[BlackLotus]

Hi, Im still new to the forum, i've only posted one other thread so not many know me yet. I started with reptiles when I got an anole 10 years ago. Currently I have a Ghost Corn Snake, Striped Creamsicle Corn Snake, and a pair of female Gold Dust Day Geckos (recent additions, still an amatuer). Im not only studying reptiles though, but fish biology as well, and environmental science in the past and plan on some more to help with my project.

When I've learned enough I plan on making a giant vivarium in place of my yard (big glass enclosure-like greenhouse basically) it's going to be arizona, so the heating of the giant vivarium will be pretty much free from the natural source. But being it's dry, im going to combine my pond experience into it, and build a large koi pond (around 10 feet long, 6 wide and 5-2 deep all in feet) inside, The giant vivarium itself will be about 14 feet by 14 feet, a square (height im really not sure yet). And that will create a humid environment via evaporation, once the airs humid the water will evaporate less and that will stabalize my pond so the arizona air doesn't constantly suck it dry. Most of it will be tropical plants and trees, but Im going to build a reptile rack inside (i love reptiles and figure my reptile rack would probably be happiest outside in the giant vivarium rather than inside. I would only need very low watt heat bulbs at that point to create a basking spot, and of course UV for the diurnals. And, random as it is, but it would make my fiance very happy...a bunny rabbit pen somewhere in a cool zone. Will also include a sectioned off area by the pond for a large crab colony (mixture of seven hermit crab species, Compressus, Clypetus, Perlatus, Violescens, Rugoses, Cavipes and the so far seemingly impossible, Purposes). The hermit colony will probably be five feet long (going along side the pond somewhere) and about 2-3 feet wide. I may also section off a small part of the pond (wall in the water type barrier) to make a turtle section, must be complete contained through so they dont attack the Koi fish. The wall will not run all the way under the water, its mostley above water, with support beams and what will most likely be a stainless steel fencing to allow waterflow from the waterfall filter. Im not sure if the tropical vegetation inside will provide enough oxygen to my small zoo, so a small fan/vent will be made behind the pond to keep a fresh airflow from outside, im hoping keeping it by the pond's waterfall will humidify the dry arizona air as it enters. So far the dream list for the reptile rack is; Gold Dust Day Gecko(have) Blue-Tail Day Gecko, Giant Day Gecko, Poison Dart Frogs, Two Corn Snakes(have) and will be trying to find nocturnal lizards/geckos that I like( any suggestions? ). The big thing for me is, that reptile rack will be done long before that giant vivarium, it's going to be expensive, and really its going to be one of those looong term deals (gonna take a couple years). There so far is no plan for having any loose animals in the Giant Vivarium (reptiles on rack in tanks, koi in pond, turtles walled in, hermits walled in, bunny rabbits in big ol'e pen) Although, I am hoping to figure out if it will be possible to have a large species of chameleon loose in the Giant Vivarium, the heat and humidity will be maintained at tropical levels (won't be perfectly sure, but it HAS to be at least 65-70 percent humidity and no less than eighty degrees, though I doubt thats going to happen in arizona, I may actually need a cooling system in the summer o_O. With the tropical garden inside, his climbing environment would be massive, and I can set up a tiny sprinkler or auto-sprayer with spring water to spray specific leaves a couple times a day, so he learns theres a water source there. I would set up a clamp lamp in a safe (fire-proofing will be taken place) location, most likely a model with a screen over to prevent animal burns, to provide it a personal basking area if it wants (would have to be low watt heat bulb, giant viv will be warm as is) the food bowl will also be placed in that area, and I will keep replacing it there every day so as not to confuse him. There is no way for it to escape, only outside port is the vent fan (will have a VERY strong fence-like great to prevent injury), the actual entrance the the giant vivarium is from the house, I will be making a sally port like they have in navy ships, and in aviaries to prevent bird escapes (no birds on the ship of course, that for floods lol) Incase some may not know, a sally port is a double door system, where you open a first door, enter a tiny room, close the door, then open the second to cross into the next area, and possible escaper can be seen inside the sally port when you get in. So, thats another thing to comment on, what do you guys think about the chameleon? (this one I need as many comments as i can get)
My research is not complete of course, and the project is over a year down the line (have to save money to move first and resettle out west). But for now, I believe my theory and project could make an interesting thread for anyone who cares. Any suggestions(please do if you have any it would help alot), comments or discussions would be greatly welcome.

(I'll make a diagram as best I can in paint tomorrow)

[BlackLotus]

Anything?

[pablethegecko]

sounds awesome

[Venomos]

Cant wait! Did you get the diagram done of what you are planning?

[LoungeLizard]

I've been planning a big octagonal room for a dream house. Basically what I have so far is more of a relaxing feel to the room, a little waterfall flowing down a rock wall into a pond on one side of the room. Dirt paths with a staircase going down to view the fish through thick glass. A couple smaller tropical fruit trees in the room (1 banana tree for sure), other tropical plants (definitely a few pineapple plants for my obsession), to save some money on fruits in the future. Heh, could use my bananas and a couple other fruits to feed Rhacs, Days, Uros, whatever I happen to have.

To top the room off animal wise... I'm torn between a nice iguana or a few water dragons. I would just keep some minnows and feeders in the pond in case they want to eat them in the water dragon's case and have a little shallow area for them to relax in the water.

[Glass_]

Wow. That sounds amazing. I'd definitely follow a thread like this once you get it started. One question I have, is where do you get your hermit crabs from? The most I could find in Illinois is Clypeatus and the occasional Compressus, and I don't wanna pay $60 for shipping. Also, I don't know if you know this or not, just saying, most land hermit crab species(if not all of them) need access to a salt water pool, to drink out of and bathe in, and need deep substrate so they can dig down and molt. Sorry if you know this already, I'm saying it just in case.

[MauricesExoticPets]

Iguanas will kill everything live plant wise, it is simply not possible to house them that way. Anything short of a huge and I do mean huge (like bigger than a house huge) enclosure can house an iguana with live plants of any type.

To the original poster, very cool idea, though you might need to consider cooling as a green house in AZ might get hotter than you think. I seem to recall someone out west that does reptiles in enclosures that are partialy built down rather than fully above ground, just food for thought,

Maurice Pudlo

[LoungeLizard]

Pick the right plants and the iguana stays away from them, seen some epic vivs with iguanas in them. While it seems like a great idea in practice I would probably only do with a smaller iguanid, like my dream of having a little slice of the Mojave keeping D. dorsalis with some nice creosote bushes and those beautiful flowers from the area.

FYI: I was leaning towards a water dragon anyway, but now basilisks are on my mind, and not because of the latest issue of Reptiles. :P

[MauricesExoticPets]

I'd like to know what sort of plants you speak of, our iguanas have managed to destroy, consume, dig-up, crush, or generaly mangle any live plants and small trees we have tried to use within their 13lx8dx8t enclosures. You have to love them but for all their beauty they are very rough on the inside sized plants I have tried.

Maurice Pudlo

[TokayTom]

Originally Posted by Glass_

Wow. That sounds amazing. I'd definitely follow a thread like this once you get it started. One question I have, is where do you get your hermit crabs from? The most I could find in Illinois is Clypeatus and the occasional Compressus, and I don't wanna pay $60 for shipping. Also, I don't know if you know this or not, just saying, most land hermit crab species(if not all of them) need access to a salt water pool, to drink out of and bathe in, and need deep substrate so they can dig down and molt. Sorry if you know this already, I'm saying it just in case.

Hermit crabs can be bought in many aquariums that sell fish, although it depends on how many you will need, seeing as the idea you've put up is a very large and time consuming construction, having said that, the best things in life are time consuming and expensive, so yeah knock yourself out buddy, i would love to see pictures of the large outdoor vivarium when you get started