homebrew tanks

[looseyfur]

Welp I have slimmed down my collection considerably and would now like to construct hand crafted tanks for my remaining brood. The spiders I kept were : my bloodleg, my stripeknee, my smithi, and two curleys that I have raised from slings. I traded the rest away to a great keeper in rhode island, and he took all my scorps as well (much to my wifes delight) so I want to give these spiders the best in luxury homecrafted tanks with correct biotopes and the most natural environments possible. Does anyone here actively build custom tanks and would you mind posting some pics of construction and complete tanks? Sorry if this post is redundant if there is an applicable thread just point me to it

rock on
looseyfur

 

[deifiler]

I've actually made a flash animation for how to construct your own tank, it should be online next week sometime along with my website so far...

 

[looseyfur]

excellent

thats an excellent idea and I look forward to viewing it.

pm me the url when you have a chance?

thanks-
looseyfur

 

[Tim R.]

Hey deifiler
I'd like to see that myself, would ya send me a pm when it's done?

 

[deifiler]

Sure no worries! I'll regard you both as volunteers to test certain areas of my site!

So far I've only got the "how to make an arboreal enclosure from a standard aquaruim" animation complete though, but I'm wokring on more



Thanks!

 

[abstract]

Yea - I want to see it too! I'm getting ready to standardize all of my tanks to glass 2.5 gallons, aboreals and terrestrials alike...

I'll beta test - plus - it'd be cool if you listed your site in either your sig, or your profile.....

Thanks!

 

[Telson]

Mine are all either 5 gal glass with slide out screen tops, for the most part. I have a couple 2.5 gal, same style for the smaller juvi's, and one that is a 2.5 short (same foot print as a 5 gal but half the hight) that I got for a comunal scorp tank.

I'm also planning to build some custom tanks for arboreals. The design I have in mind is as follows:

1/8" glass cut to specs by local glass shop.
Aquarium silicone.

final product: 2' tall x 1' x1' with slide out screen tops for major cleaning/maintenace and sliding screen side door at about mid level for introducing prey items and minor maintenance access (reaching in with tongs for dropped molts / uneaten prey, etc...)

I figure this size should accomodate about 5 A.avics comunily, as well as be well suited for a large Pokie when/if I get the nerve to try keeping those, and duplicating the design to standardize my arboreals enclosures shouldn't be hard to do.

Anyone see any flaws in the design? Like; would that maintain humidity properly? Ventilation issues anyone might see inherant to the design?

Input more than welcome.

Thanks.

 

[abstract]

Not that I'm a pro - but 2'x1'x1' seems kinda small to put 5 A. Avics in....That's just speculation though...

Other than that, I don't think ventilation/maitenance would be an issue.

Semi-regular mistings through the screen top could address humidity, but as for it's necessity.... Well, ask code monkey what he thinks.

How much you think a project like this would cost ya? I've been dying to replace all my Critter Keepers w/glass tanks, but they are ALL expensive- (like 20$ for a 2.5 gal. w/lid) - WTF? I could get 10 gals for cheaper - but i'm in an apt - and 10 x 10 gallon tanks = lots of space.

 

[MizM]

Originally posted by deifiler
I've actually made a flash animation for how to construct your own tank, it should be online next week sometime along with my website so far...

SHOULD BE..... Hurry!!! The anticipation is KILLING me!!!!

 

[Telson]

Originally posted by abstract
Not that I'm a pro - but 2'x1'x1' seems kinda small to put 5 A. Avics in....That's just speculation though...

Other than that, I don't think ventilation/maitenance would be an issue.

Semi-regular mistings through the screen top could address humidity, but as for it's necessity.... Well, ask code monkey what he thinks.

How much you think a project like this would cost ya? I've been dying to replace all my Critter Keepers w/glass tanks, but they are ALL expensive- (like 20$ for a 2.5 gal. w/lid) - WTF? I could get 10 gals for cheaper - but i'm in an apt - and 10 x 10 gallon tanks = lots of space.

The glass and silicone shouldn't cost too much, but if I go the "professional" aproach and purchase the plastic trim like the storebought tanks have it will jack the cost up significantly, especially if I can't get it without going through a pet store as a middleman, which kinda defeats the purpose... I'm still debating on ways to resolve that matter.

Right now it's not in the budget either way, but in a couple months I might start doing the actual layouts and scoping out the cheapest sources for the materials. When I start the project it'll certainly get posted.

As for 5 A.avics in that size enclosure, I'm not sure what the area needed per T would be in a comunal enclosure myself. If anyone knows, please advise. Not that it means anything, but one of the local shops had like 6 in a 10 gal fish tank and they weren't trying to get in each others way... each had taken to it's own little nitch and started spinning their webs. I figure something with a little more of a foot print and considerably more area in regard to elevation within the tank, along with significant "choice" hide options since I'd kinda "jungle" the interior out for looks anyhow, I figured that aught to work out pretty well for just 5, but that's a guess base on extremely limited info and knowlege.

 

[Telson]

Additionally... When I asked if they'd had any trouble with them trying to eat each other, or going after the same cricket and such, I was told that now and then one would run in to another but as soon as they noticed each other both would spin and run in opposite directions rather than have a go.

 

[abstract]

Yes - that would be awesome - for as cheap as A. Avics are, I would love to build out a communal tank. Do they all have to be the exact same size?

That would definitely be a display piece though - I keep most of my spides in my room now, but If I had an avic "complex" that would be out in the living room for sure

Do post when you get it started!

 

[MizM]

I think the most important thing would be to create more than 5 little niches.... maybe small flower pots or wicker hummingbird nests (they're the perfect size). That way, each could claim a territory as their own and wouldn't feel threatened by the others. Out in the open, they would probably feel more defensive.

 

[Telson]

Oh, the way I'd set it up it would have potential hides all over the place, probably about 2 or 3 potential locations per T being kept in the enclosure, just to make sure none of them wind up forced to live too close together.

If they need a LOT of space between them, like 5 in a 50 gal as one recommendation was recently posted, I do have a 5' tall by 2' by 2' arboreal reptile tank with a screen top that's been sitting in the garage for a few years, but one panel is cracked pretty bad... I've been planning for a long time to clear the broken pane and replace it with two smaller panes and about an 8" to 10" sliding screen about mid-way up, essentially following the design I've posted but on a much bigger scale. I'd have to guess I could house at least 8-10 in there the way I'm picturing it fully decked out, if not more.

Being as it has a footprint of 4 square feet and is 5 feet tall, I'd think I could get small tree stump from the hills, make arrangments with a local pottery shop to let it spend a 20 minutes or so in a large kiln on a setting that wouldn't burn the wood itself (for a small fee of course), and have one SWEEEEEET naturalistic vivarium decorated with a bunch of plastic creepers and vines to accent that awesome centerpiece! I could carve/drill some hollows in various locations on the stump for them to take over as natural hides on the stump itself, as well as mount creepers at the top of all 4 corners that would hang down and provide some cover for any that decide they like tank corners better.

This of course would take a lot of work to get done and a little investment, but it's crossed my mind to do a time or 40 over the past couple years.

 

[abstract]

** drool **

 

[MizM]

Oooooooo, I am visualizing it now..... have you seen those little coffee table sized waterfalls? This could be the whole centerpiece to your living room!!! Ooo, oooo, and have one of those "jungle sounds" relaxing cds playing in the background....

 

[Telson]

So many ways to spend money....

I just wish I had more cash to apply to all these things I want to do! I just put in an order tonight for some new T's that I should get on Friday though!

Brachypelma auratum, Mexican Flameknee .25
Brachypelma boehmei, Mexican Fireleg .25 Inches
Grammostola pulchra, Brazilian Black 1 Inch
Psalmopeous irminia, Venezuelan Sun Tiger 1inch
Lasiodora parahybana, Salmon Pink Bird Eater .5 Inches Lasiodora cristata, White Stripe Bird Eater 1 Inch

*freeby*Heteroscordra maculata, Ornimental baboon .5 inch


Didn't leave nuthin in my wallet buth moths!!

Also, gotta buy the Vboards software for the new website, along with other non-arachnid expenses that have been dropping in my lap. Might be a few weeks more than I was hoping before I get that website up and operational.