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Post by andy on Nov 6, 2007 16:17:03 GMT
Oooooh how i love new projects  It's always been my ambition to set up a decent paludarium. This is an enclosedeco-system which has an aquatic section at the bottom and a terrestrial section at the top....a kinf of "land meets water" type environment or, a small slice of tropical stream or river bank. The idea is to build an all glass paludarium measuring 4' long x 4' high x 2' wide. It will be totally enclosed but the top will have a fine grille for ventilation and the front will have sliding doors. A framework of rocks will be built up in each corner to form a waterfall. A lot of tree branches, vines and bogwood will then complete the design. Tropical plants will then be added to the terrestrial section and would include all the epiphytic plants such as orchids, bromeliads and ferns. Tropical foliage plants such as alocasia and syngonium would be added as would other ferns, mosses and creepers. A misting device would be used to create a high humidity necessary for the project to work. And then, when it's all established and looking nice, i will think about adding dart frogs...those small, colourful poisonous beasties that live in the tropics. Anyway, i've been quoted £170 for the glass to build the thing so i might get xmas out of the way and then go for it. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 6, 2007 17:24:48 GMT
Now that sounds something to look forward to Andy.....I hope we are going to see some pics when you start.....
Where are you thinking of putting it when you have built it......and more importantly who will be looking after the dart frogs? I have seen them.........beautiful but pretty deadly.
RF
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Post by andy on Nov 6, 2007 17:41:07 GMT
The paludarium will go into the conservatory....north facing, white opaque roof, good ventilation, no direct sun but excellent natural light, doesn't get too hot in summer, heated in winter. Well the ickle fwogs are deadly in the wild but captive bred specimens are harmless and most are captive bred. I tried a smaller paludarium last year but it was too small. It was an open plan jobbie so no frogs or other amphibians could be kept but the guppies in the bottom bit seemed to love it. here's a pic  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 6, 2007 17:50:38 GMT
It looks really good and well thought out Andy, - I am really looking forward to seeing the bigger version, - and I am very pleased to hear that the frogs will be harmless...............mmmmh are you sure!!
RF
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Post by Weeterrier on Nov 6, 2007 22:14:04 GMT
Gosh Andy, I am really impressed with that. What a lovely project. Please post photographs, I'd be very interested in seeing how it takes shape. if I ever win the lottery, I'd like to set up something like that for my terrapins, something like you would see in a good zoo. But that is never going to happen, but I wish you luck with yours, and hope you get your pretty frogs.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 7, 2007 8:49:25 GMT
What a really lovely and absorbing project Andy... I can quite see how a larger environment would add multiples of interest too: I've always thought those fish that spit and knock down creepycrawlies into the water (archer fish?) were neat - no chance of those, I suppose? Pics please, from the moment you start construction...
OM.
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Post by andy on Nov 7, 2007 17:25:58 GMT
yeah you could probably go for some archer fish but the water needs to be brackish so it resricts the types of plants you can keep in the aquarium section and you couldn't have a waterfall as the terrestrial plants wouldn't like the salt......no doubt there's ways round it.
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Post by Shrubrose on Nov 7, 2007 19:04:04 GMT
What a really lovely and absorbing project Andy... I can quite see how a larger environment would add multiples of interest too: I've always thought those fish that spit and knock down creepycrawlies into the water (archer fish?) were neat - no chance of those, I suppose? Pics please, from the moment you start construction... OM. Interesting project Andy. How do you maintain something like that over time, especially with frogs in it? OM's comment re the archer fish reminds me of when I was at school and had to write an essay about an unusual animal. I browsed through the encyclopaedia and found a piece about archer fish, which I duly 'copied' and even illustrated. I got something like 4 out of 10 as a mark, more for the drawing than my accuracy! My teacher thought I had made it up!!!!!! I realised that then that teachers are not infallible  Useful lesson. Sorry Andy, nothing to do with your thread but just sparked a memory  |
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Post by Pip on Nov 9, 2007 16:50:09 GMT
Oh Andy I am certainly looking forward to following this project. Please don't forget the photo's will you.
Pip
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 25, 2007 20:17:30 GMT
The paludarium will go into the conservatory....north facing, white opaque roof, good ventilation, no direct sun but excellent natural light, doesn't get too hot in summer, heated in winter. Well the ickle fwogs are deadly in the wild but captive bred specimens are harmless and most are captive bred. I tried a smaller paludarium last year but it was too small. It was an open plan jobbie so no frogs or other amphibians could be kept but the guppies in the bottom bit seemed to love it. here's a pic Like it Andy |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 4, 2008 9:00:21 GMT
The paludarium will go into the conservatory....north facing, white opaque roof, good ventilation, no direct sun but excellent natural light, doesn't get too hot in summer, heated in winter. Well the ickle fwogs are deadly in the wild but captive bred specimens are harmless and most are captive bred. I tried a smaller paludarium last year but it was too small. It was an open plan jobbie so no frogs or other amphibians could be kept but the guppies in the bottom bit seemed to love it. here's a pic Like it Andy So hows it going |
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Post by andy on Mar 6, 2008 11:35:19 GMT
It's not at the moment due to the siamese fighting fish breeding project (please see same response in the pond revamp section ;D) Chuckles...please stop bringing up all my old threads where i promise to do things and then don't  ;D |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 6, 2008 18:02:54 GMT
;D Whoops you make me sound like a virtual nagging wife  |
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Useful lesson. 
;D 