legsfordays
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2020
- Messages
- 7
Hey guys. It's finally happening. I'm going to get some blue death feigning beetles. (or blacks, or both) I need some insight real quick. New to inverts, (other than my isopod colony) so forgive me if I seem confused.
My plan is to turn a five-gallon aquarium on its side and attach a piece of glass about halfway up so the beetles can't climb out and I can still reach my hand in. Basically like a terrarium but without a proper door, if that makes sense. (My reasoning is that they will have more room this way as the aquarium is more tall than wide) But I don't know what my best option for heating is in a setup like this. Could I place a heat lamp on top of the glass that is now the roof? I saw a thread elsewhere saying it was a bad idea, but it was talking about reptiles, so maybe this is different? My other option is to just use a heating pad under the tank. But I have some more questions about that? How do I know it won't get too hot? What wattage do I get for such a small tank, (It gets cold in my house in the winter FYI)?
Onto substrate. Is there I way I can sanitize sand I collect at my stream instead of buying it? All the stuff I see online looks expensive for what it is. I'm a miser lol, trying to cut as many corners as I can for this project. I do plan on adding coconut fiber as well.
Which this sort of leads to my next question. I really like the idea of having a few live plants in the tank, which might actually change my choice of substrate. what substrate mix would be good and what sort of plants could I grow in it? Just really any tips about keeping a planted desert tank would be greatly appreciated. I've seen some people use air plants, which would be cool but I hear they like humidity.
I'm sorry if this is confusing or longwinded, I'm really tired and I'm kind of manic.
My plan is to turn a five-gallon aquarium on its side and attach a piece of glass about halfway up so the beetles can't climb out and I can still reach my hand in. Basically like a terrarium but without a proper door, if that makes sense. (My reasoning is that they will have more room this way as the aquarium is more tall than wide) But I don't know what my best option for heating is in a setup like this. Could I place a heat lamp on top of the glass that is now the roof? I saw a thread elsewhere saying it was a bad idea, but it was talking about reptiles, so maybe this is different? My other option is to just use a heating pad under the tank. But I have some more questions about that? How do I know it won't get too hot? What wattage do I get for such a small tank, (It gets cold in my house in the winter FYI)?
Onto substrate. Is there I way I can sanitize sand I collect at my stream instead of buying it? All the stuff I see online looks expensive for what it is. I'm a miser lol, trying to cut as many corners as I can for this project. I do plan on adding coconut fiber as well.
Which this sort of leads to my next question. I really like the idea of having a few live plants in the tank, which might actually change my choice of substrate. what substrate mix would be good and what sort of plants could I grow in it? Just really any tips about keeping a planted desert tank would be greatly appreciated. I've seen some people use air plants, which would be cool but I hear they like humidity.
I'm sorry if this is confusing or longwinded, I'm really tired and I'm kind of manic.