Leopard Gecko Desert Rock Build (round 2)

[chondro13]

Well, i made this fake rock multi-layer thingy for my girls:


And that went pretty well, they seem to love it anyway! But i felt really sorry for my two boys in their bare boring setups! Lol - heres a pic of how they both looked before hand:

Spawn's:


Tweak's:


So, i made simple levels out of polystyrene, tooth picks and glue. I made them to suit each individual gecko - Tweak loves to climb, so he gets three layers, Spawn loves to hide, so he gets oodles of dark hidey holes (he also fails at climbing so only has two levels lol!), i also made them in seperate bits so i can get them in and out of the small gap that is the front of these vivs lol! The left hand side of the bases (where the heat mats are positioned!) were completely cut out, so that i can put kitchen roll on top of the matt, in order to heat the vivs properly (as, in these vivs, i cant put ceramic bulbs in like i did with the girls!):

Spawn's:


Tweak's:


I then put the first layer of grout on, this was very thin to get in all the cracks (leave for 24 hours):


Then for the second layer, i put red paint in this one so i could tell where i had grouted before (leave for 24 hours):


Then the third layer, grey again (leave for 24 hours):


Then the fourth layer, i made this reddy brown in colour (very desertie) so i didnt have to paint it afterwards this time! apologies but i forgot to take a pic of this stage...(leave for 24 hours)

Then it was time for oodles of PVA and sand. This was only put on places where it was going to be seen (leave for 24 hours):


Add air plants, put moist hides/bowls/calcium dish etc in the viv - add gecko and there you go!! Finished vivs:

Spawn's (full view):


Spawn's (left hand side of viv, showing moist hide and large hide):


Spawn's (right hand side of viv, showing cool hide)


Tweak's (right hand side of viv, showing cool hide and three climbing layers):


Tweak's (left hand side of viv, showing moist hide and warm hide):


So thats the lot! They all get equal high-class living from now on...

[MrMike]

Want to make me some?

You seem to have the "knack", excellent job!!! Bet they all love it

[laiq]

love these. They look great... might be inspired to do something similar for my beardies - they enclosures always feel a bit bare to me!!

[martin day]

these are the best leo vivs ive ever seen did you draw a plan out first how you wanted them to look

[chondro13]

Originally Posted by martin day

these are the best leo vivs ive ever seen did you draw a plan out first how you wanted them to look

Yeah i did, but only a simple sketch on a scrap of paper while bored at work.. lol - its important to put stuff down on paper and think through how your going to do everything before you start otherwise 's**t, i meant to do that..' happens.. trust me... lol!!

[rabbit]

God this is the second thread on homemade viv decorations that i've seen this week and now...I GOTTA HAVE A GO MYSELF! If I can make one that looks even half as good as yours i'll be well pleased! Good job mate and two VERY lucky geckos!

[Tommy123]

OMG!! Wha lucky lucky lucky gecko's!! If I ever get a leo/beardie i'll be making one of these for deffinete!!!

[joeyboy]

gosh your good at shaping the polystyrene, did you just use a sharp knife?

Were exactly do you buy sheets of polystyrene anyways?

[Jaymond]

Hey, thats amazing! it's definatly given me some imspiration!!

Well done!

Jay x

[chondro13]

Originally Posted by Tommy123

OMG!! Wha lucky lucky lucky gecko's!! If I ever get a leo/beardie i'll be making one of these for deffinete!!!

pics if you do please