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Although this has been a slow process, the 65 gallon tank seen in the photos below will be set up as a terrarium. Using glass panes, I am constructing 3 permanent dividers, affixed using aquarium silicone. Thus creating 4 distinct sections which will house 4 individual specie of salamander. It will mimic my 10 gallon terrarium but on a much larger scale. This terrarium will be filled with live plants, ground cover and moss in a rich black earth soil and complete glass covers. In essence this will become a completely living, self-sustaining habitat!
STEP 1: Setting Up Your Terrarium It is best to decide ahead of time where the
tank will be located. A suitable sized and sturdy stand should be used
to properly support the weight of the tank. Smaller tanks are far easier
to move around to various locations however, larger tanks pose more of a problem. Size and weight are an
issue. It is best to set up your stand before-hand and position it where
required prior to beginning. For more details on stands please refer to
Set Up. I have yet to purchase a stand for my
terrarium so for now it rests on my bedroom dresser, which luckily
enough is strong enough to support the weight and fits the tanks
dimensions perfectly. Once the stand is in place, carefully position the
tank onto it. You are now ready to begin. STEP 2: Preparing Your Terrarium
STEP 3: Affixing The Background
This step may be omitted as it depends on whether or not you are sectioning your tank for multiple species or setting your terrarium up for a single specie. If you are utilizing the entire terrarium for one specie (mixing is not recommended) then you can skip steps 4 and 5. However, if you are constructing your terrarium into multiple sections, for more than one specie as I, then please follow through. As described above I will be housing 4 individual species of salamanders in my terrarium and due to this, will set the tank up with dividers. These cannot be purchased at any pet retailers with the exception of the flimsy, plastic fish dividers which will not work in this situation and are not as attractive either. Nor are they something you can easily make at home for yourself either unfortunately. To prevent stress on my salamanders I opted against siliconing a clear sheet of Plexiglas into the tank and instead thought of a viable method to use a background, in essence entirely separating the sections from each other. After repeated and failed attempts at using Plexiglas, I tried again with aid from a glass store. Plexiglas can warp and bend in humid/moist conditions over time, and it can not be sealed. Even a tiny pinhole will allow water and moisture to seep into the divider, causing damage to the background. I took my invention and ideas to a local glass shop where they were finally perfected. Using ordinary glass panes, the background was centered and a spaghetti seal was used in-between as the primary seal. Once dried, a secondary seal was applied around the outside edge, used to further prevent moisture inside the divider. All edges were sanded to prevent sharp edges which would scratch the glass tank when installing. The dimensions for the divider (s) and how many needed will depend entirely on your particular set up; how many sections required, how much space each specie requires or you wish to allow, the size of your tank etc... In my 65 gallon terrarium, I chose to house 4 species, therefore needing 3 dividers, sectioning the tank into approx. 1.5 square foot sections.
Again, this step will be omitted if not separating the tank. This is the challenging part of the set up. The less dividers, the easier the task....getting them into place, spaced properly, straight and then holding them securely to apply the silicone. Solution: Clamps and a measuring tape, possibly someone who is good with calculations is also advised. Keep in mind the inside and outside dimensions of your tank are different and you must also allow for the thickness of your divider (s). This can take some time. Once you are satisfied with the positioning of the divider (s) then clamp securely into place and tack the upper and lower portions with a dab of aquarium silicone and allow to fully cure, generally 24 hours. Only use aquarium silicone as it is specified for these tasks, is safe and non-toxic. It holds just as well as standard silicones from hardware stores but does not excrete acids as some do when wet. Once the silicone is fully cured, the clamps can be removed and the final seal applied. I opted to run the bead along the bottom and the back wall so the silicone is not visible, as it would be at the front. Grab your aquarium silicone. Gloves are nice to have on hand to prevent the sticky mess on your hands! By cutting the tip on a 45 degree angle easier allows the silicone to fill the gap. Run the bead along both sides of the divider (s), bottom and rear wall. Although there are many tools and gadgets available on the market, the easiest and cheapest method is to wet your finger and run it along the fresh bead. This not only pushes the silicone into the gap where needed, it removes excess silicone, fills in missed areas and also gives a smooth, even and flawless seam. Allow to cure again for at least 24 hours before moving on to the next step.
Your substrate or material used for a base for your terrarium is up to you. Strictly gravel can be used, but in this context we are setting the terrarium up as a living habitat and therefore I am using black earth soil, rich with nutrients for the plants, as well small worms and insects which will benefit the terrarium and the salamanders. 3 to 4 inches is best to allow for plant roots and growth. If common sense, proper hygiene and maintenance is followed then this substrate will pose no risk to the health of the occupants. I am looking into other methods of substrate set ups currently and will update as researched but another method that proves acceptable is to use an inch or two of standard aquarium gravel initially. A secondary layer of charcoal is recommended to help filter the water through the soil and keep it fresh. An inch layer is suitable. A fiberglass screen meshing used to separate the layers and a 2-3 inch layer of soil on top. This is in the experimental stage currently.
STEP 7: Decorating Your Terrarium Over the years setting up various habitats,
I have concluded that it is much easier to decorate your habitat not in
steps, but all at once. Plants, and various decorations can always be
added at later dates but for the initial set up having an idea ahead of
time of the potential lay out and as many of those items available at
this stage is best. Instead of planting your plants first, then moving
onto the next object and determining its position a general idea, some
imagination before-hand is easier and faster. In this terrarium, it will
be set up as a completely living habitat....all natural, nothing
manufactured or as little as possible. Now the fun part: Setting it all up. Again, the best method is to do it all at once with a good idea already in mind. Keep the plants in their pots and arrange them and all your decorations where desired and re-arrange until you have it set up to your liking. Remove the plants from their pots, dig a large hole half-way into your soil, plant and pack soil firmly around it. Water promptly and add a small portion of fertilizer tablet towards the roots. Place your rocks, driftwood etc....where desired and voila! Simple as 1-2-3. My results (front and side views):
Individual sections (from left to right): Section 2:
Section 3:
Section 4:
STEP 8: Covering the Tank
As with any newt or salamander set up prior to adding the occupants of course you will need to decide on an appropriate cover for the tank in order to prevent any escape attempts. There are a few options; canopy, glass or screen however with a terrarium habitat moisture retention is very important so I have devised my own Plexiglas/screen covers allowing for adequate ventilation via the screen in the rear, as well the Plexiglas front allows moisture to held within. Small hinges affixed allow for easy removal if necessary and easy access to the habitats.
More photos and steps to follow as progress continues.....however
with the exception of a nicer stand besides the current bedroom dresser,
the lighting system and more species the tank is otherwise complete and
already in use :)
MY BLUE SPOTTED SALAMANDER SAMANTHA MY EMPEROR NEWTS JOHN, SCOTT AND SASHA JOHN SCOTT
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