terrarium backgrounds

[EL Ziggy]

I want to cover the sides and backs of my 40 gal tanks. (36x18x16) Anybody know where I can find some nice background paper. The pet stores nor amazon had anything I liked. Thanks in advance.

[Sharlynn93]

I used contact paper taped to the outside facing in of course...but my BP and my garter both have a very attractive woodsy theme going on with their camo backgrounds...I just used black posterboard for the sides...my corns and CRB have tropical themed backgrounds that my petco USED to carry that you could buy by the foot...

[Mikoh4792]

Does it need to be outside the tank? If not I'd suggest looking at cork backgrounds and live fern backgrounds(You mist these and live ferns and mosses grow). It makes for a more naturalistic enclosure then those tape on printed backgrounds


http://i55.tinypic.com/t6pll4.jpg

http://reprobatids.metaphoriclight.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2012/07/IMG_0510.jpg

[EL Ziggy]

Nice setup Mikoh. You should come to Atlanta and help me :)

[EL Ziggy]

I used contact paper taped to the outside facing in of course...but my BP and my garter both have a very attractive woodsy theme going on with their camo backgrounds...I just used black posterboard for the sides...my corns and CRB have tropical themed backgrounds that my petco USED to carry that you could buy by the foot...

Sharlynn- it was your BP's background that got this thread started. I want something nice like that for my critters :)

[Mikoh4792]

Nice setup Mikoh. You should come to Atlanta and help me :)

not mine lol. from google images

[EL Ziggy]

not mine lol. from google images

LOL, I can still use all the help I can get. I love seeing these really nice set ups and wishing I could do that. I'm not the best decorator that's for sure.

[Sharlynn93]

Sharlynn- it was your BP's background that got this thread started. I want something nice like that for my critters :)

Thanks! :) that made me feel like I really contributed to something! :D

[pdomensis]

Has anyone here actually done a DIY bark background like in Mikoh's post? That looks sweet! I'd like to try it but I'm wondering how to get the sheets flat. I've got several good sized chunks of elm bark, but they've all got a curl to them. I'm thinking about soaking them up and then pressing them while drying. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[kelzerman]

What I have done in the past on a small scale for my tarantulas was to use foam board for packing. Cut to size then you can use a torch to melt a pattern into it, or carve your pattern in. Then I covered the whole thing in food grade silicone and dipped it in substrate. Making sure to press the substrate into the silicone. I also took a half log and incorporated that into the backdrop. I then silicone that to the back of the enclosure. I will post a pic when I get home.

Here is a link to a different method also


Naturalistic Vivarium- Great Stuff "How To"... LOTS of pics (http://www.pangeareptile.com/forums/showthread.php?2268-Naturalistic-Vivarium-Great-Stuff-quot-How-To-quot-LOTS-of-pics)

I hope posting this link is ok...

[smy_749]

I have done my own bark backgrounds. Its hard to get them flat, but if you have flat pieces I just used gorilla glue and made a decent 4x2 piece. Depending on your species / look that you are going for, I personally prefer the cork background that gives the tree trunk look. The exo-terra styrofoam rock backgrounds work good with light species that do not have sharp claws (its not very sturdy).

If you are looking for something spectacular, durable and longlasting but price is not an issue, I would recommend either Designsbynature or Universalrocks. Both do great work and IMO the background is the most important piece of a showcase enclosure, so spending a decent amount on one is worth every penny.

[Mikoh4792]

something spectacular, durable and longlasting but price is not an issue, I would recommend either Designsbynature or Universalrocks. Both do great work and IMO the background is the most important piece of a showcase enclosure, so spending a decent amount on one is worth every penny.

Nice suggestion, I'm going to look into those for the future as well.

[SSSSnakes]

Has anyone here actually done a DIY bark background like in Mikoh's post? That looks sweet! I'd like to try it but I'm wondering how to get the sheets flat. I've got several good sized chunks of elm bark, but they've all got a curl to them. I'm thinking about soaking them up and then pressing them while drying. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

AC Moore sells sheets of cork. My friend used it for his liz. enclosure.

[smy_749]

AC Moore sells sheets of cork. My friend used it for his liz. enclosure.

As does michaels and most craft stores. I bought 4 x 12" cubed sheets for like 12 dollars. 12 dollars for a 2x2 background is not bad in my books

[smy_749]

Also, I have yet to try it but plan to try it soon so I figured I'd post it.
Seems easy enough, just messy.

New England Herpetoculture LLC - Custom Backgrounds (http://www.neherpetoculture.com/custombackgrounds)

[DragonsEye]

If the cork bark is not already flat when you get it, you can pretty much forget flattening it out yourself. Corkbark is very resistant to water soaks -- which is why it is so slow to degrade whether using in a terr or use to cork a bottle wine. Even "flat" pieces will not be flat across the back in their entirety. Still can make for a nice background. This is my 90gal terr (not a viv) with cork background:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/obeah/terrarium/IMGP0839_zps18eb00e2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obeah/media/terrarium/IMGP0839_zps18eb00e2.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/obeah/terrarium/IMG_9713_zps658fcbde.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obeah/media/terrarium/IMG_9713_zps658fcbde.jpg.html)



If you have a creative bent, you can also create a background using GreatStuff which you then coat with a thin layer of grout/cement. There are a number of sites -- including Youtube -- addressing such if you Google.







http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/obeah/Smileys/Winter%20Smileys/hiv010_zps2cdf2476.gif (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obeah/media/Smileys/Winter%20Smileys/hiv010_zps2cdf2476.gif.html)