A question to all of you who are using an exo terra glass tank for your T('s).

[Asphyxia]

I just saw someone whos T's had been sneakin to the backside of the background and now I wonder if this has happened to you aswell, and/or what to do to prevent this? I want to buy one for my avic avic (?) but seeing this makes me doubt a bit...

Thanks,
- Asphyxia

 

[stargell]

I simply removed the background before I put my T in. The background is rather cheesy IMO, anyway. Grey styrofoam just doesn't look cool.

The background just slides out.

 

[Arlius]

Just remove it...
After orginally housing a juv emp scorp, I had set my tank outside for a couple weeks (lazy) and the rain disolved it (mostly, the visible front was still pretty much intact, but the 'back' was completely gone, foam was less than 1/2cm thick after) so I had no choice but to remove it. Also made me kinda weary of having styrofoam in an enclosure... it wont disolve under normal pH neutral conditions, but anything acidic will likely disolve it...

 

[local hero]

I have several set up that i removed the background from, flipped the cage around so that the back was the front then cut a piece of black acrylic for the background(it covers up the doors, that now open to the back) but you can still easily remove the top for access, and you get more viewing area without the seems from the double doors

 

[anderstd]

I hope you dont mind. I saw your thread and I also had a question or two. First do any of you have any good pics of the exo terra setups? Second have any of you used any of the accessories like the waterfall/fogger? I thought that might be good for keeping humidity up.

 

[sick4x4]

no worries

the foam back is one of the reasons why i bought this set-up all you have to do is us newspaper to stop the holes were a t could go!!its pretty easy....the backs are pretty snug...also there are movable flaps that adjust to close if no wires are present...hope that helps and yes i have the waterfall set up with a fogger..really i shouldnt of bought it since its a pain to fix if it gets moved alittle..the pump dosent work aswell also its hard to move in and out if you get the taller aboreal setup....

 

[Cerbera]

the foam back is one of the reasons why i bought this set-up all you have to do is us newspaper to stop the holes were a t could go!!its pretty easy....the backs are pretty snug...also there are movable flaps that adjust to close if no wires are present...hope that helps and yes i have the waterfall set up with a fogger..really i shouldnt of bought it since its a pain to fix if it gets moved alittle..the pump dosent work aswell also its hard to move in and out if you get the taller aboreal setup....

I wonder which spider, if any, requires a fogger, which, as far as I can see only ups the humididty to ridiculous levels, far in excess of what any spider is comfortable in...

 

[anderstd]

When I mentioned fogger, I did not mean for constant use. I was thinking in the morning briefly to give that sunrise dew on the leaves effect.

 

[ErinKelley]

I've noticed that those foggers can sometimes get really hot, making the water equally hot.

 

[anderstd]

Looked interesting when I saw the box at the pet store. But I wanted to ask as I have never seen one in action.

 

[Thoth]

You could seal around the edges with silicon or even just tape. If you don't like the stone face I've seen spray it with glue and then glue cocnut coir to it.


Polystrene has pretty decent acid resistance with the exception of 50% Hydroflouric acid solution at room temp, nothing that it is exposed under normal home use is acidic enough to dissolve the polstyrene. On the other hand acetone, benzene, gasoline, and other solvents will turn it into goo in seconds. Also it is susceptible to break down from UV exposure, probably what happened.

 

[local hero]

if you put your hand right over the fogger it feels like a lighter, hurts like hell, proably not good if your bug walks over it

 

[Arachnobrian]

The fogger

I use one of these in a large reptile tank. I don't have the waterfall it just looks to fake. It took several different attempts and setup arrangements to finally have success without completely soaking the substrate. I paid almost $50 CDN for it and I was determined to make it work.

First it should be attached to a timer, or you risk burning out the power supply (on my second one).

The water bowl it sits in will require constant refilling, which is difficult without disturbing the tanks inhabitants. It also requires a screen or lid to avoid critters and crickets from drowning in the water reservoir.

My fogger setup, items required,

A square tall plastic container - water reservoir (plastic spagetti keeper works well), a piece of plexi-glass to cover half the top of aquarium, the corner of the plexi-glass was cut to hold the reservoir on two sides, and the aquarium top trim piece will hold the other two sides.

Having the reservoir mounted at the top corner of the aquarium, allows refilling of the water reservoir without removing the screen lid constantly. Simply pour the water through the screen lid.

Next, this will take some trial and error, holes need to drilled about halfway up the water reservoir (size and amount depend on humidity required) these are for the fog to escape into the terrarium. I have put a mark on the side of the reservoir, as a full mark to avoid overfilling, and having water pour out the drill holes.

I also put a couple of holes further up the reservoir, to mount plants to hide everything. When in action, the fog pours out the holes and travels to the bottom of the tank and fills it about one third with fog. This can be adjusted with the timer for specific pet needs.

I currently keep green anoles comunally in this tank and my setting is about 15 min. every two hours during the day, when lights are on. It will change the humidity level from 40% to 75% in the 15 min. I had it set for 30 min. in the morning, 30 min noon, and 30 min evening, and 15 min every two hours, which created ideal breeding conditions. To curb the breeding, I changed it to the above setting of 15 min evey two hours.

When set up properly, the fogger is well worth it's price, for keeping humidity at proper levels, and is just "cool" to watch. Unfortunately, EXO-TERRA expects it to be used with thier waterfall, and provide no information on other methods of setting it up.

Hope this helps,

Ottawaherp

P.S - I would provide photos but they will not fit.