Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Indigo Blue Fish · Key Member Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 226

I'm wondering if I should as I build my Paludarium...
That way perhaps I could get tips and advice?

It'll be a long term project, as the occupants aren't even due to be BORN until - March was it?

I have a few bits together at the moment.

Budda · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject:

It would be good to see a stage by stage diary of it being made mate.
There are some really good Paludarium's about so there is lots of insperation around. What are you planning on keeping in it?? Amphibians and fish?
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Peter Parrot · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

I agree it would be nice to follow your progress and would be something that every body could learn and benefit from. Cool

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Rickeezee · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject:

Go for it Amber will make great viewing and you will get lots of helpful advice I am sure! Very Happy

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Indigo Blue Fish · Key Member Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 226

*grins*
So that's decided then!
I should be washing out the glass bit to bring in tomorrow, will start taking pictures then.

davo · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject:

i took some pics of the paludarium's housing frogs in london zoo for my mate, and they really inspired him (lots of other great looking ones out there), but i think it would be cool for you to a step by step kind of thing.

Indigo Blue Fish · Key Member Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 226

I'm intending on keeping Bombina Orientalis in it eventually - have a LOOOONG way to go before it's anywhere near ready...

It'll be going next to my other two tanks in my room - the one on the Left is Spyyk's (my leucistic Axolotl) and the one on the right is home to my snails and a single rescued labidochromis, Denzel.
(See first pic)

Second: I'd just finished washing it down properly (hosepipe and all!) and dragged it in, so sorry for the wet.
It was whilst drying it I found a large chip just under the doors. By goodness was I cross. No idea how long it'd been there. You can just see it, under where the flash has lit up a spot of whit eon the black plastic. Looks like an extra large water drop.
So I smartly took some masking tape to under it, and put a nice, neat strip of silicone to seal it in/on. Touche Chippy McChipperson, Touche.

Third: Phase one of my funky design.
The section "cut out" is for the filter to hide under - locked away from nosy froggies, and easily hidden/accessible.
It's actually backwards in this pic, and the cut side is custom to fit the fountain I'm getting.
Anyway. This will be fitted a few inches from the floor, and the floor flooded. All the substrate will sit on this, and the frogs can get in and out with some wood I'm getting. I'll also probably fix some stones with sil around the front/side to stop substrate falling in the water.

Indigo Blue Fish · Key Member Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 226

And the other bit, I fitted a sheet of perspex into the lid, to help with the humidity. *I hope*

I blacked all the back in myself, with the help of my trusty silicone gun.
Which was handy, because when the thing arrived, a whole pane was completely shot to bits, and there was a crack in the corner of the back panel.
I replaced the side pane, and completely sealed and reinforced the crack.
Oh, and replaced the broken door.

Annoyingly, the filter I was going to use has broken - the wiring has frayed. Pants.

Indigo Blue Fish · Key Member Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 226

Has anyone got any opinions/suggestions on my "island" method?
I'm having problems with substrate ideas at the moment too.

My ideas at the moment:

Xaxim treefern panels.

Good: Can plant into it and it will grow. Won't fall into water, easily shaped.
Bad: Expensive, no doubt will need daily spraying to keep clean (which can be a problem - I'm not home every day)

Orchid bark.

Good: Cheap and light. Will use mosquito nets to stop it slipping through the plates.

Bad: Will slide off the sides. Having problems thinking of ways to combat this. Is also fiddly to scoop up and replace. Can't easily plant plants in just bark.
Does this need spraying too? :S

To combat the humidity issue whilst I'm away, I'm investing in a fogger and fountain. Fountain to arrive shortly, fogger to be bought.
Clever idea. Use filter from reservoir to top up the fountain.

Have measured the available "pond" area for them to swim/sit in too - it's about 5.5" by 6-7. That's the open area bit anyway. A lot of available non-land area has a bit of bog wood in for them to sit on (and will be submerged anyway) and another large chunk will be taken up by the fountain.

Pollywog · Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:

Why not use regular peat for the substrate, if you cover it with live moss it will stop it from washing off into the water and a piece of weed membrane underneath will stop it from washing through the filter plate into the water.

Humidity wise Bombina don't need it to be all that humid, as long as they have plenty of water to soak in there will be no need for a fogger.
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