Coco liner

[MissSkittles]

While I love how Hammlet’s foamed enclosure walls came out, it was a lot of work and expense that I’d like to avoid repeating for my girls. Also it would require while I upgrade their enclosures they are each going to have to take turns staying in the tiny 16x16x30 enclosure. I’d like to avoid that and recall that someone had used coco liner on the inside walls of their enclosure, which seems like a good alternative. However, thinking it over now I’m wondering if it’s going to just hold moisture/not dry out enough and create an unhealthy environment. Any opinions?

 

[Beman]

Wish I could help... I have avoided foam and coco walls because I was too afraid of messing something up. @GoodKarma19 may have some feedback for you. She has worked with it a lot. She used this other stuff in one of her cages on the walls that looked really cool too. Not sure what it was though.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

While I love how Hammlet’s foamed enclosure walls came out, it was a lot of work and expense that I’d like to avoid repeating for my girls. Also it would require while I upgrade their enclosures they are each going to have to take turns staying in the tiny 16x16x30 enclosure. I’d like to avoid that and recall that someone had used coco liner on the inside walls of their enclosure, which seems like a good alternative. However, thinking it over now I’m wondering if it’s going to just hold moisture/not dry out enough and create an unhealthy environment. Any opinions?

What are your objectives & criteria? IOW, what are to trying to achieve or accomplish, and what conditions or restrictions are there?

 

[MissSkittles]

What are your objectives & criteria? IOW, what are to trying to achieve or accomplish, and what conditions or restrictions are there?

I just want my enclosures to be aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. I’ll be setting them up bioactive this week and would like it to look more natural.
I also would like to better block their views of each other and get rid of the cheesy shower curtains that prevent my misters from spraying the walls.
I’d like to avoid as much stress on my girls as possible by having to keep at least one in the small enclosure for a week while I foam. Plus the expense of foaming.

 

[GoodKarma19]

I've used coconut fibre liner in my crested gecko's enclosure. By itself, I had issues with it peeling off of the walls (ExoTerra) despite a very thorough gluing job. This is likely due to high humidity and the porous nature of the liner. I ended up going back through and using expanding foam around the edges of the liner to seal it more firmly in place, and am much happier with it overall! It definitely holds in humidity, but I've had no issues with excessive moisture retention or mold.

Here's the build in question (18x18x36). The left and right sides are cocofibre liner with expanding foam around the edges/as texture to add some dimension. I hated how flat it looked!

 

[MissSkittles]

I've used coconut fibre liner in my crested gecko's enclosure. By itself, I had issues with it peeling off of the walls (ExoTerra) despite a very thorough gluing job. This is likely due to high humidity and the porous nature of the liner. I ended up going back through and using expanding foam around the edges of the liner to seal it more firmly in place, and am much happier with it overall! It definitely holds in humidity, but I've had no issues with excessive moisture retention or mold.

Here's the build in question (18x18x36). The left and right sides are cocofibre liner with expanding foam around the edges/as texture to add some dimension. I hated how flat it looked!

View attachment 270199

Wow! That looks so very nice! You have a knack for creating beautiful enclosures! Wish I could do the moss and such but my little nibblers would eat it. My enclosures are screen, so there would be ventilation on both sides to dry the liner. I’d just hate to get it all set up and then a little down the road have issues.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I just want my enclosures to be aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. I’ll be setting them up bioactive this week and would like it to look more natural.
I also would like to better block their views of each other and get rid of the cheesy shower curtains that prevent my misters from spraying the walls.
I’d like to avoid as much stress on my girls as possible by having to keep at least one in the small enclosure for a week while I foam. Plus the expense of foaming.

OK... aesthetic, natural-looking, opaque, waterproof.

By coco liner, I take it you mean this stuff that comes in a roll vs. loose that you glue on like in Clint's video.

vs. DIY BIOACTIVE ENCLOSURE | Step By Step With Links

1. Would cork (roll, tiles, or backdrop) be a viable alternative?
2. Vinyl backdrop? I've seen some that are printed like a rainforest, only vinyl, so misting won't harm them. I've also seen peel & stick textured vinyl backsplash—looks like ceramic or stone, but far less expensive.
3. Fabric—like a rainforest batik, stretched & waterproofed.
4. I've seen some creative things done with (plastic grid) egg crate.
5. Aquarium backgrounds (at least they're waterproof!
6. And the old standby—sculpted styrofoam. More labor-intensive, but almost limitless options & creativity. Similar to spray foam. I might start with a thicker piece (2-3") or layer pieces of ½" to 1" to build up some areas, but not others, then sculpt.

Obviously some of these ideas could amount to more than you want to spend, but I'm just brainstorming OTTOMH, so I put cost on a back burner at first. Sometimes there are less expensive ways of doing something that looks more expensive.

Another way I approach brainstorming is doing a google search for say... chameleon enclosures—to find & collect ideas I like the look of (in some kind of file: PowerPoint, OneNote, a collection of JPGs, etc.) then figure out how to achieve what I like for le$$.

I hope there may be something here that's useful, or at least stimulate your imagination. ?

 

[MissSkittles]

OK... aesthetic, natural-looking, opaque, waterproof.

By coco liner, I take it you mean this stuff that comes in a roll vs. loose that you glue on like in Clint's video.
View attachment 270204
vs. DIY BIOACTIVE ENCLOSURE | Step By Step With Links

1. Would cork (roll, tiles, or backdrop) be a viable alternative?
2. Vinyl backdrop? I've seen some that are printed like a rainforest, only vinyl, so misting won't harm them. I've also seen peel & stick textured vinyl backsplash—looks like ceramic or stone, but far less expensive.
3. Fabric—like a rainforest batik, stretched & waterproofed.
4. I've seen some creative things done with (plastic grid) egg crate.
5. Aquarium backgrounds (at least they're waterproof!
6. And the old standby—sculpted styrofoam. More labor-intensive, but almost limitless options & creativity. Similar to spray foam. I might start with a thicker piece (2-3") or layer pieces of ½" to 1" to build up some areas, but not others, then sculpt.

Obviously some of these ideas could amount to more than you want to spend, but I'm just brainstorming OTTOMH, so I put cost on a back burner at first. Sometimes there are less expensive ways of doing something that looks more expensive.

Another way I approach brainstorming is doing a google search for say... chameleon enclosures—to find & collect ideas I like the look of (in some kind of file: PowerPoint, OneNote, a collection of JPGs, etc.) then figure out how to achieve what I like for le$$.

I hope there may be something here that's useful, or at least stimulate your imagination. ?

Yes, that is the coco liner that I finally managed to find and order. While not as nice as a sculpted background, I found doing Hammlet’s enclosure that with all the plants, the sculpted foam really isn’t even visible. I attached some beautiful cork pieces to his back but the plants completely hide it. I’d bite the bullet on expense but both of my girls are still receptive and restlessly wandering their entire enclosures. I just want to be able to take them out for free range an hour or so, set things up and put them back in. If only I had a spare XL enclosure it would solve my problem. ~sigh~ Off to google & Pinterest for ideas I guess.