Parsonii housing plans for 2017- yay!

[Twitchet]

Sooo- my two parsons were housed here under a time limit- never good but i had to take delivery of them and so my plans for housing were hurried and I always felt not up to standard. At the moment they both have a 4x6ft outdoor and a 2x4x6ft indoor each. The boy is only small so not a problem but will be in a year.
So I have hatched a master plan to buy another wooden shed- really nice heavy duty one- and my two parsons will have that divided- so each will have a minimum of 8x 5ftx 7ft each ( more if space and funds allow) plus a 4x6ft outdoor enclosure each-
It will take a bit of saving -I'm a struggling artist so money doesn't come regularly but i have a show on at the moment and touch wood the paintings are selling like hot cakes! That will get them their new shed.
The enclosures will be walk in- plants kept in pots not planted and I'm hoping to make something like Joel's or Andrew's enclosures-not easy as in U.K but I should be I am going to need advice on drainage for the floor- wood but will be tanked with pondliner- needs a slope for draining and a drainage hole. I have yet to work out what I do with the walls as the mistking is going to get everything wet- It must be able to allow air flow behind whatever waterproof walls there are- I did wonder about siting the nozzles in one corner and having like a half a shower cubicle type thing going on , could have the shower base too for the drainage. If anyone has ideas for a floor to ceiling enclosure I'd be grateful. Will also need a extraction fan for air flow-
O.k Im getting a bit excited and prematurely too but I like to plan and have a little dream too! It's going to be a major project but they need a larger place , It also means it frees up space in the main reptile shed so I can enlarge and improve housing- although nice now - I can make it nicer. It will hopefully leave an 8ft viv for another large ---cough -Mellerii -cough- enclosure.
The first wooden shed works incredibly well, It's very well insulated and keeps heat in very well, too well sometimes. I was terrified at the first electric bill but it's not been bad-in credit actually!- I dont' keep any heat on at night as the temps keep very well. The second shed will be insulated too, leds for good plant growth and they will have plenty of room to move around.
So watch this space- although this project won't start until Spring of next year but planning is such fun and it's really nice to work towards housing them as well as I can.
He's happy about the plans too

 

[Decadancin]

It's great to be excited! Also great to start planning early . Can't wait to see the results! (Even though I will have to )

 

[Action Jackson]

Wow! Excellent. I can't wait to see what you're going to do. I think it's awesome you're going to these lengths to provide some big space for your Parsonii. I hope to see more people do this type of thing.

 

[savage13]

Looking forward on your epic enclosure @Twitchet i myself I'm going through the same procedure still up in the are which material to use Wood or PVC piping..

 

[Twitchet]

Thank you- now that I have gone through the paranoia stage of being a new parsonii owner I'm really feeling quite positive- although they don't move around like say my panther they do like to amble around- albeit extremely slowly so I would be delighted to see them in a much bigger house- I'm now thinking I might try and get a 12x8 shed instead of 10x8 for a little more room. Luckily the structures inside the shed that will make up the partitions can be fairly simple- as three of the sides will be the shed itself, so no need for framework or glass doors etc.
I know it's early days but I do like to plan!
Many thanks fellow parsonii keepers- support here has been the reason why I felt I could risk getting them.

 

[Lathis]

That is an awesome photo

 

[Twitchet]

Thanks, That's my boy, actually not long after I got him and as a side note those little flare outs either side of his lower lips were ' ulcers' I'm very pleased to say that they went within a month and his mouth is now super perfect! I know as he sometimes gapes at me and I get to have a good look! So I'm very pleased at that.
Back to scribbling floor plans now, I'm planning!

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I am utiilizingba false bottom, consisting of plastic shelves, covered with weed block cloth, with a pipe in one corner and a pump to drain the water. You can staple up shower board or polywall and caulk the seems with silicone, to protect your walls. I'll be updating photos soon, of my own build and show the false bottom, ventilation panels, and light canopy, with fans. These projects cost $$$ and can be stressful if your schedule is jammed up working outside the home and if your not handy. I can dream up a beautiful cage, write out the plans, discuss it with the person, and it still never gets done the way I'd imagined it. I hate that I'm not a carpenter! Lol

 

[Twitchet]

Hi Andrew- I've just researched polywall and shower board- we were going to insulate then to cover up that line it with plywood then decide on waterproofing but if I use pvc panels like you said or even polycarbonate roofing sheets it will do both jobs- What I don't know is whether leaving an inch air flow gap between both faces would be better so to avoid moisture/damp/rot - sometimes thats preferable to trying to waterproof it tightly against another surface. Certainly the polywall looks a definite to use, saves a lot of hassle and will work well.
Having see your enclosures they dont look anything other than jaw droppingly gorgeous! I'll be looking forward to stealing any ideas I can from you with your next project!
I'd like to get broms growing along branches too and also some hanging plants and more height with foliage. Would a bougainvillea grow in the inside enclosures?
They certainly do cost a lot- I'm careful to source everything as cheap as I can but all the little extras will still add up to the cost of the shed alone.
I wish i could do my own carpentry too so I have a handy partner so he's the lucky one assigned for chameleon house building duties with me as a skivvy.
Many thanks for that info- I hope these enclosures will be much better than the last ones now that I have had time to understand and watch their behaviour and how they like to move around their environment and give them what they need.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

you are starting with a frame, and have solid walls of wood, behind the polywall. I do not. I just have a frame and by stapling the polywall to the interior ( my help staples it to the outside instead, because no one thinks like me ), the water just runs off and down. If you staple it to the existing walls and frame, I would caulk the edges with silicone, the type that does not contain any inhibitors, possible from and aquarium store. I am doing just that, due to my plans being executed by a helpful partner, while I am at work, but who can't think things through the way I can.
I am also stapling plastic lattice over the same frames, to grow vines and weak stemmed plants against and supply places for attaching branches, hanging pots, and so forth. There is also a strip of screen hidden behind the lattice, along the back and sides, to draw in fresh air. The screen section sits well above my soil line.
Bougainvillea is VERY high light, prefers dryer soil, and is poisonous, as far as I know. Look at bleeding heart vine, passionflower, cissus (discolor is amazing), Nepenthes, and grapes.

 

[Twitchet]

Excellent info thanks very much for that- I put lattice in their outdoor area but lattice in the new houses would be really nice- They don't travel around like my panther but it would add a climbing area if they wanted to use it and the thought of growing the plants you listed would be awesome. I want to start this now! I don't want to wait! I'm thinking stagshorn maybe and broms, I need to get ventilation sorted better on this one too, My plan is two internal enclosures-side by side so no visual contact- and this time -floor to ceiling divisions and a large opening door so no glass but good viewing for me and good ventilation , I need also to work out what mesh is best- I am weary of mesh that is either too big or too small for hurting either their feet or claws so that's another decision to make. Need also a large food safe water barrel for the mistking as filling up the water every day will be more difficult so I'd like it to last a few days.

Thanks - really- it's been another few pieces to the jigsaw. I've very high hopes for this.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I use a 32 gallon garbage can for a reservoir. Use PVC coated mesh, found in rolls, at box stores. It's gentle on feet!