Craft a fake rock cave basking spot for a reptile cage

Reptiles love rock caves, as they are the perfect hiding places and they can climb on them, using them as basking spots. Bringing them a rock cave is the best thing that you could do. Reptiles have a natural instinct of climbing and their favorite activity is sitting and enjoying light and warmth.

If you have a cage that is large enough to fit a rock cave, then you can start looking for one. Even better, if you are into crafting, you can make it yourself. Building a fake rock cave that your reptile will be using as a basking spot, is easy, fun and doesn’t take you long to finish.

Here’s what you need to do if you consider crafting a fake rock cave for your pet:

  1. Choose a design

You can search for rock cave designs on the Internet or simply create it yourself. Depending on the size and shape of the cage, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a suitable design. The basic ones are easier to build, so it is important not to get into anything very complicated if this is your first time building a cave.

  1. Purchase the supplies and tools

Fake rock caves are usually made of foam, which is easy to work with. Therefore, you will need Styrofoam, grout mix and some cement color. Also, you can buy foam insulator and water based polycrylic satin sealer. As for the tools, you will need a knife, a hand saw, a hot glue gun and some glue sticks. Also, do not forget about the tools that you need to apply the grout and the sealer. In this case, you will need 2 bristle paint brushes.

  1. Make sure that it fits the cage

When building a fake rock cave, it is important to ensure that it will not be too big and that there is some room left around the edges. Although reptiles love to climb, they also need some ground space. Working inside the cage is practical, as it gives you an idea about the space the rock will occupy. Start cutting the foam and get the basic shape together.

  1. Glue the pieces together

At this point, you probably think that your project looks awful. But this is when the fun starts. Take off the layers and start gluing the pieces together, from the bottom to the top, not the other way around. At the end, you will surely see a lot of holes and gaps in between the layers. Take some expanding foam and spray it in the holes. Then, you can start carving in order to obtain the final shape.

  1. Paint it

When the carving is done, you can start preparing the mix for grouting and painting. Take the instructions into consideration when mixing the grout and paint with water and make sure that you cover the entire surface. Apply about 3 coats to obtain a great result.

Let it dry and seal it at the end. Here you go! Your reptile has a fake rock cave basking spot that it can enjoy for as long as it wants.

email
About the Author

Henrietta Newman is a self-loving empty-nester into smudging, nature, yoga, fitness, healthy living, hunting, camping, hiking, tech, video games, gadgets, recipes, reviews and more.
With a love for the outdoors and visiting local attractions in and around NW PA and Lake Erie, you never know what you'll find in my nest! Subscribe to A Hen's Nest so you don't miss the fun!

[related-posts]

I ♥ your comments

*