The neatest thing

[Cyndi]

There is a "junk" or second hand place next to where I work and on the days that they are open, they put their large stuff (furniture, etc) outside.

Yesterday I went out on my break, and they had what I thought was a china cabinet or something. Went over for a look, and it was the most beautiful gun display case that I have ever seen. It is 5 ft tall, 4 ft wide with the two front opening glass doors and has two storage drawers underneath. It has the scrolled woodwork, and is just gorgeous!

There was no price on it, so I asked. The guy thought is was $10.00 (can you believe it!!!) but he would ask to make sure. He came back and said $8.00! Fine! Told him I would take it, put a sold sign on it. Since I didn't have my purse, I had $6.00 in my pocket, gave that to him and told him I'd be right back with the rest. He took the $6.00, said that was enough!

Well, if I take the back off, and make it deeper, it would make a great critter enclosure for a smaller iggy or perhaps...a bearded dragon? Does anyone here have one? From what I have read, they don't need as big of an enclosure as an ig.

Now that I have it, I have to fill it with something (I told my husband that it would make a great bookcase. I don't think he believed me )

[mar]

Sounds great. Think through the backward addition because the great gun case can have some hidden things up its sleves -- such as a few steel bands around it. Without seeing it my idea is to make a box with one side left off it that will slide into the case with the open side of the box faceing the doors. If you are up to the harder project it could be put into a corner and you don't have to hade as much of the back.

[Merlin]

it would make a great critter enclosure for a smaller iggy or perhaps...a bearded dragon? Does anyone here have one?

I have a beardie. They don't require anywhere near the space of an ig! A 55 gallon tank will do one beardie just fine for life and they don't need all that height.
For more info from other beardie keepers (if you are so inclined) come check out
www.Herpcenter.com

[Cyndi]

Thanks Merlin. Will check out that website! Is your beardie handleable? I have read that they are easier than igs to handle (I am thinking about my 15 year old. He loves Kyo!). My daughter has leopard geckos, but I think he wants something bigger than a gecko, but not as big as an iggy!

Mark, your box idea is great! I was thinking of tongue and groove to mesh the old sides with the new. And there are no steel bands. The back is removable.

[Merlin]

Beardies are very easy to handle! They come closest to a mammal type pet you will find in a reptile. They are like a cat with scales. We can set ours down anywhere in the room and he will pretty much stay there. If he decids to go exploring he never goes far and frequently will come back as if to make sure WE haven't got lost LOL!

And you will see a few familiar names at HC!

[mar]

I am also doing long term research on dragons -- beardie or chinese water -- but have not seen HC before. I am thinking that I would like to expand after school when I stop moving too much.

Do males have the same aggressive tendancies during breeding and females egg problems?

[Merlin]

Mark Water dragons tend to be a bit psycho but beardies are very docile. The females (like any egglayer) can potentially have problems but it apparently isn't near as prevalent as with iguanas. Two male beardeds will fight anytime if housed together but I haven't seen any sign of aggression directed towards humans.

Herpcenter is a great forum. I as well as Dominick are Admins there and Lyn is one of our Mods.

[dominick]

Let's not forget that Jay is a member of our Ultimate Mod Squad at HC too!

[Merlin]

Let's not forget that Jay is a member of our Ultimate Mod Squad at HC too

Oops! And a darn fine one too!

I think that lately my mind is slipping!

Must be the eyeball burn from too many motorcycle rallies!