going to owe Snoopy alot of cheese before this is over!

Leigh wrote:Were you thinking of a window in the divider, so the neighbours could see who's the better decorator, or a skink flap making coffee mornings easier, he,he

Leigh wrote:Were you thinking of a window in the divider, so the neighbours could see who's the better decorator, or a skink flap making coffee mornings easier, he,he

Don't think I'm up to installing windows yet, but maybe in the future. The plan with the divider is to keep 2 tanks for young skinks, but it will be removable so when the skinks get older they can each have their own huge tank. Because I want the divider to be removable it will Not be screwed into the bottom, because I don't want leak holes at a later date.

Shellyjean wrote:Looking good! You're moving right along with that! I agree, some written instructions would be great. I've found a few plans online but they are either too complicated or you have to buy the plans.

You're going to owe Snoopy alot of cheese before this is over!

I am going at quite the pace, and I would have gotten more done yesterday if my drill batteries hadn't died (they're recharging now). I really have to try and get this done quick so I can be sure to be ready for the skinks when I get home again. It seems like I've done a lot, but then I go and think about how much I still have to do.... Wow. I gotta move.

I also looked up tank designs online, and found mostly ones you have to buy. That's one of the main reasons I wanted to post all this online. I also found the ones that were amazingly complicated. This design actually came to me when I was lying in bed at night. My problem was that I wanted tanks that could be stacked and would look nice, but most tanks need the lights on top and that takes up valuable skink space when stacking. So I came up with the idea of putting them in and having a hide underneath. It's a big hide.

I will be sure to post a full, step-by-step guide with all measurements once I'm done. The great thing is that I can build several tanks for the price of one bought, leaving me lots of money to buy things to fill the tanks (rocks, plants, hides, climbs....skinks ).

You're very right about owing Snoopy lots of cheese. She loves the stuff, and knows she deserves it for putting up with me. Sadly, when I first put her int he tank, I didn't actually give her cheese. She wasn't impressed. That night she kept me up chewing her bone in my room and then left it right where I put my foot getting out of bed. Well I now have a nice cut on my foot right under my middle toe. Needless to say she got cheese yesterday.

That'll teach you not to forget her again! My dog loves to leave hard bits of dog food right in the middle of floor so you step on them in the middle of night. She has to carry everything from the kitchen to the carpet, then drop it and leave behind pieces. Drives me crazy!

Fatal_S wrote:[I think I worded it wrong and people though I was going to do stunts with my blueys -.-'.

I remember that!


Cage is looking primo....nice job.

Melamine board is great stuff to work with. If it ever stains on you, use a little white vinegar on a rough terrycloth towel.

KW

I'll bet this is going to turn out so nice!

Now if we had step-by-step photos we could turn into a pp slide presentation for on the web. Undo it all and restart it!

Shellyjean wrote:I'll bet this is going to turn out so nice!

Now if we had step-by-step photos we could turn into a pp slide presentation for on the web. Undo it all and restart it!

Yes master, I obey!!! But wait...It's glued... Ah well, I plan to make another tank soon, so any pictures needed that I don't already have I'll get. After all, I need room for lots and lots of skinks!

As an update, I have screwed the hides in late last night. Today I plan to get the divider in and begin the silicon process. I'm also going out to buy the lights/heat bulbs. More pics to follow!

I managed to get the divider in yesterday, but as I had to get my new glasses I wasn't able to complete anything else. I'm now out in Gimli for the weekend so I wont be able to get any work done until late Sunday at the earliest. I promise an update and new pictures as soon as I get home. Thanks for the support so far!