Making a curio cabinet into an enclosure

[PlantLadyPam]

Hi everyone! I got Zelda (my baby veiled sass monster) for Christmas, and she’s still tiny and in a small enclosure for her to be able to hunt a smaller area and doing extremely well! She’s having her first molt now, and I know it won’t be too long till she’s gonna need more space. I purchased a curio cabinet from a Habitat for Humanity store and am planning on making it her mansion. Any advice or tips and tricks on converting furniture into an enclosure?

 

[PlantLadyPam]

Here is the cabinet. The current plan is to connect the two upper compartments and make that her enclosure, then use the large bottom compartment for drainage and the smaller bottom compartment for storage.

 

[Tinydino]

Hi everyone! I got Zelda (my baby veiled sass monster) for Christmas, and she’s still small and in a small enclosure for her to be able to hunt a smaller area and doing extremely well! She’s having her first molt now, and I know it won’t be too long till she’s gonna need more space. I purchased a curio cabinet from a Habitat for Humanity store and am planning on making it her mansion. Any advice or tips and tricks on converting furniture into an enclosure?

Check the depth measurements Especially the depth. Most Curio cabinets look great but wont offer enought space when theyre grown.

 

[Tinydino]

View attachment 288345Here is the cabinet. The current plan is to connect the two upper compartments and make that her enclosure, then use the large bottom compartment for drainage and the smaller bottom compartment for storage.

This is a pretty awesome looking cabinet.
Not the standard curio at all!

 

[PlantLadyPam]

Check the depth measurements Especially the depth. Most Curio cabinets look great but wont offer enought space when theyre grown.

Thanks! Yes, I checked it. It’s just shy of being 2ft deep.

 

[PoseidonTheChameleon]

Yeah, how big is it?

 

[PlantLadyPam]

The enclosure size will end up being 42”x32”x21”

 

[PlantLadyPam]

Yeah, how big is it?

42”x32”x21” for the enclosure part for a female veiled

 

[Flick boy]

Nice cabinet not sure of size though or ventilation or humidity. . There' a thread on here i will tag you hopefully lol . Good luck

 

[PlantLadyPam]

Thanks! Yeah, all the sides are going to be aluminum mesh besides the back. What I’m concerned about most is waterproofing it correctly.

 

[Flick boy]

As for joints fish tank silicone should work ok

 

[ERKleRose]

Thanks! Yeah, all the sides are going to be aluminum mesh besides the back. What I’m concerned about most is waterproofing it correctly.

Using epoxy or epoxy paint or polyurethane, or using sheets of pond liner or plastic sheets (with the joints and everything sealed with silicone), etc. all work

 

[Tinydino]

Thanks! Yeah, all the sides are going to be aluminum mesh besides the back. What I’m concerned about most is waterproofing it correctly.

I used liquid flex seal in the cabinet that I did for my female. Its kinda messy. Like painting with white glue. Lol.
But it worked

 

[Ramrod]

Using epoxy or epoxy paint or polyurethane, or using sheets of pond liner or plastic sheets (with the joints and everything sealed with silicone), etc. all work

I use polyurethane in all my wooden enclosures and it works well. A clear waterbase is the easiest one to work with and dries fairly quick. Multiple coats recommended.

 

[ERKleRose]

I use polyurethane in all my wooden enclosures and it works well. A clear waterbase is the easiest one to work with and dries fairly quick. Multiple coats recommended.

An oil-base withstands more wear and tear, but for peace of mind, I use water-based as well

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Is it solid wood or veneered particle board? If the latter, I recommend lining it with PVC or other plastic sheetstock. Sealing can work with solid wood, but with particle board, if there's the slightest defect in the seal and water gets in, it will disintegrate.

The back appears to be a thin plywood. I would use a similar plastic sheet stock over that (or replacing it) for integrity.
Seams & corners can be sealed with clear pure silicone (e.g. GE #1).

What are your plans for lighting, since the top appears solid except for the curios light?

 

[Joeskier]

Hi everyone! I got Zelda (my baby veiled sass monster) for Christmas, and she’s still tiny and in a small enclosure for her to be able to hunt a smaller area and doing extremely well! She’s having her first molt now, and I know it won’t be too long till she’s gonna need more space. I purchased a curio cabinet from a Habitat for Humanity store and am planning on making it her mansion. Any advice or tips and tricks on converting furniture into an enclosure?

Go under the heading enclosures forums and look a lot have posted pictures of their conversations- great idea!

 

[ERKleRose]

Edit: when I said polyurethane, I meant Spar Urethane

 

[Beman]

This thread may help you. It was a total conversion as well https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/bioactive-mentor.167174/

 

[Flick boy]

Yeah thats the one I tagged you in i think I may have typed wrong sorry