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Desert Vivarium, need some ideas.

Posted By:

GarbrechtRE

I need to see some examples of desert vivs, especialy those designed for snakes. I am in the process of getting 1:2 silver pos het mercury Subocs. For now they are getting small enclosures since they are only a few months old but as they grow I would like to set up a naturalistic enclosure but have never done so for a desert habitat. So anyone that has really great looking setups let me see tham please I need some ideas. Thanks -Robb


Points:	50
Topics:	General Health , Caging , Caging Plans
Tags:	Bogertophis, Caging, Habitat, Setup, Subocularis
Species:	Other Colubrids > Ratsnakes > Bogertophis subocularis
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

1/28/2010 10:12:40 AM

Krestie Kate

I don't have any pics for you but make sure you get cactus soil for this natural tank. Oviously you would need only a small drainage layer. Heres two really good catus you can plant.
Hen and Chick (pic below) and aloe vera are both good hardy plants for desert vivs. My friend uses them with her leopard geckos.
http://www.mzephotos.com/wallpapers/cacti/hen-and-chicks-plant-1280x1024.jpg

Member Comment

1/28/2010 10:37:43 AM

WhiteHillReptile

i think someone has an insane custom built cage on herpcages.yuku.com take a look around there, as there are some awesome examples floating around.

Assisted Answer

1/28/2010 4:12:38 PM

Sylvias

Aloe has spines that can be rather tough as the plant matures though so may want to watch out with that one... even if some of them seem to have softer spines it's better to avoid them all together.
Because it is a desert set up though you will not need and shouldn't have to many plants. succulents and aristocrat plants should work well. I also am working on setting up a desert viv :)
as far as a drainage layer equivalent to a tropical set ups water table I have been told to do a single layer of packing peanuts on the bottom, covered by a very fine mess, then a mix of sand and soil mixes made for desert plants. I plan on mixing in small pebbels as well

Member Comment

1/28/2010 9:42:20 PM

Thundergeck

While looking for some info on my tropical viv I came across this list of desert plants: "Plants for the desert vivarium include cactuses and succulents that come in many surprising and unusual shapes and texures. The one thing they have in common is an adversity to humidity. Some of the best desert vivarium plants are the Chalk Cactus, the Paddle or Purple Hedgehog Cactus, the Golden Barrel Cactus, the Peanut Cactus, the Old Man Cactus, Jade Necklace, the Pearly Dots plant, plus any variety of Aloe or Sedum." Someone I was chatting with recommended if I had extra time to go to the local zoo and check out their displays.... your son might enjoy the trip with you.

Accepted Answer

1/29/2010 10:36:52 AM

JohnJohn

Hey Rob!

I have my Collared Lizards in a 75 gallon tank with somewhat of a cheap-ass desert set up, but it seems to work well for them. Sorry, no good pictures. Maybe I can take some and send them to you later.

I layered clay tiles on the bottom. Then I dumped cheap play sand on the tiles. Then I put a large assortment of rocks from my yard and garden. I put mostly "flattish" rocks that tend to be stable and make good basking spots. I have several heat lamps and UV lights. To make one good basking area I stacked a number of flat rocks under the heat sources. The lizards love to hang out there.

The features of this that I like are 1) the clay tiles seem to add some good stability to the whole thing, 2) the rocks make lots of nice hiding spots, and 3) cheap play sand is cheap, and 4) the whole thing is pretty easy to clean..

The features I don't like are 1) all the nice hiding spots are also good hiding spots for the crickets and roaches (but that's not an issue for snakes), 2) It's a little tall and so I had to really up the heating elements to get to the temps I want.

Assisted Answer

1/29/2010 2:13:22 PM

AAS

Desert is so easy compared to everything else. Sand or sand/dirt mix, rocks and ledges, some greenery. This fellow has a desert viv he set up in his classroom I think: http://sjohnreptiles.blogspot.com/ You can follow the link to "desert viv." It's open air for lizards, but you can get a sense of the simplicity involved re: furniture.

Since subocs are nocturnal you'll need night lights. You may have a pretty viv but wont see snakes moving about in it until the white lights go off.

Member Comment

1/30/2010 7:56:03 AM

bloodraven

The BEST desert viv I have ever seen was done for a couple leos, where the desert they come from is more than sand, rocks, and cactuses. Here it is...

http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/members-frogs-vivariums/37379-glowing-desert-viv-finished.html

Member Comment

2/1/2010 3:44:14 PM

Kysnakeguy

for a desert tarrarium i would use cork bark and sand stone as far as cacti they may hurt the animal depending on the kinde of plant also for substrate you can use dried eco earth what ever u use be creative and do whats best for the animal and whats pleasing to you that fits the setup ps, check the www.kingsnake.com photo gallery section on cages theres some ideas there!

Member Comment

1/19/2011 4:44:34 AM

abi21491

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