Desert vivarium ideas...

[ToadPaparazzi]

Does anyone have any good ideas they'd like to share for creating a background for a desert setup? I would like to add a background to my 18x18x24 exoterra... I can't seem to come up with anything other than a fake rock background... I was thinking of maybe using cholla skeletons and palo verde roots.

[John]

That's a tough one. You know you could just put silicone on the background and press sand into it? And other things?

[Heatheranne]

Some palms live well in sand. What will live in it?

[ToadPaparazzi]

I'm debating on Couch's Spadefoots, Red Spotted, or Great Plains Toads. I'm thinking I will do similar to a jungle viv with sand instead of coco-fiber. I might GreatStuff a small corner of the tank and temporarily fill it with water (one or two months out of the year). Guess I'm going on a cholla/root hunt...

[Heatheranne]

Sometimes I scroll the Internet for pictures. Perhaps type in desert photos in images and see what pops up. I bet you'll start getting ideas . That is how I found my waterfall idea.

[ToadPaparazzi]

Good idea! Thanks for the tip!

[BG]

You could use stone and the stuff and then go over with sand or cat litter or coco fiber in between the rocks. It come out looking like a cliff.

[ToadPaparazzi]

I think I'm going to make it look like a small arroyo with exposed roots... I guess I'll start on it when I get paid... 10 days to go!

[Heatheranne]

What's an arroyo?

[ToadPaparazzi]

An arroyo is a dry riverbed. In the desert, you see many dry creekbeds. These usually become streams or even rivers during a heavy rain or flash flood. It is Spanish for "brook" I believe. Sometimes, roots of trees are exposed be the rushing water... It looks amazing sometimes... I've seen some exposed roots that look like giant wooden worms crawling through the sandstone.

[Heatheranne]

Neat. Do you live in or near the desert?

[Heatheranne]

This is my new project. I was inspired by seeing all of these beautiful tanks and think I'll give it a try. I found this picture on the net. It will be a guideline.

Oh, I lived in the desert for about a year in southern California. I'm now picturing what you mean . Too bad there aren't mini Joshua trees here : )

[ToadPaparazzi]

Sweet idea Heather! Love the sketch

I live in a valley... I am 45 minutes from the ocean, 30 minutes from the desert and about 25 minutes from the mountains

[Heatheranne]

Wow! That's pretty cool. Where are you from?

Thanks, on the sketch. Just can't wait to get started. I have to get my tank stand first. I'll probably get it the beginning of next week.

[ToadPaparazzi]

I live in Redlands, CA. I am about 60 miles S/E of Los Angeles.

[ToadPaparazzi]

I had an idea for a background... Not sure I will go through with it though...

I was thinking, since most of the toads I live with are from the southwest; I was pondering the idea of incorporating a mineshaft or ghost town theme into the background...

[Heatheranne]

I lived in 29 palms.

That sounds awesome! Any ideas of how yet? You need some tumble weeds and an old bison skull, lol!

We used to drive to Vegas every now and then. Reminds me of the dirt devils and road runners we saw along the way. Lots of lizards out there too, and snakes. Ah, the good ole days.

[ToadPaparazzi]

I actually drive through 29 Palma/Yucca Valley all the time looking for critters!

[Heatheranne]

Lol! How funny! I liked it there. Warm and toasty .

[BG]

What would you put in a desert setup. No water at all?