Beach rocks/stones as substrate?

[NatureLady]

Thanks for this post! I think a lot of people are looking for cheaper ways to do things...or maybe that is just me

[KingCam]

Thanks for this post! I think a lot of people are looking for cheaper ways to do things...or maybe that is just me

Definitely not just you. Check out this post on caudata.org where I re-constructed my tiger salamander tank using stuff I already had laying around the house: Tiger Sal Tank - Revamp Time! - Caudata.org Newt and Salamander Forum

[rivkah]

I really like the layout of your tiger salamander tank. It was inqenius using the overturned plastic containers to take up space... great idea!

[KingCam]

I really like the layout of your tiger salamander tank. It was inqenius using the overturned plastic containers to take up space... great idea!

Well thank you I had to think of something, because I only had 1/4 of a bag of hydroton and I really didn't wanna go out to buy more.

[rivkah]

As "they" say "necessity is the mother of invention".

Years ago I was given an axoltl... but it wasn't... it was a tiger salamander juevinal. When it morphed I built it a terrarium using hamster tubes to create tunnels under the surface. Silly, but he enjoyed it. At times it looked like a wack a mole game, never knowing from which hole he was going to emerge.

I am in the process of setting up yet another terrarium/vivarium out of a 20 gallon bowl of all things. Because of the shape, completely round (30" wide and high) with an 8 inch opening, I still have not yet decided what to do with it: vivarium with pond, creek or waterfall or terrarium without moving water but with hills and valleys. I have the bits to do either just cant decide.... Evenutally all manner of critter could reside in it and even without a cover I don't beleive anything but tree frogs and the like could climb up and out, the sides are too steep and curl towards the middle to the small 8" opening.

Any suggestions?

[KingCam]

As "they" say "necessity is the mother of invention".

Years ago I was given an axoltl... but it wasn't... it was a tiger salamander juevinal. When it morphed I built it a terrarium using hamster tubes to create tunnels under the surface. Silly, but he enjoyed it. At times it looked like a wack a mole game, never knowing from which hole he was going to emerge.

I am in the process of setting up yet another terrarium/vivarium out of a 20 gallon bowl of all things. Because of the shape, completely round (30" wide and high) with an 8 inch opening, I still have not yet decided what to do with it: vivarium with pond, creek or waterfall or terrarium without moving water but with hills and valleys. I have the bits to do either just cant decide.... Evenutally all manner of critter could reside in it and even without a cover I don't beleive anything but tree frogs and the like could climb up and out, the sides are too steep and curl towards the middle to the small 8" opening.

Any suggestions?

That's awesome! I'm too busy visualizing all of the awesome things you just suggested to come up with anything good :P

[rivkah]

I am not techology. I wish I could figure out how to set up a photo album.... this is the only way I know how to include pictures. So here are pictures of my 30g terrarium for red efts and a 35g hex which currently houses 3 fire belly newts. I increased the water level to about an below the land, and removed the silly turtle. These pictures were taken within a week of their construction. Now months later, the plants have filled in nicely. I also have a third terrarium set up for 3 bumblebee toads, it is grossly overgrown and it is that tank that I am looking to replace with the 20g bowl.





If you can dream it up, I usually can built it. I like very natural looking enclosures. My problem is making the decision: I visualize the 20g bowl so many different ways... it had been a goldfish bowl, a mini reef, as well as a freshwater tank. I have owned it for over 15 years, long before the Biorbs came out. It is a perfect size, big enough to do anything with it, small enough to fit anywhere and a great shape for viewing.

Do these pictures help you visualize?