Before you choose this build

This project uses the New Age Pet Mojave Medium EHRML17-00M kit. The dimensions describe the manufacturer's nominal enclosure, not its usable interior or an animal's minimum housing requirement. The finished result is a dry terrestrial enclosure with removable furnishings. It is not a pond or a permanently wet planted tank. Before buying, establish the intended animal's space, ventilation, lighting and environmental requirements, then check whether this enclosure can meet them.

Before you start

  • Allow an uninterrupted assembly session and a separate period for empty environmental trials. Timing depends on your experience and equipment; assembling the box does not establish that it is ready for an animal.
  • Measure the delivered enclosure outside, including protruding hardware, and inside between its tracks and walls. Record usable floor length, depth, height above the chosen substrate and clear door opening. The published 36 × 18 × 18-inch size is not a cut list.
  • Have the EHRML17-00M illustrated manual beside you. Match the model and parts before starting; a different Mojave size or revision may have different hardware.
  • Choose a level support with the footprint and documented capacity required for the finished enclosure, furnishings and equipment. Establish support requirements with the enclosure supplier. Do not infer a load rating from a table's appearance.

This is an original construction guide assembled from the references below. This exact project has not been physically built or independently load-tested by The Creature Corner. Follow the current instructions for the products you buy.

Tools

  • Tape measure and straightedge
  • Level
  • Supplied assembly tools and the hand tools identified in the kit manual
  • Flashlight
  • Soft work mat on a rigid bench or floor
  • Protective gloves for handling glass

Materials and supplies

Mojave Medium enclosure kit
1 complete kit
EHRML17-00M, with factory panels, mesh roof, two glass doors, joining hardware, handles and locking components; inventory against its supplied manual.
Removable floor covering
1 measured set plus 1 spare
Chosen for the animal's care plan and easy removal through the door; do not cover ventilation or door tracks.
Low, washable retreats
2
Commercial reptile furnishings with smooth edges, suitable entrances and a stable footprint; choose dimensions for the intended animal.
Water dish
1
Stable and removable, with an accessible edge and species-appropriate depth.
Environmental equipment
1 specified set
Independent temperature probes, humidity meter, and any required listed lighting, heating, compatible thermostat and secure fixture supports; select actual models before placement.
Cleaning and record supplies
1 set
Microfiber cloths, mild soap, rinse water, tray for small parts, labels and a commissioning notebook.

Measured parts

Dimensions use inches unless stated otherwise. Confirm the actual material thickness, joint layout and delivered hardware before cutting. Allow for the saw kerf, the material removed by each cut.

No sheet-material cut list is needed for this assembly. Match supplied parts to the current manufacturer’s manual before starting.

Step 1 of 14

Lay out the finished footprint

Mark the enclosure's intended position with removable tape. Stand where you will feed and clean it, and check that you can reach the rear corners without moving furniture. Leave practical access to electrical plugs and the mesh roof. Place a dish and retreat beside the footprint to catch obvious access conflicts before opening the kit.

Step 2 of 14

Check the kit identity and condition

Read the item number on the box and compare it with the manual cover. Photograph damaged packaging before discarding it. Lay panels flat and inspect glass edges, tracks, mesh attachment and molded joints. Set a damaged part aside and obtain the correct replacement; do not disguise a crack with glue or tape.

Step 3 of 14

Sort the joining parts

Arrange the factory hardware in small containers according to the manual's letters. Keep the short and long connectors separate. Check the inventory while the components are easy to count. Take one photograph of the complete layout so that an unused part later prompts a deliberate check instead of being assumed to be a spare.

Step 4 of 14

Join the first side and back

Follow the illustrated sequence: join the base to the first side, then add the back with the designated connectors. Have a helper steady the upright panels. Start each connector by hand and stop if it resists immediately. A panel should meet its mating edge without being bent into position by a fastener.

Step 5 of 14

Close the body and fit the roof

Add the remaining side and mesh roof in the manual's order. Before final tightening, compare the diagonals of the rectangular opening and inspect all four base corners for contact with the support. Correct misalignment now. Tighten only with the specified hand method; crushed or distorted joints will not be corrected by extra force.

Step 6 of 14

Prepare the glass doors

Fit the supplied lock bracket and its protective pad to the designated pane as illustrated. Work on a clean, padded surface. Keep hardware away from the glass edges while turning the pane. Check that no debris is trapped under a pad and that the bracket cannot rotate into the sliding path.

Step 7 of 14

Insert and secure the doors

Lift the first pane into its upper track and lower it into the corresponding lower channel, then fit the second pane. Add the supplied lock and handles according to the diagrams. Support each pane throughout installation. Slide the doors slowly through their full travel and confirm that both are seated, rather than merely resting against a track.

Step 8 of 14

Test every closure

Close the doors from several starting positions and operate the lock each time. Examine the overlap, side edges and upper track with a flashlight. An animal must not be able to push a pane out or reach an unprotected opening. Assess gaps for the intended animal's actual size; a working lock alone does not establish containment.

Step 9 of 14

Clean and measure the assembled shell

Remove packaging fragments, fingerprints and assembly dust using a cloth and a mild cleaning method compatible with the kit. Wipe away residue and let surfaces dry. Measure the interior now and write those dimensions beside the product size. Include the substrate lip and door opening so future furnishings can be selected without repeated trial fitting.

Step 10 of 14

Make the interior removable

Install the floor covering, then place the two retreats and dish so each can be removed independently. Try the cleaning sequence with the doors open: lift the dish, remove a retreat and withdraw the covering. Rearrange anything that requires tilting a dirty dish over the floor or leaving both doors open unnecessarily.

Step 11 of 14

Install the selected equipment

Use complete, unmodified equipment and its specified mounting system. The Mojave manual warns against putting heat lamps directly on ECOFLEX. Keep hot fixtures clear of the cabinet and secure them according to their own instructions. Route cables away from sliding doors and strain at plugs; retain access to the power controls.

Step 12 of 14

Position the measuring probes

Secure probes at the places the animal can actually occupy, including the warm area and a contrasting retreat. Keep cables from forming loose loops around furnishings. Record the probe positions in a simple photograph. A meter on the outside wall will not answer the same question as a probe placed at the intended resting surface.

Step 13 of 14

Run the empty enclosure

Operate the finished arrangement through repeated daytime and nighttime cycles without an animal. Record conditions after changes have settled, including the warm surface, cooler location and humidity pattern. Compare results with the selected care plan. Change one variable at a time, and repeat the trial after moving a lamp, probe, retreat or substantial furnishing.

Step 14 of 14

Complete a service rehearsal

Turn equipment off safely and perform a simulated dish change and floor clean. Check that the lamp support remains secure when you reach inside and that the doors still close freely afterward. Save the model number, equipment settings and baseline photographs. Introduce an animal only after containment, access and environmental checks all pass.

Final construction checks

  • Both glass panes remain seated throughout their travel; the lock engages consistently, and roof joints and ventilation openings have been assessed for the intended inhabitant.
  • The supporting furniture remains level under the planned contents, with no observed rocking, sagging or door binding. Resolve any change before use rather than tightening the enclosure around it.
  • There are no accessible hot fixtures, exposed sharp edges or trapped cables.

Before introducing an animal

  • Recorded conditions meet the animal's documented care requirements at occupied locations through repeated cycles.
  • Use the exact animal’s care guide to select the heating, lighting and furnishings. Run the complete setup, record measurements at the places the animal will use and resolve any unmet requirements before move-in.

Review your preparation checklist

Maintain and inspect the enclosure

  • Remove spills promptly and keep tracks free of particles. Inspect the lock, roof attachment and connectors during cleaning, especially after moving the enclosure.
  • Replace cracked glass, damaged mesh or distorted joining parts with compatible components. Empty and support the enclosure as the manufacturer directs before relocation.
  • Repeat the environmental trial when changing a lamp model, room location or substantial interior layout.

Limitations and decisions to resolve

  • No sealant or paint is added in this project, so there is no finish-curing stage. Adding a coating would require a separate compatibility and curing procedure.
  • This guide does not certify the kit for a particular species, deep substrate, heavy rockwork, stacking or water containment.
  • The kit manual governs connector locations and assembly details. The measurements you take from the delivered unit govern its actual usable space.

Sources and product instructions

These references support the specific methods and limitations listed. They do not certify this combined project or its suitability for a particular animal.

Writing is original; follow the linked source for its complete instructions.

Report a construction correction

Before you call it finished

Review the project’s final checks and compare the finished setup with the needs identified during your care research. Return to your preparation checklist and resolve anything that remains before introducing an animal.

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