Terrarium help

[ConchRepublic]

I have a very large glass tank that needs to be resealed and I'm thinking about turning it into a terrarium. It's a 270-320 gallon tank (not sure exact size) Due to the dimensions it's not able to hold much water. It's very tall, and about the length and with of a 55 gallon tank. I'm very new to terrariums, the only other one I had was for 2 fire belly toads and was just water and gravel.

I'm thinking about a bog or swap, maybe a very humid jungle type terrarium. I'm wanting something with a mist generator and a lot of plants (planning on a mixture of fabric and live).

I'm not sure what kinds of animals I want yet. I would LOVE some poison arrow frogs but no idea where I could get them.

Any ideas or tips on what to do/get?

 

[ladycrotalus]

This is a pretty decent site with pics for ideas and you can order frogs and supplies from them aswell.

http://blackjungle.com/

 

[ConchRepublic]

did some more research and leaning a bit towards a paludarium.

Quote:
wow, they are a lot more expensive than I thought. I still want some but don't think I'll be having an all dart frog tank for a while.

 

[ConchRepublic]

Okay, so I gave it some thought. I'm definitely leaning more towards a paludarium. Anyone here have experience with these?

The tanks I plan on using is roughly 48 inches long by 12 inches wide by (guessing at this) another 48 inches tall. For exact dimensions I'll have to re set it up because it's been taken apart at the seams, so I have to reseal it when I set it up.

I'm planing on setting up a sort of 50/50 land and water, although I'm considering turning it into 33% water and 66% land. I decided that I wont have dart frogs in this, when I get them they'll be in their own tank. One thing I'd love to do is that while making it, make the land on a shelf so that the water is actually greater than it appears and sorta has a "cave" like area.

Species of animals I'm wanting to have in this are lizards, geckos, tree frogs, and newts/salamanders. I'm considering others too such as aquatic frogs and maybe a small fish eating snake. I'm going to have a "feeder" type fish for the water, such as guppies, maybe some small platy species. I'm not sure if I'd want a couple danios or not. The top of the tank will be set up like an arboreal design too.

Not sure what plants I'd like as I don't have much experience in planted tanks. I would like some ferns, maybe an orchid, and similar. As I said I'd like the top to be set up as an arboreal so I'd like some plants of that type in the top. Might go with Java ferns, Duck weed, and Amazon swords for the water.

Anyone see issues with what I'm planning or have suggestions? I'd like to make sure I don't mess up to bad. Most of this will be set up over the long run and wont actually have animals for a while but I"d like to get some plants not long after the tank is set up.

 

[ky chicks]

First of all, I should say that I am totally inexperienced with terrariums, and you have probably considered this already, but will it only be accessible from the top? It sounds like it would be really beautiful once you get it set up, but difficult to do any sort of maintenance. When are you going to get started? I can't wait to see some pictures!

 

[ConchRepublic]

Quote:
As of right now, the glass is still sitting in it's separate panes. What I'm planning on doing is making so that the front and back are glass (it will sit up against a window so that it is viewable from outside, and when I move, it can act as a wall between something). I'm wanting to make the sides half glass and half plastic or a treated wood so that it can be accessible from the side, but will most likely end up being used from the top. anyway.

The water will have a small sump tank attached to a pump and water will be pulled up or possibly through the glass, into the sump where it will be filtered, monitored, and treated is needed, then pushed back up to the tank where it will go through a waterfall or either directly into the main body of water. I like the waterfall idea as it adds an aesthetic touch and would make an ease place to hide pipes for the sump.

 

[ConchRepublic]

Checked out the tank after hauling it out of storage. Out of 5 panes I only have 4 but they are the 4 I needed anyway

They are:

Two 4 foot by 3 foot panes which will be the front and back
One 4 foot by 18 inch pane that will be the base
and one 3 foot by 17 and 1/4 inch pane that will be a side.

So it's dimensions will roughly be 4 feet long by 3 feet high by about 18 inches wide after setting it up right.

The remaining side will be part of the frame and will be epoxy coated plywood most likely.

Although I do need to get 3 corner pieces made to support a top with lights. They will be isosceles with the legs being 4" and the hypotenuse being 5.5 inches. I have one and apparently the others went missing in storage.

Calculated the volume and it was less than what I thought lol. Roughly the volume should be about 130 to 135 gallons. That's what I get for not messing with it for a few years

 

[ladycrotalus]

Not mine but i saved for future ideas.

This one has surinam toads in the bottom.

Species of animals I'm wanting to have in this are lizards, geckos, tree frogs, and newts/salamanders. I'm considering others too such as aquatic frogs and maybe a small fish eating snake. I'm going to have a "feeder" type fish for the water, such as guppies, maybe some small platy species. I'm not sure if I'd want a couple danios or not. The top of the tank will be set up like an arboreal design too.

Usually fish eating snakes, will often eat amphibians as well.

Newts and salamanders have toxins that might harm the other animals. I would check out http://www.caudata.org/ before jumping into newts and sallys.

At the store we have successfully housed together: Long tail grass lizards with green tree frogs and green and brown anoles

House geckos with green and brown anoles​

 

[ConchRepublic]

Quote:
Usually fish eating snakes, will often eat amphibians as well.

Newts and salamanders have toxins that might harm the other animals. I would check out http://www.caudata.org/ before jumping into newts and sallys.

At the store we have successfully housed together: Long tail grass lizards with green tree frogs and green and brown anoles

House geckos with green and brown anoles

Thanks for the info. I'm probably going to keep it simple for a while, though I have a 55 I want to make another with too.