2 questions! Custom tank & natural habitat photos?

[Sidi]

I'm new to T keeping (addicted now), but I'm planning to build a custom display tank.
I would like to make it a visually appealing tank (to humans) while keeping it as close to the T's natural habitat as possible.
(I would like to change a lot of friends minds who think T keeping is stupid by dazzling them with an amazing display and showing them T keeping can be visually nice.)

I have a Phlogius "Stents" and am planning to buy a Phlogius Sarina in a few weeks, both will be slings, so I would like to take my time and set this tank up perfectly, ready to house these 2 for life once they are big enough.

My plan is to get 1 tank to house 2 T's (glass divide between them), sliding lid (not sure if I can do this without opening both at once?) on a nice stand, etc, do that expanding foam backing on the back and sides.

One problem, I am stumped on the dimensions it should be? I would like it deep enough for heaps of burrowing room, and the depth wide enough to allow the expanded foam backing with enough room to make the tank visually appealing with logs, plants, etc, Can you pros help me out please?

Also, If anyone has any photos of the 2 species natural habitats, please share as I would love to make their enclosure as accurate as possible.

Thanks.

 

[KoriTamashii]

I'm new to T keeping (addicted now), but I'm planning to build a custom display tank.
I would like to make it a visually appealing tank (to humans) while keeping it as close to the T's natural habitat as possible.
(I would like to change a lot of friends minds who think T keeping is stupid by dazzling them with an amazing display and showing them T keeping can be visually nice.)

I have a Phlogius "Stents" and am planning to buy a Phlogius Sarina in a few weeks, both will be slings, so I would like to take my time and set this tank up perfectly, ready to house these 2 for life once they are big enough.

My plan is to get 1 tank to house 2 T's (glass divide between them), sliding lid (not sure if I can do this without opening both at once?) on a nice stand, etc, do that expanding foam backing on the back and sides.

One problem, I am stumped on the dimensions it should be? I would like it deep enough for heaps of burrowing room, and the depth wide enough to allow the expanded foam backing with enough room to make the tank visually appealing with logs, plants, etc, Can you pros help me out please?

Also, If anyone has any photos of the 2 species natural habitats, please share as I would love to make their enclosure as accurate as possible.

Thanks.

First thing: Get two separate tanks. It's much easier than running the risk of one getting into the other's tank and having a deathmatch.

 

[Chris_Skeleton]

First thing: Get two separate tanks. It's much easier than running the risk of one getting into the other's tank and having a deathmatch.

+1,000

Split tanks can end up being disastrous.

You will also have a problem because if you're getting them as slings, you can't set up a large tank for them. You would have to keep them in appropriately sized containers until they are approaching full grown size.

I have a custom made setup that has four compartments. They all have separate locking lids and are separated by thick acrylic. There is no chance for them reaching each other. I'll post a pic later.

 

[Rue]

I don't have much in the way of T experience (it's only been 2.5 weeks! )...but from other experience...get two tanks. Split tanks are just harder to maintain and it's easier to 'lose' a specimen - either because you can't manage the microenvironment adequately, or because escape is easier...or it might squeeze into the neighbour cage and then you end up with only 1 T.

 

[Sidi]

Did people read my thread properly, they will be two separate areas, just one tank divided by glass, no different than your 4 compartment setup.
not happy about the one lid, I am trying to workout a way of doing this so they are separate, I would like to use a sliding lid, just working on logistics for this.

I also said they would be introduced when they are big enough.

Just after some dimensions?

Dont want separate tanks as I dont want to buy 2 separate tank stands, etc, one nice tank on one nice stand, and I think 2 individual tanks look ugly on one stand, the gap between looks ugly, would rather the seamless front.

 

[campj]

I have had divided tanks for a couple years now... if you do it right it can work. I use silicone aquarium glue to secure plexiglass that runs from the very bottom to the very top of the middle of a ten gallon. Each side has its own lid. I have never had any issues. I think sometimes people read things in books and make up their minds forever without actually experimenting for themselves.

As far as natural, my wife and I I just go into the woods/desert/whatever and collect everything we can. We come up with some nice creations, but you should check out this guy's tanks... best I've ever seen:

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=54776&highlight=natural

He basically does the same thing as us, but he lives in Brazil, so he has a lot of plant life and different wood to choose from.

I couldn't find habitat photos, but here is where stents lives (page 6):

http://www.thegreenscorpion.com.au/documents/SpeciesNotes_Stents.pdf

One thing you can do is go to Google maps and do a street view of that area to get a general idea. It's not ideal, but it's better than making it totally wrong.

Jon

Oh yeah, we microwave everything we find outside to kill the critters and mold.

 

[Sidi]

Thanks Campj!

I only want the one tank so it has a seamless front, but it will be in essence 2 tanks, the glass will be siliconed bottom to top, no way for them to just climb over

Guess I had better go hiking and see what I can find, hehe

How do you secure your lids if I can ask?
I plan to get a hood for the tank, to hide the glass lids and make it look classy, maybe hide a bulb in the hood for night viewing? red tube or something low light level

 

[campj]

We just use a glass ten gallon and everything else is plexyglass. I secure the lids with either a decorative rock or those lid clips.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/1233/product.web

It has worked well for a couple years with all different types of spiders, terrestrial and arboreal.

 

[curiousme]

Guess I had better go hiking and see what I can find, hehe

This is how we decorate our tanks. We take a hike and go on a wood finding adventure.

 

[Motorkar]

I just step outside my house, walk to the nearest oak and take the bark off. For wood parts I go to the river side or creeks, you find there really nice wood peaces to put in.