Vertical Conversion of “Zilla Critter Keeper” for tree frogs

[flybyferns]

UPDATE

Hi All,
Well, I’m 85 % done. I am trying to be as organized as possible!
I just need to monitor temp and humidity as I’m sure it will need tweaking.
(ignore those setting- I just hooked it up)
I’m happy with the cord cover.





I have used silicone to adhere my planters to the side of the viv.
My painted ‘tree trunks ‘ --- reverse glass painting are done.





filtered / heated "froggy spa" area -below



(I’m planning to do the exo terra as well.)
No more magnets, plus the plants are getting too heavy.
And, of course, it will be needing FROGS!!!

A frog's view -below





MY PLAN: is to move all six of my frogs into this viv
Most will be there for a temporary stay only.
Then I will clean, silicone the planters, paint the tree trunks, and WAIT for silicone to dry and not smell anymore in my larger enclosure.
When all is ready the 5 - A. callidryas ( including the 2 albinos) will be put back into the larger enclosure.
The A, moreletii will remain in this vertical converted “critter keeper”.

I am on the lookout for 2 additional morelitii and 1 ( 2?) Xanthic red eye tree frogs.

[frogluver]

WOW Lynn fantastic job so far....bravo! I really like your painted tree trunks, very nice! You've made great progress!

[flybyferns]

Hi All

So the readings on the probe ( temp/humidity ) monitor is at a -- good start!
The heater in the water area ( "froggy spa" )is set at 74 degrees F.
( No red eye tree frogs in there yet) burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I need to add a little heat for the rest of the cooler months.

4pm today -readings - just before an automated mist-below



Here is what I have to deal w/ in my chilly basement with out any intervention/ below . What a pain!



Thanks for looking !

[flybyferns]

Update............Reverse glass painting .

The hand painted tree trunks are done on both enclosures.
There were many layers of paint. It was hard !
Each one is different from another.

Sorry for the glare!















I'm just waiting for the silicone to dry a little longer in the conversion.
Next weekend I will be moving them all in this vertical conversion.
The A. callidryas will be there temporarily while I clean and silicone the planters in the larger enclosure.

Soon 'Boggie' ( A. moreletii) will have her own new apartment !

Lynn

[flybyferns]

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS



manufacture's advertisement



in the back of the car -after having the hole drilled in the top







front door - ON



front door - OFF

[helm96]

Lynn, that looks awesome. Your little ones are gonna LOVE IT! You did a great job there and you have set a spark now to do a vert conversion. So many ideas rolling, just no painting trees for me! My artistic abilities lack there!

[flybyferns]

Lynn, that looks awesome. Your little ones are gonna LOVE IT! You did a great job there and you have set a spark now to do a vert conversion. So many ideas rolling, just no painting trees for me! My artistic abilities lack there!

Thanks Will,

I got the idea from a video I watched on painting aquarium backgrounds.

The glass painting technique took a bit of practice getting the layer thing right.
Details have to go on the glass first.
Then every time you add a color / the color (looking from the inside) changes .
There is really no artistic ability needed. Believe me- I have none.
I draw like a 3 year old.
I practiced on some picture frame glass first.
I scrapped 2 or 3 off the enclosure glass ! But, eventually got all 13 tree trunks done!
The paint is applied in sort of a combination of: dabbed, wiped , brushed , sponged and smeared
The more wacky the paint layers the better!!!
Some places are even partially scraped off and then paint reapplied.

I did it to avoid an interior background so I am able to keep the inside glass clean!

I can just imagine what someone could do if they were artistic.
I would love to see what Autumn or Heather could do.
A solid back painted beautifully- would be really awesome!

Lynn

[frogluver]

Wonderful work Lynn!! I can already see that your frogs are going to love it! I like your choice of plants too....very nice!

Was it hard working with spray paint? I've never worked with spray paint before, but it would be fun to give it a try!

[froglover27]

Just a quick question....for the background, can you use acrylic paint instead of spray paint?? Thanks!! It looks SOOO great!

[flybyferns]

Wonderful work Lynn!! I can already see that your frogs are going to love it! I like your choice of plants too....very nice!

Was it hard working with spray paint? I've never worked with spray paint before, but it would be fun to give it a try!

Hi Autumn,
I didn't use spray paint. I brushed, dabbed, swirled, swiped etc : "Martha Stewart -Crafts paints. (satin). -cures in 21 days and is dishwasher safe". I painted on the outside glass of the enclosure!
Lynn

[flybyferns]

Just a quick question....for the background, can you use acrylic paint instead of spray paint?? Thanks!! It looks SOOO great!

Hi Justine,
I did use a type of acrylic paint. I brushed, dabbed, swirled, swiped etc : "Martha Stewart -Crafts paints. (satin). -cures in 21 days and is dishwasher safe". I painted on the outside glass of the enclosure!
Lynn

[froglover27]

oh cool!! Do you think it really matters what TYPE of acrylic paint is used??

[flybyferns]

oh cool!! Do you think it really matters what TYPE of acrylic paint is used??

YES, I would have to say that it does matter.
I don't think regular acrylic paint will cure permanently on glass.
I think it would scratch off.
But, I'm not a paint expert.

[froglover27]

YES, I would have to say that it does matter.
I don't think regular acrylic paint will cure permanently on glass.
I think it would scratch off.
But, I'm not a paint expert.

True.....maybe if you put a coating of some type of sealer thingy?? hmmmmmm

[flybyferns]

True.....maybe if you put a coating of some type of sealer thingy?? hmmmmmm

? Sorry, I don't know , as I have not tried either.
I guess you could purchase a small pc of glass and experiment ?

[flybyferns]

Up date:
The move has gone well -- this AM.
They all went back to sleep immediately.
It was fun to touch them!
The male Albino was a bit upset -he made little startle croaks when he was in my hand .
He seemed to be most frightened when handled; but has finally settled down.



Above- Left side of photo: I finished painting the tree trunks in the larger viv. and in the processing using silicone to adhere the planters onto the glass. When completely dry- the A. callidryas will return to that enclosure ( where they were).



The A. moreletii settled on the front/ interior glass behind the screen of his "vertical conversion".

My Plans:
I Am hoping for an Xanthic ( A. callidryas) from Bill Schwinn ( who is trying !)
and 2 additional A. moreletii from Michael Novy ? I hope.

Quarantine tanks are ready to go a a moments notice !

Thanks for looking, Lynn

[J Teezy]

you actually found a store to drill your glass for you? how much that cost? I called all kinds of glass shops and aquarium places in my area and nobody would drill it, i had to get a bit and do it myself

[flybyferns]

you actually found a store to drill your glass for you? how much that cost? I called all kinds of glass shops and aquarium places in my area and nobody would drill it, i had to get a bit and do it myself

Not really sure how much $ ?
I purchased small pieces of glass for the front as well at the same time.
Including the velcro/plexi cord cover he made for me.
My bill was $25.00.
So, pretty good deal. I think

He was concerned it was tempered glass. I assured him it was not.
He is a very experienced glass cutter.
I told him that if it broke I would not hold him responsible.
They all get so wigged-out about the glass breaking.
Lynn

[UncleChester]

Hi Lynn, just wanted to say this is pretty terrific! I like the open kinda look this has while still having lots of plant cover available. I also like that you've used plants as the main structural element. The faux tree backgrounds look pretty slick too.

I'm sure your A. moreletii will enjoy its new home and good luck acquiring roommates!

[flybyferns]

Hi Lynn, just wanted to say this is pretty terrific! I like the open kinda look this has while still having lots of plant cover available. I also like that you've used plants as the main structural element. The faux tree backgrounds look pretty slick too.

I'm sure your A. moreletii will enjoy its new home and good luck acquiring roommates!

Thanks very much, Brian
It has been relaxing and fun doing this conversion.
I enjoy taking care of the plants-too!
That's why I have gone through so much trouble w/ the planters.
Martin ( ViperJr) inspired me to create a separate place for my A. moreletii ; otherwise I would have never done it.
I had this "critter keeper" . It was my very first viv. I figured it was worth a try to convert it.

Autumn has done a conversion w/ this same enclosure as well. It's beautiful!

Lynn