Large Hybrid Atrium Display Build

[reddog]

I've been wanting a panther for a few years and finally decided to start this project last summer. I relied almost completely on the work of @DeremensisBlue on the academy and podcast. This was a big project, but I think it turned out well and hope some of this info helps or inspires others in their caging.

Cage assembled

First go at scaping. I had been collecting some rare-ish houseplants I liked for a few months in preparation for this. This pictures is from June. Now time for the cabinet.

ADA style cabinet sketched to fit the drainage tray.

Completed cabinet. I used Blum soft close hinges and Blum touch latches. Cabinet was assembled using a Kreg pocket hole jig. I used a Kreg jig for the hinges as well. Painted with some white color from Sherwin Williams that I liked. I added leveling feet on each corner since my tile isn't perfectly smooth and so I could slope the drainage tray slightly to help with vacuuming. The hinges have quite a bit of adjustment to get everything perfect.

Laying out equipment inside. I'm using a Kasa Smart Plug power strip as a command center. I schedule everything through the app on my phone. MistKing gets constant power. I might add LED undercabinet lighting some time. I monitor temp and humidity gradients on my phone using two Govee mini wireless hygrometers stuck to the back wall in strategic locations with pieces of command strips

 

[reddog]

Trying to keep things neat behind the cage as well.

Plenty of room inside the cage for a gutloading bin and assorted crap.

Laying out a tray to hang lighting above the cage. I used 1/8" thick 3/4" angled aluminum. I cut it with whatever blade was already on my saw, just sprayed the blade with WD40 before each cut. I am using an Agrobrite 4' 4 bulb T5ho fixture with an Arcadia 6% UVB bulb in one of the slots. I have 2 Flukers 8.5" domes for the back slot. One with a 36w Sansi grow light for dawn/dusk cycle and to add some extra light throughout the day. The other uses a 65w philips bulb for heat. I can slide the domes anywhere along this track.

Lights hung. This was a PITA to get right but it worked out OK. Doors are out of adjustment here from moving the cabinet around. Only one dome and Sansi in this pic.

Lots of plant growth since June. Added a few extra plants and branches since then as well.

Sire @Dridrop12

Grip arrived this week.

Plants are happy.

 

[Howdyshay]

Wow... I can't even begin to say enough wows! And Grip is so cute I want to cry. Those plants are so freaking cool too! I love it so much. I want it. It's truly beautiful. You must be so proud and Grip must be so happy. Where in your house is this? Just curious. My baby panther has his own room but he has to share with my teenager for Zoom class during the day.
Congratulations and I hope you and Grip enjoy the fruits of your labor.

 

[MissSkittles]

Absolutely beautiful job! Absolutely adorable Grip! ?

 

[Howdyshay]

@yuppypoof check this out. Let’s build this!!

 

[Flick boy]

Awesome ? grip is ? cool

 

[reddog]

Wow... I can't even begin to say enough wows! And Grip is so cute I want to cry. Those plants are so freaking cool too! I love it so much. I want it. It's truly beautiful. You must be so proud and Grip must be so happy. Where in your house is this? Just curious. My baby panther has his own room but he has to share with my teenager for Zoom class during the day.
Congratulations and I hope you and Grip enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Thank you. I set this up in a sunroom off our kitchen.

 

[AmandaS]

Absolutely wonderful!!
And that picture of StickGrip. Adorable.

 

[reddog]

I don't handle this guy unless it's necessary, and we are still working towards tong feeding. But I needed to remove him yesterday to treat my plants with neem oil to get rid of a small mealy bug and scale problem. Here he is at about 5 months old telling me he's not happy.

 

[Beman]

You did an absolutely amazing job with your Atrium and the cabinet and lighting is stunning. I seriously wish I could build cabinets like that for my DS enclosures.

 

[AmandaS]

You did an absolutely amazing job with your Atrium and the cabinet and lighting is stunning. I seriously wish I could build cabinets like that for my DS enclosures.

You can!! You just have to start!

 

[Beman]

You can!! You just have to start!

Shoot I wish I could build stuff like that. That is beautiful and looks like a piece you would buy.

 

[AmandaS]

Shoot I wish I could build stuff like that. That is beautiful and looks like a piece you would buy.

You can do it, Becca!

 

[reddog]

You did an absolutely amazing job with your Atrium and the cabinet and lighting is stunning. I seriously wish I could build cabinets like that for my DS enclosures.

Thank you. The lighting tray was a piece of cake. Getting it hung level and at the right height when the weight in the tray isn't balanced was the hardest part. Some sort of hood would look better and probably be easier, but I couldn't envision a way to make one that would work with this cage. The cabinet was pretty straight forward using the kreg jigs. The most complicated part was drawing it all out to make sure I had it perfect. But anyone can do this.

 

[Beman]

Thank you. The lighting tray was a piece of cake. Getting it hung level and at the right height when the weight in the tray isn't balanced was the hardest part. Some sort of hood would look better and probably be easier, but I couldn't envision a way to make one that would work with this cage. The cabinet was pretty straight forward using the kreg jigs. The most complicated part was drawing it all out to make sure I had it perfect. But anyone can do this.

Well you did a fantastic job! Very very impressive. Not sure how I missed it when you posted it. I love a good DS build thread.