DIY Faux rock

andy_rotten · Member Joined: Jul 11, 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Italy

i'm about to build an enclosure for my tegus, i thought it would look nice to make faux rock as a background like the one in the picture. so here's the questionDo you think it will be useless for a tegu's enclosure?
Here's HOW TO DO IT if anyone is interested in diy...

Edit - just changed your link as it was directing to that same picture you posted.

Jo

arf-man · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:24 pm Post subject:

I think this is the link you intended:
[url]
http://www.treemonitors.com/diyfauxrock.html
[/url]

Johelian · Retired Mod Joined: Nov 22, 2004 Posts: 848

Those walls are fantastic! Im sorely tempted to make one for my beardie, if I can ever get the materials together

I think something like this would work well for part of a large tegu setup, particularly if it can include things like basking spots and caves, etc. Be careful not to extend too high, as a clumsy adult tegu will probably fall off precarious ledges. Also, make sure that the layer of cement on top is pretty thick, as I think tegus will exercise their digging might against it and if they dig down to the lathe underneath it would be disastrous. I dont know if this would make it too heavy to use...I guess someone with more experience on this could sort me out on this

The texture of the rocks should help keep your tegus nails trim as well.

Johelian · Retired Mod Joined: Nov 22, 2004 Posts: 848

arf-man · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:34 am Post subject:

I'll bet with a little thought, you could construct this so you would have a ramp up to a ledge that would serve as a basking area, and could construct a "cave" underneath that ledge. That would be pretty cool. You'd probably have to provide additional support for the "ledge" but you could probably do that with a small piece of horizontal plywood under the top of the ledge supported by shelf brackets...

This might make a good winter project...

drfish · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:23 am Post subject:

Oh the art of papier mache, if only i'd payed more attention at school.

I reckon it would be dead easy to make something similar, using a combination of paper, glue and paint.

For those in the UK, this could be a Blue Peter badge winner I suspect.

arf-man · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:27 am Post subject:

It may be easier, but I'm not sure it would be durable enough, in fact pretty sure it would not...

If I build what I'm thinking I'll do detailed drawings and upload. This looks like fun, but I tend to take my time so it would be several months...again, a winter project.

drfish · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:39 am Post subject:

I would think it should be durable enough if you coat it with a hard epoxy resin type surface.

Using steel mesh as a frame might help too.

All I know is the rock stuff is very expensive to buy. I looked into it once for my fish tanks, but opted for the real thing in the end.

arf-man · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:39 pm Post subject:

You might be right, but the type of cement they refer to in the article is not very expensive, at least not where I live...

tegulevi · Respected Member Joined: Mar 10, 2005 Posts: 489

you could go to lowes and buy stick on stone. they use it for houses and fireplaces. its pretty cool