Madagascar Mantella Paludarium

[deranged chipmunk]

Thanks for the kind words Brian and i understand your frustration. A buddy of mine, who i bounce ideas off of, lives on a remote peninsula of alaska and can barely get some of the supplies we use, let alone at the prices we get. So i do understand. My next 2 builds however, are gonna be done with drylok and foam and the other will be a clay background. They won't be until after the new year though. At the very least, the clay one might appeal to those who cannot get to the other materials. I mean, everybody has access to kitty litter, right? Lol

And i agree, the titebond method kicks silicone's butt! No mess, no nasty fumes, and clean up with soap and water. You really cannot beat it. I was shocked to find very few people on the forum knew about it. If only i could take credit for the innovation, i would really look like a genius....lol

[Wy Renegade]

Nice job! Love the detail you put into this thread. Even though I don't do frogs (yet), I had to tag in to give you cuddos.

Got any good sources for epiphytic orchids and/or jewel orchids?

I may have a source or two to help you out on this one. I'll try and remember to look at home this evening.

Oh, and while you are right that i may have forgotten subconsciously, except i was planning a trip there this weekend to pick up some worm casting and bat guano for a carnivorous plant terrarium i am building.

I hope we get to see this one on the other site as well?

Thanks for the kind words Brian and i understand your frustration. A buddy of mine, who i bounce ideas off of, lives on a remote peninsula of alaska and can barely get some of the supplies we use, let alone at the prices we get. So i do understand. My next 2 builds however, are gonna be done with drylok and foam and the other will be a clay background. They won't be until after the new year though. At the very least, the clay one might appeal to those who cannot get to the other materials. I mean, everybody has access to kitty litter, right? Lol

And i agree, the titebond method kicks silicone's butt! No mess, no nasty fumes, and clean up with soap and water. You really cannot beat it. I was shocked to find very few people on the forum knew about it. If only i could take credit for the innovation, i would really look like a genius....lol

Looking forward to seeing these as well.

[deranged chipmunk]

I'll definitely do a thread on tpt for the carnivorous tank. The drylok tank will be on tpt as well. Learner has been a great help with background ideas on that one, so i have to post it.....lol

Btw folks, this is my partner in crime from another forum, renegade. Treat him nice, we gotta convert him to froggies!! Lol

[Wy Renegade]

I'll definitely do a thread on tpt for the carnivorous tank. The drylok tank will be on tpt as well. Learner has been a great help with background ideas on that one, so i have to post it.....lol

Btw folks, this is my partner in crime from another forum, renegade. Treat him nice, we gotta convert him to froggies!! Lol

Very cool, I'll be looking forward to those. I did manage to remember one of the sites off the top of my head, you may want to check it out for ephiphyte orchids.

Andy's Orchids - Orchid Species - Orchids - Species Specialist - Orchids on a stick

Hopefully its ok to post the website? If not, let me know and I'll edit it out.

[deranged chipmunk]

Funny, that is exactly who i am ordering from. He is one of the few people who grow mounted orchids from Madagascar.

[deranged chipmunk]

ok, so the bed bully left me to my own devices at Wally world this weekend (bad, BAD idea), and i ended up in the arts and crafts section. i ended up buying some oven bake clay and replenishing my paint supply (forgot red, duh!), and this is what i made from it. one or two mushrooms they are just a paintjob and a clear coat away from being siliconed into the tank. since i can't grow shrooms in the tank that are from Madagascar, then darn it, i will make them!! this is one of those little bits of "attention to detail" that sets tanks apart, or at least i believe it does.

[HerpDerp]

That stuff is safe to use with frogs? That just opened a world of possibilities

[deranged chipmunk]

Once they are clear coated, i don't see why not. No different that sticking one of those fake skulls in there....lol

[HerpDerp]

What should it be clear coated with? Or does it need to be clear coated at all?

[deranged chipmunk]

I'm at odds on that one. On one hand, i want to use krylon fusion clear since i know it is safe. But i am very tempted to use a clear acrylic nail polish since they are so small.

[HerpDerp]

I'm at odds on that one. On one hand, i want to use krylon fusion clear since i know it is safe. But i am very tempted to use a clear acrylic nail polish since they are so small.

I'm not sure nail polish would be sufficient? I would think it would chip and come off pretty easily and then be a possible ingestion danger? I've never tried to put it on something like that though :P.

[deranged chipmunk]

Does nail polish just chip and flake for no reason? I mean, i understand if it is impacted by something, sure, but there won't be anything in the tank to cause it to chip. I don't wear it, so i don't know. I have used it in other applications, like filling scratches in the clear coat on cars, and never had a problem.

[HerpDerp]

Does nail polish just chip and flake for no reason? I mean, i understand if it is impacted by something, sure, but there won't be anything in the tank to cause it to chip. I don't wear it, so i don't know. I have used it in other applications, like filling scratches in the clear coat on cars, and never had a problem.

You know, I don't really know. I don't wear it really ever either LOL. Although prolonged exposure to heat and high humidity could cause the material to deteriorate over time and make it much more prone to chipping. The rare times I wear nail polish I notice it gets much softer after a hot shower or doing the dishes or even on a humid day. Just my two cents

[deranged chipmunk]

hmmmm....interesting. i feel an experiment coming on!! LOL that's gonna have to wait. i want to get this tank planted, so i don't have time for a long term experiment, but i can look into it for my next build. so krylon it is! thanks Michelle see? this is the kind of input i was looking for in this thread

[deranged chipmunk]

update: shrooms and lichen cleared and installed. i still have another grouping of mushrooms to paint, clear and install. that will be over the weekend. also, vines are now covered. i have to wait until friday to do any more work. tomorrow is my babydoll's 13th birthday. where does the time fly???


and a pic of the new guys in the 125. i just thought they looked cute!!

[Savannah]

this is so cool to follow. i love the mushrooms. can't wait to see the finish.

[Pluke]

Lol, did you set them up like that or did they make that pose naturally?

Your tank is coming along amazingly. Very impressive stuff, can't wait to see the finish product.

[HerpDerp]

The mushrooms look great. I can't wait to see how awesome it looks when it's finished!

[pinkfeet]

It just keeps getting better an better an better I can't wait to see the finished product.

[FriedrichsFrogs]

looks fantastic man, the vines realy came out nice in the tank like that