Any good ideas how to build a crestie tank bsckground without spray foam?
I can’t take it outside to build the background. I do not have an outside place to do so. (Plus the terrarium is pretty heavy and I can not transport it up and down multiple levels multiple times) And since spray foam (at least the ones I can get in germany) is not to be used inside… I need other ideas.
Silicone is okay, I can have it in the bathroom to air out. But I can not do a foam background in there.
It came with a premade styrofoam background but I dont like that as the only background in there. I want some side coverage. For just making the premade one look more natural I was planning to glue moss and a plantpot covered in cork bark to it. (Silicone and/or superglue)
But what can I do for the sides and to glue in some good branches to sit on for the gecko? Just silicone? Foam on branch outside, let dry, carve and then glue in with silicone?
(Gecko us currently just a baby and in a grow out/quarantine tank of 30x30x30cm. The big tank will have to be ready for april/may next year if the baby grows well. I wat it done by march so the plants have some time to grow.)
I use tree fern panels and cork bark panels as backgrounds all the time. Really nice benefit of both of them is that they hold a bit of moisture which helps stabilize humidity. I just glue them down with gorilla glue and a few text books are weight while the glue cures
For branches, I would fine something where the largest cross section is braced against the floor and the trim the side branches to brace against the sides so that it does not wobble. A crestie does not weigh that much so there should be no real fear of them toppling it from their weight and if you have it positioned correctly then slight shifts should just result in one or another side branch bumping against the wall and keeping it from toppling anyway
Honestly, I would go less toxic. The idea of glues, pvc, adhesives does not sit well with me. I just made mine out of all HDPE (cutting board material- food safe.) These little guys have to live inside and breath that air. I once read something I really liked. He said, build it for THEM, not for us. Not for what looks pretty or cool. You could rub some dirt on the walls- put in some plants. Fill it with hides, climbing natural cork, wood, etc. Nat. Cork is excellent BTW and NON-TOXIC. That is my theme.
I think I will get cork bark to glue in with aquarium silicone.
I am just still wondering if sticks will be glued on strong enough if I just use silicone. It works with my mourning geckos but they are a bit smaller.
I will figure something out but just thought there must be more people out there that did not use spray foam snd still made a custom background.
Before pond safe foam became the new norm for smaller species builds, there was styrofoam and grout. But these are going to be very heavy because you’re making a concrete block around the styrofoam.
It’s still handy for making small custom rock creations here and there for small critter keepers. From what I’ve been seeing though, These days it’s mostly being used for bigger bodied critters or climbers with very long nails to help file them down and not puncture foam.
I’ve also seen some people use silicone and flooring tiles, but that’s mostly for the bottom of the enclosure and not the back.
If you are particularly creative and good with your hands, there is also ZooPoxy. This is a binary compound you mix and mould into basically anything you want. And it is used for designing zoo displays so it is very animal safe. It is not exactly cheap and it takes work and time, but you can make amazing things with it
