Jackson Chameleon Bioactive Enclosure

[ElizabethT]

I have had a Jackson Chameleon for almost 3 years and have had a full screen enclosure. I am starting to make the interior of a partial glass enclosure to better maintain humidity. This is a reptizoo 24x24x48 terrarium.

Hoping this thread will offer some help to fellow chameleon peoples. So far I have resealed the inner edges with an aquatic silicone and over a few days have used styrofoam and silicone to secure the heavier objects (only the crystals) then spray foamed the background with Great Stuff Pond &Stone.

I will continue to spray foam and silicone the interior and then I will add a substrate layer over top of the spray foam. I plan to use Titebond 3 and a mix of abg mix and coco fiber.

More to follow

 

[MissSkittles]

Have you tested the Titebond 3 to ensure that it will stick well to the Great Stuff? Most people use silicone to adhere the coco coir. I can’t stand the odor, so I’ve used Flex Seal and Plasti Dip. All need a good off gassing time. I usually give a couple of weeks, but mainly because I work kind of slow.

 

[ElizabethT]

I have not yet, I just got some today but haven’t tested. Were you able to mix the coco into the flex seal? I have been reading up on the Titebond 3 and my main concerns are what you brought up below, how well it would seal and if any feeders or isopods would be able to eat through it to the foam and how it will perform over time with the misting. I chose not to do silicone because of how much I would need and I’ve seen that overtime the coco falls out.

Have you tested the Titebond 3 to ensure that it will stick well to the Great Stuff? Most people use silicone to adhere the coco coir. I can’t stand the odor, so I’ve used Flex Seal and Plasti Dip. All need a good off gassing time. I usually give a couple of weeks, but mainly because I work kind of slow.

 

[MissSkittles]

I have not yet, I just got some today but haven’t tested. Were you able to mix the coco into the flex seal? I have been reading up on the Titebond 3 and my main concerns are what you brought up below, how well it would seal and if any feeders or isopods would be able to eat through it to the foam and how it will perform over time with the misting. I chose not to do silicone because of how much I would need and I’ve seen that overtime the coco falls out.

There’s really no way to mix the coir into the Flex Seal or Plasti Dip. Even using the brush on Flex Seal, that stuff is thick! What worked best for me was to apply the liquid rubber coat and then before it dried, cover it with the coir, gently pressing it on. I worked in smaller sections at a time and when the whole piece was covered I let it sit and dry for a little while. As far as I can tell, the clean up crew has not eaten or tried to eat thru any of it. My oldest foamed bioactive is a gecko tank and while the isopods took advantage of whatever nooks and crannies there were, they did not make any of their own. For my chams, I didn’t extend the foam to the bottom as I left room for ventilation. Here’s some pics of my process. Also pics of the wear after time. The more heavily worn panel is Flex Seal and is about 3 years old. The other is Plasti Dip and about 1 1/2 years old.Then the scratched up one is exactly that - my panther is always climbing that wall no matter what I do.

 

[ElizabethT]

Thank you for sharing! The Titebond and substrate mix worked perfectly. I am finished with one side. I will seal it all with a spray flex seal after the glue has cured.

 

[ElizabethT]

Making some final adjustments before I seal it all!

 

[JacksJill]

I kind of like the scratched panel. It looks like rocks coming out of a cliff wall.

 

[ElizabethT]

I kind of like the scratched panel. It looks like rocks coming out of a cliff wall.

 

[ElizabethT]

finally set to live in! The right top corner looks bare but I planted a few seeds for a fast growing climbing plant that should take it over

 

[elizaann2]

I love it!