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 #1196385


Teh Miles
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 Finally!

Just finished the terrarium! It’s 4x2x2 and the critters seem very happy in it ^.^

I chose a more complicated method to make mine than most people do, and it took a bit longer, but if I had to do it again I’d do it the same way. All-in-all, I think it turned out really well.

All the plants and branches are live/real. I actually treated the branches this time (no more ants and mites for me!) and I made sure the plants were compatable with the lighting and humidity.





03/04/07  03:12pm

 #1196440


Damnitbonnie
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   Message To: Teh Miles   In reference to Message Id: 1196385


 Finally!

He looks happy there. Wish I had the talent to build.

Bonnie
03/04/07  03:35pm

 #1196471


Teh Miles
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   Message To: Damnitbonnie   In reference to Message Id: 1196440


 Finally!

I wish I could build too, lol. I bought the cedar armoir/chest at Salvation Army for only $100. I LOVE that store. The armoir/chest is an antique, although it’s not worth very much now. It was a pain to water proof, we had to put linoleum on the bottom. The back wall was a pain too, but it was worth it just to see them scurrying across it. The plexiglass doors were by far the most frustrating part. They don’t even match up properly and it’s too thin to put screws in. But at least it’s finished! Should I put coconut bark on the bottom, or just leave it the way it is with the potting soil?
03/04/07  03:49pm

 #1196547


EMWhite
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   Message To: Teh Miles   In reference to Message Id: 1196471


 Finally!

Hi there! Boy that sure looks nice! Thrift stores really can be lifesavers can’t they. I especially like the backing. What is is? It looks very real, like a rock, or a tree trunk. I think soil is fine for the bottom, you could add bark, but I don’t think it needs it. Unless you want the added dimension of another substrate. Looks great.


Evan



03/04/07  04:32pm

 #1196584


Teh Miles
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   Message To: EMWhite   In reference to Message Id: 1196547


 Finally!

Thanks! The back is just screen (like from a screen door) stapled to the wood, covered with Wet-n-Set (a patch for holes in drywall. It’s basically just a shell for the screen), which I covered in plaster. I like the plaster because you can give it any texture you want. You can’t see it, but I did a pretty crapy paint job, lol. They have this really cool spraypaint that has the texture of stone. I sprayed this on the sides to take the shine of the wood down because I didn’t make it like the back, and to my amazement they can climb it! I don’t know how they do it (it’s basically just sand!). I ussed organic potting soil and it has some wood chips in it, so I figured it’d be ok without the bark.
03/04/07  05:01pm

 #1197058


Hmd, anole lover
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   Message To: Teh Miles   In reference to Message Id: 1196584


 Finally!

Did you put the lamp in the terririum or am i just seeing things?

Chad



03/04/07  09:57pm

 #1197155


Teh Miles
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   Message To: Hmd, anole lover   In reference to Message Id: 1197058


 Finally!

It was in it for that picture because I hadn’t put the screen top on. It wasn’t finished in the picture, if you look, I didn’t even have doors on it yet. But that’s the only difference between it now and the pics.

I’m worried about my little Crock-a-Diddy (my anole), she’s not eating and has gotten really skinny. I think she’s not eating because of her eyes, she wouldn’t open them, but I rinsed them out and force fed her a cricket. Spunky eats anything and everything that’ll fit inside her mouth (and try for things that don’t!), I’m surprised she hasn’t eaten my little C. Diddy. She eats all of C. Diddy’s food, also.

I think Bubbs needs a girl, he’s seemed unhappy ever since we put Spunky in with them. He probably just feels intimidated, and I’m thinking if we put another lizard his size in there it won’t be as bad. Same with poor little Diddy, I’m gonna get her a little guy. I might get another grey treefrog if I find out if mine is a male or female. If you haven’t noticed, I like pairs of everything >.>

Update-






03/04/07  11:03pm

 #1197158


Dericka
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   Message To: Teh Miles   In reference to Message Id: 1196385


 Finally!

that is so cool!!!! you should send in a picture to reptiles magazine for the "show us your stuff" section.
03/04/07  11:04pm

 #1197179


Teh Miles
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   Message To: Dericka   In reference to Message Id: 1197158


 Finally!

Thanks, I just might do that! It took me forever to find all my curly vines and good branches. The branch in the back right corner is actually complettely hollow, I got it just for my anole. I had to find all different sized branches for all my different sized critters in there, but it was worth the time and effort. I’m hoping my tank will be semi-self sustained, since I’ve already seen my beetles (adult superworms from Petsmart) and spiders laying eggs. I’ve done nothing but stare at it since I finished it, lol. I still can’t believe it’s done!
03/04/07  11:21pm

 #1198481


FroggieB
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   Message To: Teh Miles   In reference to Message Id: 1197179


 Finally!

Quote:

I bought the cedar armoir/chest at Salvation Army for only $100.



I don’t know if anyone else caught this but I am a little concerned here about using "cedar" anything with reptiles. Cedar is poisonous to reptiles and rodents. It gives of an oily fume that causes respiratory problems. I am not sure if painting or coating this will stop the oils from going into the air. If you can smell the cedar even a little then you are suffocating your reptiles!

It is a beautiful landscaping job though!

Marcia
03/05/07  09:44pm

 #1199873


Teh Miles
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   Message To: FroggieB   In reference to Message Id: 1198481


 Finally!

The only time I could smell it was when it started smoking while we were drilling a hole in it, lol. I put a very thick waterproof coating on it, so I’m hoping it’ll help. I wasn’t aware that it was cedar when we first bought it (I’m very bad with wood), and they don’t do returns. I didn’t want to make my boyfriend spend another $100 or so on something else, so I had to try and make the best of it.

Thank you, we worked very hard on it



03/06/07  11:01pm


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