Before you choose this build

This guide is a practical assembly and commissioning workflow for the Dubia.com 4 × 2 × 2-foot PVC enclosure family. The current product page identifies V3, while its linked written instructions describe V2. Confirm the revision on the delivered kit and use the instructions supplied for that revision. The guide does not substitute V2 part numbers into a V3 kit. Its 48 × 24 × 24-inch dimensions are manufacturer nominal; usable measurements must be taken after assembly.

Before you start

  • Identify the delivered revision and retain its matching manufacturer manual and parts list. Follow that manual’s assembly order. The V2 details below apply only to a confirmed V2 kit; they do not establish V3 parts, connector orientation or assembly sequence.
  • Before ordering, confirm that the selected enclosure can provide the space and environmental conditions required by the intended animal. A product's gallon label does not resolve floor space, door clearance or thermal gradient requirements.
  • Ask the supplier to resolve any mismatch between the box, parts list and instruction revision before joining the frame. Photograph the panel stickers so the orientation remains identifiable after protective films are removed.
  • Select a support using its documented capacity for the entire planned installation. Include substrate, water, furnishings and equipment in the load, and clarify the enclosure's own support requirements.
  • This project uses removable furnishings and no permanent wet substrate bed. No additional sealant is specified, and the shell is not treated as an aquarium.
Resolve before the dependent work

Revision-specific instructions must match the delivered kit before assembly.

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

  • Supplied mallet
  • Hand screwdriver matching the kit hardware
  • Tape measure
  • Square and level
  • Flashlight
  • Rigid assembly surface protected from scratches

Materials and supplies

Dubia.com 4 × 2 × 2 enclosure kit
1 complete revision-matched kit
Factory aluminum frame, PVC panels, screen top, front substrate panel, glass doors, hardware, cord covers and supplied assembly mallet.
Manufacturer's assembly instructions
1 matching set
The instructions and parts list for the delivered revision, retained with the model and purchase record.
Terrestrial furnishings
2 retreats and 1 dish
Stable, removable items sized for the intended animal and able to pass through the completed door opening.
Floor material
1 measured set
A removable liner or appropriate substrate selected from the animal's care requirements, kept below the front door opening.
Climate and lighting equipment
1 specified set
Listed fixtures, mounting accessories, appropriate controller, thermometer probes and humidity meter selected before installation.
Cleaning supplies
1 set
Soft cloths, mild soap, rinse water, small-parts containers and labels.

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 15

Confirm the installation space

Measure the support and the route used to carry the enclosure into the room. Check overhead clearance for the actual fixtures and their mounting system. Leave space to reach the rear cord covers. Arrange the enclosure so routine maintenance does not require shifting a loaded box or reaching behind energized equipment.

Step 2 of 15

Resolve the model revision

Compare the carton, parts list and panel markings. The public written instructions currently describe V2; they are not proof that an unfamiliar V3 connector is interchangeable. If the delivered booklet differs, follow its diagrams and preserve it with this guide. Stop assembly if a required instruction or component cannot be identified.

Step 3 of 15

Lay out and inspect the parts

Place panels and frame sections on a rigid, clean surface. Check panel edges, corner sockets and screen attachment for damage. Separate glass from the mallet and small hardware. Match each component to the kit inventory, and inspect any factory-installed base or mounting bars rather than dismantling them simply to recreate an older assembly photograph.

Step 4 of 15

Identify front, back and underside

Read the orientation stickers before removing protective film. The manufacturer calls for careful corner orientation, with the indicated holes facing down in its V2 instructions. Make a removable label if needed. Compare the tracks and substrate panel with the correct drawing so the front assembly is not accidentally built at the back.

Step 5 of 15

Prepare the panels for joining

Remove protective layers where the matching manual requires it, without scraping the PVC. Its V2 FAQ makes a specific exception for difficult film on the very bottom; do not apply that exception to every visible surface. Check the grooves for packaging debris. Set each panel beside the frame member it will enter.

Step 6 of 15

Assemble the lower frame

Join the base and lower frame in the revision-specific order, using the supplied mallet only at the contact points shown. Keep the work on the hard surface. If a joint stops moving, inspect its orientation and groove before striking again. Check the base for twist by pressing gently at alternate corners.

Step 7 of 15

Fit the vertical panels

Install the sides and back while a helper prevents unsupported panels from tipping. Seat edges evenly along their grooves. Pause after each panel to verify that the lower frame has not lifted out of a connector. The goal is a uniform fit; forcing one corner home while another edge remains trapped can distort the opening.

Step 8 of 15

Install the front barrier and upper frame

The product page identifies a front substrate panel that must be in place before the relevant mallet operation, and the upper double track belongs at the front. Confirm these details against your revision. Fit the screen roof and remaining frame members, then compare diagonals before proceeding to the glass.

Step 9 of 15

Check the body on its final support

Move the empty shell with enough help to support it properly. Check contact with the support and inspect the entire perimeter. Openings should remain square, and factory mounting bars should remain firmly seated. If the final location introduces rocking or twist, correct the support before installing doors or adding contents.

Step 10 of 15

Fit the doors and handles

Install the sliding glass and supplied handle hardware as shown in the matching manual. Keep one hand supporting each pane until it is captured by both tracks. Test the full travel with the enclosure empty. Binding, an uneven overlap or a pane that can leave its track requires correction before any substrate is added.

Step 11 of 15

Route and close the cable ports

Pass the planned probes and equipment cables through the intended openings. Align and secure the factory cord covers, leaving no unnecessary open passage. Keep cables away from the door tracks and provide enough slack outside for servicing without leaving loops inside. Test each cover gently after its cable is in place.

Step 12 of 15

Arrange an accessible interior

Add the selected floor material below the door opening. Position retreats and the dish so they can be lifted out independently. Keep a practical cleaning route to the back corners. Remove and replace every item once while the enclosure is empty; this exposes a poorly chosen dish or an oversized retreat before it becomes a daily inconvenience.

Step 13 of 15

Mount the equipment

Use the fixture manufacturer's approved support and attachment method. Any use of internal mounting bars must match the enclosure and fixture instructions; do not guess their load capacity. Keep hot elements inaccessible and maintain specified clearances. Connect complete equipment through its intended controls without modifying cords, plugs or mains wiring.

Step 14 of 15

Run and document commissioning

Place independent probes at the intended occupied locations and run repeated light and dark cycles without an animal. Record warm and cool conditions, humidity and controller settings. Recheck door operation after the enclosure has warmed. Adjust one variable at a time until the actual enclosure, in its actual room, meets the selected care plan.

Step 15 of 15

Rehearse a routine clean

Safely turn off equipment and carry out a dish change, spot clean and retreat removal. Confirm that the light supports and probes remain stable while your arms pass through the opening. Close the doors and inspect the cord covers afterward. Save a final photograph and a list of the accepted settings for future comparison.

Final construction checks

  • The delivered kit and instruction revision match, every required factory part is accounted for, and no unexplained component has been omitted.
  • The glass slides without binding and stays captured; the door overlap, screen, frame joins and cable ports have been assessed for the actual animal.
  • The support remains stable and the equipment can be disconnected without moving the enclosure.

Before introducing an animal

  • Environmental measurements pass the chosen care requirements 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

  • Brush loose material out of the tracks before it interferes with a door. Remove spills and inspect PVC edges and frame joins when replacing the floor material.
  • Check cord covers and fixture attachments after maintenance. Keep the manual and supplier contact details with the equipment record.
  • Empty the enclosure before relocation, support its base as directed by the manufacturer and repeat alignment and containment checks afterward.

Limitations and decisions to resolve

  • The public V2 instructions do not establish an exact V3 hardware inventory. Revision-specific assembly diagrams remain essential.
  • No field-cut panels or sealant are used here; there is no coating cure to wait for. A permanently wet installation needs a separate maker-approved water-containment design.
  • The nominal dimensions do not guarantee species suitability, an enclosure load rating, stacking permission or adequate usable space after furnishings.

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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