Make a fake rock cave/basking spot for a reptile cage.

Here I'll show you how to make a fake rock cave/basking spot for your reptile cage. This is one I've made for my Bearded Dragon, Viggo.

Step 1 Design!

This is my original design I made months ago. The design has changed since then, but this illustrates the basic concept of what I wanted to make. A large cave, with a door allowing access to it from the outside, a basking spot above, and a ramp going up. PLAN AHEAD. I can't stress this enough. It will make things much easier for you. I've used Google SketchUp to render this 3-D model. Google SketchUp is a great FREE architectural 3-D design program. I'd consider this (or a similar program which may not be free) to be an essential tool for any craftsman/designer/builder. You can download the program here,
Google SketchUp Download

Comments

[freeza36]

you should probably make sure that the materials used do not contain any potentially harmful chemicals.

[Magnumkai]

If anyone likes my terrarium, I made the rocks from 1 sollid peace of foam , carved everything out and coverd it with epoxy mixed with sand.
Then airbrushed it and and the background is just a nice air-picture covered with glass ...

[Magnumkai]

I like youre design !!

Here's something i made with fome and epoxy...
200x80x80

[Bearded101]

Redhand,

How many inches between the the top of the structure and a 100 watt basking lamp would you recommend for safe basking that won't damage the new build?

Thank you for your help... this seems like a great inexpensive build!

[d3v1lducky]

If your using this in a dry set up then it doesn't require any sealant unless you paint it. The matte finish mod podge works really well. I use 3-4 coats of it and on the last coat I sprinkle sand on it to give better traction. Using acrylic craft paints can give a very realistic look.
As far as waterproofing that some people are asking about there are several options, (cement is not waterproof) The best method for small waterfalls, etc is to get a tube of aquarium sealant and rubber gloves, by hand smear the sealant every where that water will be in contact. The other option which is best for really big project is to use a 2 part epoxy paint made for potable water tanks. If your making aquarium decor for your fish a portland cement works best. It just needs to cure in water for 4-6 weeks. If you don't it will cause crazy ph spikes. It's best to cure it in running water like a stream, or if your using a rubbermaid tote change the water no less than weekly. Great Instructable!

[jamz1378]

I make all my own backgrounds and hides and have found the best way to do it is with a few layers of cement and to finish just mix up some water based paint with some wood glue (the stuff that dry clear) and some water when dry this seals the hide. if wanting to use in aqauriums you have to remember that the foam will float solve this problem with more cement and you will need to be sealed all over several time to make shore that there are no small bubble holes this will need to be left for at least 4 weeks to dry and curer prier to putting into the tank

[HubertF]

i use silicon and attach flat river rocks that ive STERALIZED to the back of the terrariums . this looks good in desert or tropical set ups!

[Katelyn92507]

How did you go about sterilizing rocks? I'm getting a turtle, and was wondering how to make rocks clean enough to put in the tank..

[d3v1lducky]

Running them through the dish washer with no detergent works pretty good too.

[HubertF]

sorry for delay! i just bake them in the oven at 250f for 30-60 min. after i scrub them. i dont use chemicals the heat will kill any bacteria.

[Mutantflame]

I've made similar things like this in the past, and they work really well!

[chemicalvamp]

Thanks for a great instructable, Looks remarkably like real sandstone. I need a big supply of foam now :)

[meganyoung91]

Absolutely love your enclosure as a whole! Thanks for the awesome instructable!

[yamum360]

great instructable! i'm off to the hardware store now

[care-bearded-dragons]

This is a great instructable. Great article on reptile and bearded dragon caging.

[weiblen.c]

This is a great instructable.  I am a zookeeper, and this is easily as good or better than some professional work that I have seen.

For everyone wondering about waterproof rock-work for aquaria, you can use hydraulic cement and it will not leach any poisons into your water.  We used it all over the place when we were building aquatic habitats at the zoo, plus at home I keep sensitive aquatic amphibians in tanks with hydraulic cement features and they have suffered no ill effects.

Mix it at a very thick consistency and then you can just use it like modeling clay to build any shape that you want.  You have about five minutes to use it before it hardens, so make it in small batches.  You can build all kinds of shapes this way.

Again, this is the very best how-to I've seen on naturalistic terrarium furniture.  Kudos.  I can tell that you really care about the health and safety of your pet.

[smiles816]

My fiance and I are in the process of constructing a cage for our ball python, Mitch. In the cage, we are putting in a waterfall. Because it will continuously have water on it, we decided to go with your suggestion of hydraulic cement. It is made of entirely of styrofoam. Because we already had the shape, and didn't need to sculpt anything, we decided to just coat the waterfall in the cement. So, to coat it, we watered it down (to a soup-like consistency) and painted it on. Now that it dried, we have noticed that when you touch it, it comes off on your fingers like a dust and that you can rub it off the styrofoam. We are wondering if you need to seal it after applying the hydraulic cement or if maybe we just made it too soupy when we applied it, and now it isn't waterproof. Any suggestions? We would really appreciate any!

[weiblen.c]

I'm sorry to hear that it didn't work for you.  I would be frustrated.  :)  It sounds like you watered it down to the point where it has no cohesion. There is a chemical reaction that has to take place, in order for it to harden properly. When you mix it in the correct proportions, it is more like the consistency of play dough and it gets HOT if you hold onto it. (The heat is a byproduct of the chemical reaction.)

I posted an Instructable with some step-by-step photos of mixing the cement here: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-mix-hydraulic-cement-for-sculpting/

And here is one where I built some tank features using the cement:  http://www.instructables.com/id/Terrarium-vivarium-waterproof-rock-work-for-frog/

It should definitely not fall apart or come off in flakes if you get it mixed properly.  You can seal the final product if you want to, but you shouldn't have to.

Another thing that can happen if you apply it in a layer that is just too thin, it will crack.  It has to be structurally sound.  You could try creating some sample pieces in a few different thicknesses.  Then you can test the different pieces to see how thick it has to be in order to keep its strength for your project.

[smiles816]

Thank you so much! We'll have to let you know how it turns out!

[pyro=fire]

I have a bearded dragon too love her sooooo much!!!!!!!!!!

[radjadd]

this is one of my favorite instructables and was the inspiration behind my instructable how to make a log hide for your lizard

[TheChemiker]

This isn't waterproof, right? Because I want to make one for my chinese water dragon, and there is water in the bottom of his terriarium. I make land by filling in areas with gravel, but the terriarum is always at least damp, because I have to mist it too keep up the humidity. Is it alright if I use it for that?

[necajoe]

cool what kind of glue did u use

[jhd04]

Awesome! And easy too! Large ones of these can sell for up to $100 in a pet store, but this takes about $5 worth of materials. My ball python thanks you.

[Mercat]

Are there special types of paints to use so animals don't get sick? For example, I've heard if you want to do something similar for fish you need to use very specific types of paints. Just curious, because I would love to make stuff like this, but have not been successful finding much info about paints.

[RedHandFilms]

While I did not paint mine, I have heard that acrylic paints are best. Also remember that you need to seal AFTER you paint. Good luck.

[awz123]

would it be ok to use grout sealer insted of a water based polycylic satin sealer.

[Mercat]

Thanks! =)

[ManyuX95]

Yeah, I wanted to know that too, hey I have a question: Can I use this on a water tank? Because I have 2 turtles, and that kind of things are really expensive, and I also want to know: If you put this on water, will it float? Thanks man

[derttiej]

Awesome instructable! i cant wait to make my own!

[Hasersys]

Wow, I love how this comes out. It looks nice. I am wanting to make a water fall as well Like Metaljosh2029. I think this would help me make a very nice looking water fall! thanks a lot.

[metaljosh2029]

hey man awesome job just wondering if this is water proof i want to make a water fall for my red tail boa out of the same stuff

[SLEDHEDONE]

why couldnt u use cement to cover it, like for aqauriums, is would be heavy enough and i dont think it would leach any chemicals into the water.

[MegaMaker]

How about making this  HUMAN-SIZED? I think that would be awesome.

[tikiman22]

if you take fine art sand from a craft store and sprinkle it over the entire surface just after applying the sealer it both removes a lot of the shine but it also helps add grip for the lizard as well as durability.

[martinaussieoioioi]

hi, i am doing a huge tank for my turtle around 6ft 20inch wide, with a caving and basking area on top, if i made something like this with a opening for turt to go under and swim around and still go on land, would it leak any chemicals into the water, is the anyway of doing it in water, would love to know thanks

[jacksteal4]

I have no idea about the chemicals and stuff and i know that this post is old but remember that styrofoam is inside so it would float.

[Fujo]

Is this great stuff ;) toxic in any way? For example when it gets heated?

[RedHandFilms]

Perfectly safe. Mine has been under at heat lamp, at 110*F for 1.5 years and has been fine. The great stuff is completely encased in the grout and sealant.

[melissahu]

Thank you so much!  I have a rapidly growing rescue iguana with metabolic bone disease, and I've been wracking my brain trying to find ways to make the specialized structures that I need for his cages.  This was a top-notch instructable.