Moving Vivarium?

[shamilt1]

Guys, I will be moving in a couple of months and I have several 18x18x24 terrariums for various geckos, all with bioactive substrates. (springtails, isopods, millipedes, etc). Have the hydroton pebble base for soil drainage and several inches of abg mix along w/plants and leaf litter. They are currently on heavy duty shelving and have been there for several years. How do you guys deal w/moving them? Those suckers are heavy as hell and look awkward to move but not as bad as aquariums. I am a little worried about stress cracks during move. Do I have to completely break them down? :shock:

I also have planted tanks and I know that I will have to drain/break those down (have moved them before) but I was hoping to avoid this with the gecko enclosures as they will not have couple hundred pounds of moving water and will be more stable.

Thanks for any info.

 

[CrestedRick]

Hmm I've on,y had to carryn,one down the hallway when I recarpeted the bed rooms. If you remember the nice sturdy cardboard tops and bottoms that the tanks came in that would be a good idea to place them in and would help with sliding and not actually needing to hold the glass to lift or carry.

 

[Aimless]

I had to move all mine a few years ago. granted I only had to go about 2 miles and I used my subaru, not a u-haul...

I let them get a bit on the dry side. i.e., not enough to kill the plants but enough to make them lighter. I left in plants, dirt, sticks, but did remove rocks. then I packed them in the back of my car with towels and sheets cushioning them. I moved 7 vivs in one trip and there wasn't any breakage.

if you're talking about freeway speeds and/or moving trucks, I'd consider wrapping them up in a layer of bubble wrap and following with some of that industrial saran wrap. or as Rick suggested, make cardboard supports. think about how they're shipped; they're just heavier now.

 

[shamilt1]

Thanks guys!!