| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| mjpeters |
Posted - 25/09/2013 : 19:40:18
Well,all good news really-I have 'permission' (as if I needed it-the very thought!)to join club Crestie!!!!
I have a new Exo Terra 45x45x45 with a background and a waterfall all for £30. .
My Idea is to set up using natural planting,with little springtail bugs in the substrate to eat the poop and keep the substrate turned over.
so I welcome any ideas on good/practical/value/necessary crestie kit please?  |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Blackcat |
Posted - 02/10/2013 : 21:44:04
Glad to be of help smart bunny
you NEED to get a crestie so you can join in with us crestie keepers  |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 02/10/2013 : 17:07:28
VARNISH THE BRANCHES!!!! GENIUS!!! Thank youuuuuuuuuuuu 
(Sorry mj, I'm off now, back to crestie talk ) |
| Blackcat |
Posted - 02/10/2013 : 16:34:53
Thread hijack
smart bunny - 1st sorry to hear Hermes is having a few issues at the moment
Thanks for the idea re the springtails - I would not of thought of adding them to my rainbow vivs
When I varnished the wooden vivs for the two CRB's I varnished the wooden branches I had got too, so far have not had mould issues.
Glad to hear Prism is eating and growing well now |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 02/10/2013 : 15:59:41
Hey Blackcat - how's it going! Sorry to hijack this thread but it was the springtail talk - funnily enough we bought some today to go in Prism's viv - we have been having trouble finding stuff for her to climb on (she's really getting big now she's eating!) and we tried a vine-branch-thingy but just 2 weeks later discovered mould on it. Went to a new shop today and they had loads of humnid setups with no mould so we asked how they did it - apparently they pop springtails into all their humid vivs. Just thought it may interest you, if you are getting some for Ludo you may want to pop some in with your rainbows too :D |
| Blackcat |
Posted - 02/10/2013 : 15:35:01
Nowt wrong with the darkside, loads of very useful information and some very knowledgable people if you can manage to wade through the drivel and arguments 
Congratulations on joining the crestie gang mj
I am setting a live planted viv up for Ludo, got my clay balls and cocohusk substrate from a hydroponics shop and a sample sheet of weed membrane off ebay.
I am mixing my cocohusk with some organic potting mix and coconut shell charcoal to provide a good substrate for plant growth.
I may get a tropical springtail and woodlouse starter colony or may just add some nice little red wrigglers from my muckheap at the yard.
Moppet has informed you about the list of safe plants on the darkside - if you buy from a garden centre make sure you wash the plants well and probably best to completely change the compost to ensure no nasty chemicals are added
As for uv, the screen top of an exo terra will filter some out (so my research tells me)thus a 5% would be fine
You can get some really nice natural stuff for hides and deco from pollywog and dartfrog, also a source of safe fertilizer for your plants
Have fun - I'm having immense fun designing and setting mine up |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 26/09/2013 : 01:08:54
Brilliant news!!! well, if you survive the trip to the darkside...... |
| mjpeters |
Posted - 26/09/2013 : 00:06:49
Hmm,well I'll just buckle on my armour/reload Blunderbuss/sharpen knives/charge tayzer and re-fuel tank/flamethrower then I should be good to venture off into the darkness  ....
If I'm not back soon---wait longer  |
| Moppet |
Posted - 25/09/2013 : 22:00:45
Yay! Very exciting news! As lou said, read as much as possible about live setups. The dark side actually has quite a lot of information on them including a list of gecko safe (and durable!) plants I'd also love to have a go at a planted set up although not until my geckos are in their adult tanks as it seems like an awful lot of work initially to set it up. |
| lupi lou |
Posted - 25/09/2013 : 20:57:45
There are some good set up guides on the 'darkside' in the habitat section, you see some beautiful setups I'd love to have a go at a planed set up at some point. |
| ScaryVonHayleystine |
Posted - 25/09/2013 : 20:11:20
Im sure the live set up goes like this...clay balls (drainage layer) mesh cover, mini pebbles, soil, put in the plants, add some bark around the plant base or gravel so the crestie doesnt dig them up. Ive heard Pothos is a good plant :)
As they are nocturnal but you need UV for plants go for a 2%UV bulb (i use one) ive heard 5% is also acceptable but im unsure myself.
Using cork bark for natural hides as well :) |
