Planted Moellendorffi Viv

RobsCornField · 09-20-12, 10:07 PM

One of my favorite snakes got upgraded to a much larger tank today! And with it, he got more different plants to play on/in, a nice little grow light thingy, and a more interesting landscape with more hides: a burrow, a half log on top of the burrow (he's so far liking to go back and forth between them), and little humid hide underneath his water bowl.

Please pardon the flash in some of these pictures. It was the only way to make the pictures turn out... not purple. Also, the top of the viv is that cloudy from hard water stains that I haven't been able to get out for YEARS.

To be continued!

RobsCornField · 09-20-12, 10:08 PM

I kept trying to get a picture of him being the stereotypical "snake in the grass". But this is all I got... for 20 pictures, and about half an hour of waiting.

And then, finally... SUCCESS!

Speed says "Thankssssss for sssstopping by! Now go away."

He can be a rude little bugger. Lol

Thanks for looking!

rmfsnakes32 · 09-20-12, 11:15 PM

I wish I had a creative thumb like you my tanks look boring compared to yours! Great job btw!

RobsCornField · 09-20-12, 11:49 PM

Thank you! It's really quite simple. Lol. The only tough part is going to be the maintenance, while also making sure there's not too much humidity in the tank. For this guy, since he likes to roam, I chose the "grass" and ivy's instead of something taller, because he completely DESTROYED the less than hardy plants in his last tank. That's what I get for giving a rat snake wimpy plants!

UwabamiReptiles · 09-21-12, 08:22 AM

Thats a good looking tank. I really like the plants and especially how you buried the hide under the log hide.

RobsCornField · 09-21-12, 09:12 AM

Thanks! I've notied before that he would occasionally start tail thwapping (as opposed to the "rattle" corn snakes make), and DART his water bowl when it was just the water bowl and the log hide in there. Now, if he doesn't want to be disturbed, he just darts in there! I think he's liking that much better so far. I'm sure he's also enjoying the overall humidity in the tank right now, because he's going into shed. Lol

DragonsEye · 09-21-12, 10:35 AM

Looks nice.

Really like the underground hide.

Hate to break it to you, mate, but there is no "ivy" in that take.

Not to be a party pooper but unless you have some pretty intense lighting in there the grass won't do terribly well. Fortunately -- assuming you just got it from your lawn -- it is easily replaced.

The Tradescantia pallida (purple "wandering Jew") on the far left can survive lower light than the grass but will still require some decent lighting to avoid getting leggy. Out of the three plants you have in there, it is likely to be the first one you snake will "beat the crap out of" -- the succulent stems tend to snap easily. If you haven't done so already, take some cuttings and root them up so you have replaces available.

The Epipremnum aureum (aka pothos) on the right is the most durable of the three plants in there. If you lighting is too weak it won't grow much and the leaves will likely revert to more green but on the plus side it will still survive even in far less than optimal lighting.

RobsCornField · 09-21-12, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

Looks nice.

Really like the underground hide.

Hate to break it to you, mate, but there is no "ivy" in that take.

Not to be a party pooper but unless you have some pretty intense lighting in there the grass won't do terribly well. Fortunately -- assuming you just got it from your lawn -- it is easily replaced.

The Tradescantia pallida (purple "wandering Jew") on the far left can survive lower light than the grass but will still require some decent lighting to avoid getting leggy. Out of the three plants you have in there, it is likely to be the first one you snake will "beat the crap out of" -- the succulent stems tend to snap easily. If you haven't done so already, take some cuttings and root them up so you have replaces available.

The Epipremnum aureum (aka pothos) on the right is the most durable of the three plants in there. If you lighting is too weak it won't grow much and the leaves will likely revert to more green but on the plus side it will still survive even in far less than optimal lighting.

Thank you for all of the constructive criticisms! (Really, I do very much appreciate it.)

Fortunately, these were all WalMart plants, and about a buck a piece. Lol. I do have the "grass" in another planted viv for a corn, and that's the one plant in there that's been thriving the best, even with less lighting than what's on this tank. I know it's not really grass, but that's the only thing I could think of that would be a closer description when I didn't have the actual plant tags right in front of me. Lol. The fluorescent "grow light" I'm using on this tank came from a home and garden supply store (instead of just WalMart).

The pallida I'm hoping will at least survive a little while, as he doesn't seem to have as much interest in that one as the others.

This is all still very much a learning process for me, and I've been improving each tank and each plant I replace. The pothos came very highly recommended from a friend who also does naturalistic vivariums.

So again! Thank you very much for your comments and tips on the plants.

Ivanator · 09-21-12, 10:31 PM

That tank is pretty sweet. I wish I could do something like that for my retics.

RobsCornField · 09-21-12, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivanator

That tank is pretty sweet. I wish I could do something like that for my retics.

I can imagine you'd need bigger plants. Or small trees. Lol

DragonsEye · 09-21-12, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobsCornField

Thank you for all of the constructive criticisms! (Really, I do very much appreciate it.)

You're quite welcome.

I know most people are not terribly concerned with how well the plants do in a vivarium -- the animal is understandably the bigger concern. I just happen to also be into plants as well as animals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobsCornField

Fortunately, these were all WalMart plants, and about a buck a piece. Lol.

Cheap plants are the way to go when you're experimenting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobsCornField

The fluorescent "grow light" I'm using on this tank came from a home and garden supply store.

Are you using a tube fluorescent or a cfl? If a tube type, how long is the bulb? If you get a regular "daylight spectrum" bulb from a BBS -- like Lowes, Menard's, etc -- it may prove to be significantly cheaper than purchasing a "grow light" when it comes time to replace the bulb you have now. The biggest thing is to pay attention to the wattage and lumens. If you wish I can say more on this later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobsCornField

The pallida I'm hoping will at least survive a little while, ....

That's why I was suggesting taking a couple cuttings. A plus with Tradescantia is how incredibly easy they are to root -- either in water or directly in soil. If you have an available window sill, you could grow up your cuttings right there against the day you need to replace the one in the tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobsCornField

The pothos came very highly recommended from a friend who also does naturalistic vivariums.

Pothos are durable devils. They can handle quite a wide range of light intensity. In the wild, they usually start off on the forest floor where the lighting is quite dim. As soon as they can, they climb/grow up a tree. As the light intensity increases, so does the rate of growth. During this time the newer leaves change in size (becoming much larger) and shape. By the time it is growing in the canopy, the high light portion of the plant looks like something quite different than what we are used to seeing.

Another plant you might give a try, though its light needs are greater than that of a pothos, would be Ficus pumila. It is commonly sold in hanging baskets.

RobsCornField · 09-22-12, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

You're quite welcome.

I know most people are not terribly concerned with how well the plants do in a vivarium -- the animal is understandably the bigger concern. I just happen to also be into plants as well as animals.

If the plants don't do well, then the overall thing looks like crap, and that just won't make anybody happy. Lol. I'd rather have healthy plants so the overall look is healthy, rather than dying, pitiful looking plants. Lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

Cheap plants are the way to go when you're experimenting.

Definitely. Lol. I wanted to do a fun little project that wouldn't cost me a fortune, that would also look good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

Are you using a tube fluorescent or a cfl? If a tube type, how long is the bulb? If you get a regular "daylight spectrum" bulb from a BBS -- like Lowes, Menard's, etc -- it may prove to be significantly cheaper than purchasing a "grow light" when it comes time to replace the bulb you have now. The biggest thing is to pay attention to the wattage and lumens. If you wish I can say more on this later.

24" tube fluorescent. I'm pretty sure WalMart also sells the GE daylight spectrum bulbs, so I'll definitely check that out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

That's why I was suggesting taking a couple cuttings. A plus with Tradescantia is how incredibly easy they are to root -- either in water or directly in soil. If you have an available window sill, you could grow up your cuttings right there against the day you need to replace the one in the tank.

I'm not sure about a windowsill, but I've got a balcony that I'm growing basil and green onions on right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

Pothos are durable devils. They can handle quite a wide range of light intensity. In the wild, they usually start off on the forest floor where the lighting is quite dim. As soon as they can, they climb/grow up a tree. As the light intensity increases, so does the rate of growth. During this time the newer leaves change in size (becoming much larger) and shape. By the time it is growing in the canopy, the high light portion of the plant looks like something quite different than what we are used to seeing.

Another plant you might give a try, though its light needs are greater than that of a pothos, would be Ficus pumila. It is commonly sold in hanging baskets.

When it comes to me, the words I like to hear are "durable", "difficult to kill", and "UNKILLABLE DEMON PLANT". My green thumb is a bit more brown than I'd like it to be, and I had thought the only way I'd ever be able to have a planted viv is if I put weeds in it.

I'm definitely going to check out the pumila, because I think that might help make a neat little "climbing" structure, if grown right.

You really are quite the plethora of knowledge! I always like finding ways to improve techniques, and make it an overall more enjoyable experience for not only myself, but the animal.

So thank you, again, for just being awesome.

Phantaizm · 09-23-12, 05:29 AM

[QUOTE=RobsCornField;769739][/COLOR][/FONT]

When it comes to me, the words I like to hear are "durable", "difficult to kill", and "UNKILLABLE DEMON PLANT". My green thumb is a bit more brown than I'd like it to be, and I had thought the only way I'd ever be able to have a planted viv is if I put weeds in it"

Lol that's how I feel too! But @ least ur experimenting with Walmart plants. I'm kind of stuck having to try it with orchids cuz its getting cold and they need a better home. Lol
I love the Terraced burrow
...thanks for having this convo its given me some cheaper plant ideas to add maybe as fill in.