Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greetings, I have an aquarium size 4ftx15in that I want to convert into a terrarium, what should be needed, procedure?

My thanks,

-N.

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1380424,1380640

>>Greetings, I have an aquarium size 4ftx15in that I want to convert into a terrarium, what should be needed, procedure?
>>
>>My thanks,
>>
>>
>>-N.
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Depending on what you want to keep in the terrarium will dictate how you go about setting it up. Do you have any ideas on what you'd like to keep in it? Whatever you keep will dictate what types of plants, how the substrate should be set up, how you'll control and/or modify humidity, etc.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

Greetings, within it will be kept a royal Python as it is the only reptile I possess that is in need of a larger inclosure.
I intend to create a living vavarium, so more desert like enviroments.

>>Greetings, within it will be kept a royal Python as it is the only reptile I possess that is in need of a larger inclosure.
>>I intend to create a living vavarium, so more desert like enviroments.

Unfortunately you're working with an awfully small aquarium to try to get a truly living system going, especially where a snake is concerned. I doubt you'll be able to get substrate deep enough in an aquarium that size to actually get good plant growth. Something that size is barely big enough for an adult Ball Python, add in 4 inches of substrate and live plants and you've got very little space left for the snake. If you're dead set on using that aquarium for the snake I'd simply go with a simple bark chip substrate a couple inches deep and try to find some realistic hide boxes and water bowls to finish it out. If you really want to have a good vivarium set up for a Ball Python you're got to have to build something that would be at least double the dimensions of what your aquarium is. I've tried this before and the best set up I had for a pair of Ball Pythons was a cage 6' long by 30" deep by 30" high. The cage incorporated burrows, LARGE live plants, and large logs and branches which were regularly used for climbing. Finally, I'd also argue that glass aquaria are almost never suitable for housing most herp species, the sole exceptions being amphibians and small aquatic turtles.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

My thanks for the reply, I will look into getting a larger set up. However, I wished to know how to go about getting locking tops set up on the enclosure as I am well aware that in the condition which it is in, is to say the least unsuitable.

My thanks,

-N.

If you have a screen top that already fits the aquarium a lot of pet stores sell universal locking devices that are either some type of tensioned clip or in some cases some kind of two piece clip utilizing thumb screws to tighten/adjust. Your aquarium should be fine for housing the BP until you can put together something larger.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir