My latest project, which has nothing to do with laser cutting, has nevertheless made me insanely happy.
One of my brothers showed up a couple of months ago with a chameleon that needed a new home, and researching her care needs got me interested in vivariums. Then this old display case turned up on Marketplace for next to nothing, and my fate was sealed. I have a couple of leak issues to fix before I can run the waterfall, but it’s taking shape!
The “rocks” are all petrified wood found on our property. I built it to look like the side of one of our gullies after a hard rain, with newly-exposed rocks, dead branches, and roots clinging to the wall, except that the vivarium has peat and (local) mosses instead of sand and red clay.
I had so much fun tromping through the woods with my grandkids hunting for cool mosses, lichens, rocks, and sticks, and then putting it all together, that I’m already wanting to build another one—which is kind of a problem, since we only have like 900 square feet of living space.
I must say that the chameleon has been a wonderful catalyst for creativity and making memories with your grand kids. The vivarium is a great pet project.
Did you get the chameleon or just create the vivarium after all? lol
I love this. I think I just want the vivarium. Maybe make a giant one for the bottom half of our picture window so my dog stops barking at people outside, have light filtered in and have this peaceful view. lol If only!
I can’t leave the waterfall on because eventually the substrate gets wet enough to drip somewhere outside the bounds of the drip tray underneath (my final solution to a long string of leak issues). I might fix that eventually, but for now it “rains” for a few minutes several times a day (drip system), and that should keep things moist enough.
I have a couple of leak issues to fix before I can run the waterfall, but it’s taking shape!
