Building Chameleons new home

[Awalton007]

Here is my chameleons new home well the shell.

Can i varnish straight onto mdf or do i need to do something to it. there is going to be polystyrene background on all 3 sides too.

Its going to have a mesh roof and i was thinking mesh door but it would be too flimsy so i was thinking the door to be half glass (bottom) and half mesh (top)
this would make the door more secure?

 

[stephen gedman]

yacht varnish

use yacht varnish but leave it to dry for a day after varnishing its good stuff, u can get it in b&q or b&m, hope this helps, good thing is its super waterproof coz its used for boats but its good on any wood aswell.

 

[Awalton007]

Will the mdf soak it up as its quite pourus?

 

[stephen gedman]

good

should b fine ive used it before, puts a good seal on the wood.

 

[Olimpia]

Looking good! How big is it? It looks like it has a nice size to it.

Perhaps you can make the front 2/3 glass on the top and the bottom screen, that way you get the best view of your chameleon when he/she is basking and up at the top. Cool air will get sucked in through the bottom and rise out the top, so it won't affect ventilation. It may even be better.

 

[Awalton007]

its about 3.4 foot tall. 2.6 wide and 1.5 deep.

odd measurements but thats just me

 

[Hoj]

good start, can i make a suggestion and put some thought into drainage as having a solid wood bottom may cause you some issues.

 

[Awalton007]

where would it drain to. wont the mdf sock up the liquid if there is holes?