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Terrarium Background DIY Questions
- Thread starter Kitten0Face
- Start date
backafter30
New member
I'm not arguing against a living vivarium. A nicely done one is beautiful and interesting even if the snake is hiding. I'm just saying that it is easier to meet the needs of one living thing at a time, and easier to clean a simple enclosure. A living vivarium takes the hobby to a whole new level, which is not a bad thing at all, but some people may not want to go there. (those who prefer racks and newspapers)
Nythain
New member
Sorry, didn't meant to imply you were against it. Heck, you're the one with planted viv experience here. I was just informing nfafan and anyone else interested that a living viv is completely possible, especially with corns. And then gave a few examples of popularly used plants for the scenario based on their hardiness and minimal requirements.
I agree that it is a whole new level, and shouldn't be attempted without some decent experience or lots of knowledge in both herping and plant keeping (whatever that's called). So much so that it's definitely nowhere near a popular approach. Between getting everything right, then *keeping* it right, it can be quite the chore comparatively. In fact, it's *mostly* only seen in the snake world with more arboreal "display" species like GTP and ATB. Many advantages there. Not so much with other snakes.
I agree that it is a whole new level, and shouldn't be attempted without some decent experience or lots of knowledge in both herping and plant keeping (whatever that's called). So much so that it's definitely nowhere near a popular approach. Between getting everything right, then *keeping* it right, it can be quite the chore comparatively. In fact, it's *mostly* only seen in the snake world with more arboreal "display" species like GTP and ATB. Many advantages there. Not so much with other snakes.
My friend has one of those "cubicle shaped" Exo-terras that he set up as a planted viv for a pair of Braz Rainbow Boas.
So far, he has 2 large bromeliads as the main plants in a bed of homemade ABG soil-mix, with plenty of cork half-rounds and piles of magnolia leaves for cover. I keep telling him to add more plants.
A piece of hollow cork round serves as a "planter pot" for the larger bromeliad, while another piece of hollow cork round hides a clear plastic water dish made from the base of a 2liter soda.
The overall effect looks nice, he keeps it heavily misted for humidity for the BRBs. They seem to like it.
As for heating, the tank already had a UTH bonded underneath to the glass, so what he did was create a shallow depression in the soil over the heat area and uses piles of cork hides if the BRBs want hide in the heated area.
There is a simple overhead florescent tube bulb for general purpose lighting, but not for overhead heat.
IMHO, nature provides overhead heat, so if there were bulbs/tubes that can be used to supplement low-temp UTH (to avoid cooking dirt and plants), I would prefer to go that route.
So far, he has 2 large bromeliads as the main plants in a bed of homemade ABG soil-mix, with plenty of cork half-rounds and piles of magnolia leaves for cover. I keep telling him to add more plants.
A piece of hollow cork round serves as a "planter pot" for the larger bromeliad, while another piece of hollow cork round hides a clear plastic water dish made from the base of a 2liter soda.
The overall effect looks nice, he keeps it heavily misted for humidity for the BRBs. They seem to like it.
As for heating, the tank already had a UTH bonded underneath to the glass, so what he did was create a shallow depression in the soil over the heat area and uses piles of cork hides if the BRBs want hide in the heated area.
There is a simple overhead florescent tube bulb for general purpose lighting, but not for overhead heat.
IMHO, nature provides overhead heat, so if there were bulbs/tubes that can be used to supplement low-temp UTH (to avoid cooking dirt and plants), I would prefer to go that route.
Nythain
New member
The problem is, any overhead bulb based heating (excepting radiant heat panels) are going to dry the air out. Quite a bit. That's usually not good for neither the plants nor the snakes. Even worse with a lower watt/heat bulb because then you're drying the air out and not getting any real benefit from it. Fluorescent works perfect for lighting purposes... mostly because it emits almost no heat.
If I was to personally heat a living viv for a snake, I would use a combination of a UTH to provide a "warm" ground spot, and a properly sized RHP for the primary source of heat. Both options don't affect the environment much beyond the heat they provide. Both options are relatively lower power consuming compared to bulbs/lighting required to achieve the same temps.