Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

  1. #1
    Fishbone
    Guest

    Default Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    I am in the process of building a custom viv for my Bearded Dragon, on a custom stand with drawers, double doors etc and was wondering if I can convert the Zilla 40 breeder size tank he is in right now to a terrarium for Fire Belly toads.
    I bought it as the Large 40g Bearded Dragon Kit.

    It has a tag that says it can't hold water.
    Does this mean it CAN'T hold ANY water?

    Or it can't be FILLED with water?

    It has a nice bead of sealant all around the inside, but I don't want it to fail a month after I get it setup because it's not designed for it.

    Does anyone have any experience doing this?

    Thanks

  2. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
     

  3. #2
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Carbondale, IL
    Posts
    396

    Default Re: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    Hmmm....
    That sounds mighty fishy (unfortunately, not fishy like aquarium fishy). I think you're right that it may not hold water all that well, and it certainly isn't fun to be cleaning gallons of water off the floor. My recommendation would be to maybe re-silicone the seams? You can buy a tube of aquarium sealant and redo it (it might be a good idea to scrape off some of the old silicone) and make sure the glass is really clean. I can't imagine the glass is the weakness, but regardless I wouldn't put too much water in it.

    Overall, I do think you could convert it into a phenomenal FBT tank, it just might need some tweaking. Alternatively, Petco should be having a $1 a gallon sale soon so you could always buy another, it never hurts to have extra tanks. (Silicone is much cheaper though!)

    ~Alex

  4. #3

    Default Re: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    actually, they will hold water. the silicone they use is the same silicone they use on aquatic tanks. the difference is in the thickness of the glass. that's also the reason that those are cheaper than the aquatic version (except for the $1/gal sale). they put the label on it so people don't get this one because it's cheaper and then have their house fill up with 40g of water. but they will not hold a lot of water, no more than half way, which is more than you probably planned anyway
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  5. #4
    Member sschind's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    SE Wisconsin
    Posts
    40

    Default Re: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    Quote Originally Posted by deranged chipmunk View Post
    actually, they will hold water. the silicone they use is the same silicone they use on aquatic tanks. the difference is in the thickness of the glass. that's also the reason that those are cheaper than the aquatic version (except for the $1/gal sale). they put the label on it so people don't get this one because it's cheaper and then have their house fill up with 40g of water. but they will not hold a lot of water, no more than half way, which is more than you probably planned anyway

    What he said. The thinner glass won't withstand the pressure of being filled all the way with water but they SHOULD be water tight for 5 or 6 inches.
    Steve Schindler

  6. #5
    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Huntington .. New York
    Posts
    4,975
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fishbone View Post
    I am in the process of building a custom viv for my Bearded Dragon, on a custom stand with drawers, double doors etc and was wondering if I can convert the Zilla 40 breeder size tank he is in right now to a terrarium for Fire Belly toads.
    I bought it as the Large 40g Bearded Dragon Kit.

    It has a tag that says it can't hold water.
    Does this mean it CAN'T hold ANY water?

    Or it can't be FILLED with water?

    It has a nice bead of sealant all around the inside, but I don't want it to fail a month after I get it setup because it's not designed for it.

    Does anyone have any experience doing this?

    Thanks
    Great question!
    I have called "Zilla" and asked this exact question regarding this enclosure. The answer I got was "It can not be filled with water".
    I have used this enclosure, horizontally, with 4 inches of water in 1/2 of the tank with NO problem at all.
    Lynn
    Current Collection
    Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
    Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
    Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
    Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
    Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"

    Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
    Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
    Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"

    Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
    Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
    Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
    Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
    Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
    Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
    Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
    Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
    Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
    Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"

    Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)

    Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
    Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
    Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
    Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
    Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
    Oophaga histrionica "Tado"

    Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
    Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
    Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
    Ranitomeya vanzolinii

    http://www.fernsfrogs.com
    https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs

  7. This member thanks flybyferns for this post:


  8. #6
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    125

    Default Re: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    My sister uses one for her fire bellies. She keeps 4-6 inches of water in the bottom, some fake plants, a log that floats and goes all the way across the back of the tank, some floating pieces of bark, and some rock "islands". Her toads do very well in this setup and the tank has never leaked.

  9. This member thanks badkelpie for this post:


  10. #7
    Member sschind's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    SE Wisconsin
    Posts
    40

    Default Re: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    Quote Originally Posted by flybyferns View Post
    Great question!
    I have called "Zilla" and asked this exact question regarding this enclosure. The answer I got was "It can not be filled with water".
    I have used this enclosure, horizontally, with 4 inches of water in 1/2 of the tank with NO problem at all.
    Lynn
    That will be their standard CTA response and they are right, the tank can not be filled with water. Well, actually it can but it probably won't hold and you will have a heck of a mess. That doesn't mean it won't hold some water as many have said. They will never tell you that though because it could open them up for a lawsuit.
    Steve Schindler

  11. #8
    Fishbone
    Guest

    Default Re: Can a Zilla 40 Bearded Dragon tank be converted to a FBT terrarium?

    THANKS EVERYONE!

    An employee at Pet Smart gave me the same info, he's very experienced in reptiles but never used this tank for a wet environment.
    I needed to hear from someone that has done it!

    Thanks again

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Bearded Dragon Growth.
    By PacManMan in forum Other Pets
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: March 9th, 2011, 05:21 PM
  2. Citrus Bearded Dragon Momma
    By terris in forum Other Pets
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: January 9th, 2011, 11:58 AM
  3. Bearded dragon
    By jackdogga in forum Other Pets
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: September 12th, 2010, 10:20 AM
  4. Uromastyx VS Bearded Dragon
    By MarshallsMom in forum Other Pets
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: August 25th, 2010, 07:13 PM
  5. Bearded Dragon Eye Problem
    By PacManMan in forum Other Pets
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: July 17th, 2010, 11:03 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •