Amphibian Racking System Build (Photo Heavy)

[MantellaGuy]

Hi all,

Time for a update I think! I have been playing around with a few of my 400x400x400mm False Bottom Terrariums so I could house some of my Mantella species in brand new enclosures. So now, without further ado here they are, not happy with one of them but shall replant it when I get my new Plants delivered;


^ ^ - 2 out 9 species have been made brand new enclosures! Left exhibit will house 1 of my 4 bloodlines of Mantella viridis and Right exhibit will house 1 of my 2 bloodlines of Mantella betsileo.


^ ^ - 1.1.0 Mantella betsileo exhibit, I have made it more crowded with many places to hide as they are, due to be less Aposematic, less bold than some of the genus.


^ ^ - Close up of the 1.1.0 Mantella betsileo exhibit.


^ ^ - 1.2.0 Mantella viridis exhibit, I am not that happy with this and kind of had to make do with some of the spare plants I had from previous builds. More open than the M.betsileo exhibit as I found the species to be very bold, nearly as bold as Mantella aurantiaca. Will be refurnishing this with more Fittonia species and like all my Terrariums, I will be painting on Moss Spores when I receive them.


^ ^ - Close up of the 1.2.0 Mantella viridis exhibit. The Peperomia clusiifolia I doubt will be able to stay in there but as a temporary thing I am sure it will be fine, it will go into my Scaphiophyrne gottlebei exhibit though as I know it prefers drier substrates.

Anyway, hope you like the Terrariums but they will need a lot of work, I will be putting the individuals in the Terrariums on Christmas eve/day though, the Aquarium Grade Sealant would have stopped smelling by then (I know that it is Solvent free but no harm leaving it the last couple of days! lol).

Merry Christmas,

Josh

[Truffs1178]

Your collection is insane and the set ups are very impressive.

[MantellaGuy]

Your collection is insane and the set ups are very impressive.

Thank you very much!

[MantellaGuy]

Update - Shall be making a Mantella laevigata Bamboo Forest enclosure, I have large species of Bamboo growing where I am (This is true species of Bamboo) so it is entirely possible to do

[MantellaGuy]

Hi everyone,

Been a few weeks since I updated on the builds so thought I should start again with my Mantella aurantiaca terrarium

First of all, here is a selection of plants that i have either taken cuttings and grown them on or ones I have been buying (Not all of them are photographed but I have about 30 in total!):-

Earth Starfish Plant (Cryptanthus bivittatus)
"Red Rosso" Radiator Plant (Peperomia caperata)
Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei)
White Butterfly Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
"Red Skeleton" Snake Skin Plant (Fittonia verschaffeltii)
Green Ivy (Hedera helix)
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
Moon Valley Plant (Pilae involucrater)
Malagasy Dragon Plant (Dracaena marginata)
Colombian Creeping Fig (Ficus sp)
Asian Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)
Heartleaf Plant (Philodendron scandens)
Inch Plant (Tradescantia fluminensis)
Heart Fern (Hemionitis artolia)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum laxum)














































So, a little info is needed I think! This is a DMS Terrarium with a False Bottom that will accommadate my Golden Mantella (Mantella aurantiaca) individuals which I plan to increase the bloodlines for. It is 800 x 400 x 400mm (Long x High x Deep) and will be fully planted.

I have started it only today with the Expanding Foam background, which will be a mixture of the old fashioned Silicone Sealant with Coir Compost and possibly some Cement and liquid Fibre-glass techniques I am just leaving it to set at the moment over night and tomorrow i will be carving at it....










My next step is to carve away at the Foam and see what interesting shapes I can make! (You can alreadysee that i am making a cliff/slope through the middle of the background.)

Thanks for looking and wait for more updates!!

Josh

[Mentat]

Hello Josh! Great update with excellent photos of plants and build progress. Love the Golden Mantellas, so I'm looking forward to them being in there. What is name and source of the coir panels on post no. 8? Thank you !

[DigitalPunk]

Wow very jealous of your options to buy custom built terrariums. Wish I had something close like that

Looking great so far!