squashedcat
New Member
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Minnesota
Due to the college life, I realized that my blazing blizzard needed a tank that would be more practical for when my mother is taking care of him. While it absolutely killed me to downsize his cage, which was an old beat up 20L, I found an Exo Terra small low on sale for 50% off and I cannot resist a sale. However, now that I have set it up and put Neige Pois (a poor and incorrect translation of snow pea) inside, I realized that we need to get some work done. Therefore, I'm just going to list off my few ideas and hopefully, someone can chime in, advise, or give me a completely different (maybe better?) idea. Pretty please?
Background:
The included background is… unfortunate, to say the least. The styrofoam polygonal shapes are clearly noticeable as well as whatever stamp-like thing Exo Terra used to make it. Plus, while I see they tried to make it appear natural with their paint job, it looks like shit. Therefore, i’m thinking i will spray paint the included background with a dark spray paint, apply grout and cover with black aquarium sand from Forest Lake Pets (a local pet store) and let it dry. Hopefully, that would make it look less cheap and more applicable in a tasteful terrarium.
All my questions regarding this:
What is the best grout to use (if that is what I should in fact use)?
The aquarium sand I want to use because it's black and has a sparkle in light is fairly rough; could I use that? Or, should I go for the regular substrate sand they market for leopard geckos? Also, does anyone know if that sand rots, grows mildew (I remember from my hermit crab days that their calcium sand does in fact get quite nasty if it gets wet).
Is there a particular brand of paint as I was just going to get the Rust-oleum dark bronze to paint it and I'm wondering if that will be safe once it dries?
Substrate:
Now, the main issue is that I refuse to use loose sand and Exo Terra only makes a faux moss mat for their cages, which little toes may get stuck in. The reptile carpet, which is what I have always used, is nice for its purpose; however, having had to cut the carpet and piece it together not only allows worms and crickets to crawl underneath, but also carries that cheap and tacky feeling. Now, I'm thinking of getting 1x1" tiles that are meshed together to place as the substrate, because I can easily tie in the black climbing wall background with them as well as his other items (especially, his hides, piece of petrified drift wood and bowls).
Questions:
Because there will probably be gaps in the tiles, what should I use to fill that in? I would prefer to not have to grout the tiles as I do like being able to take everything out of his cage and give it a full and complete clean. Would packed sand be even moderately safe?
I do like things to be aesthetically pleasing, but also safe and functional. Please, please, if anyone has any ideas or advice, I would definitely appreciate this because the last thing I want to do is unintentionally create a death trap (which is what I'm really quite afraid of).
Background:
The included background is… unfortunate, to say the least. The styrofoam polygonal shapes are clearly noticeable as well as whatever stamp-like thing Exo Terra used to make it. Plus, while I see they tried to make it appear natural with their paint job, it looks like shit. Therefore, i’m thinking i will spray paint the included background with a dark spray paint, apply grout and cover with black aquarium sand from Forest Lake Pets (a local pet store) and let it dry. Hopefully, that would make it look less cheap and more applicable in a tasteful terrarium.
All my questions regarding this:
What is the best grout to use (if that is what I should in fact use)?
The aquarium sand I want to use because it's black and has a sparkle in light is fairly rough; could I use that? Or, should I go for the regular substrate sand they market for leopard geckos? Also, does anyone know if that sand rots, grows mildew (I remember from my hermit crab days that their calcium sand does in fact get quite nasty if it gets wet).
Is there a particular brand of paint as I was just going to get the Rust-oleum dark bronze to paint it and I'm wondering if that will be safe once it dries?
Substrate:
Now, the main issue is that I refuse to use loose sand and Exo Terra only makes a faux moss mat for their cages, which little toes may get stuck in. The reptile carpet, which is what I have always used, is nice for its purpose; however, having had to cut the carpet and piece it together not only allows worms and crickets to crawl underneath, but also carries that cheap and tacky feeling. Now, I'm thinking of getting 1x1" tiles that are meshed together to place as the substrate, because I can easily tie in the black climbing wall background with them as well as his other items (especially, his hides, piece of petrified drift wood and bowls).
Questions:
Because there will probably be gaps in the tiles, what should I use to fill that in? I would prefer to not have to grout the tiles as I do like being able to take everything out of his cage and give it a full and complete clean. Would packed sand be even moderately safe?
I do like things to be aesthetically pleasing, but also safe and functional. Please, please, if anyone has any ideas or advice, I would definitely appreciate this because the last thing I want to do is unintentionally create a death trap (which is what I'm really quite afraid of).
