New enclosure is finished!

[Janelle]

My sweet hubby built Jayne’s new enclosure, we off-gassed it with heat lamps, and she moved into it this morning. I was afraid she’d stop eating with the move, so I added some strawberries to her salad this morning (she loves anything red), and she attacked it and her insects like a champ. She’s already been climbing and exploring. I think she loves all the space!
For those of you who have a background up inside your enclosure, how do you safely adhere it?

 

[PatsyB]

Looks great, I love the floor! I don't really have any ideas to get the background adhered though.

 

[Janelle]

We kind of upcycled the floor tiles. The table we were putting her finished tank on is a slate tile table, with removable tiles. So instead of buying different tiles for inside the tank and having the pretty table ones hidden underneath, we put the tank on the empty table frame and used those tiles inside. Worked great and is so pretty. They have a nice texture (though she still is pretty clumsy-seeming on them sometimes). She had gotten too big for her starter tank, and since she's now in her nice big one, she is eating way more and able to get more exercise when she's not out to play.

 

[Coyotestarkiller]

Do you mind if I ask what material you used to build your new enclosure? I'm looking to do the same (and while researching, I had the same question about a background, so if I find anything I will let you know!) Because my starter tank is also going to be too small in a couple months. Larger tanks are on sale at Petco right now, $1 a gallon, but I'm wanting to get away from tanks. Buying new enclosures is pricey and most used ones look not maintained very well. I like the sliding front door option and having the 3 sides for heat reflection as I keep my house pretty cold year round and live in the PNW.

 

[Janelle]

We went ahead, after much research, and used melamine. We made sure and letbit off-gas plenty with heat lamps in it before we ever put her in.

The doors are acrylic. We used metal brackets on the bottom and more melamine at the top to create a track for it to slide in. I can easily slide the doors completely off for full access and deep cleaning, if I need to.

 

[Coyotestarkiller]

Perfect, that is what I was leaning towards, malamine with acrylic doors, but the off-gas had me concerned. Thanks so much!

 

[Janelle]

Put a couple of heat lamps in it and leave it on for like 48 hours. I would keep the doors closed to let the heat build up, then I’d open it to let the gasses out, then I’d close it up again. She’s been in it for nearly a month now and seems to be doing fine.

 

[Janelle]

Oh, and we did the off-gassing BEFORE we put the tiles or anything else in.