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I'm going to build my first paludarium. It'll house a chameleon, probably a furcifer pardalis.
Since it's my first one I will need (a lot of) help from you guys!
The plan is to have a full aquatic bottom (25cm waterlevel). An external filter will be used; water will be returned using a waterfall and dripwall (hope this will work out as immagined).
The background will be expanding foam with driftwood in it. The foam will be covered with black silicone and eco earth.
The aquatic area and the background will both be planted. Some land area might be created using big pieces of wood comming out of the water, not sure yet.
Now my first couple questions before I get started:
1) Before I put anything in, is it best to put water in, the filter, and see if my dripwall will get the desired water? (will use T-parts so I can have a dripwall and waterfall out using my canister filter)
2) Can I use the foam/silicone/eco earth combination under water or how does it react to being under water? What's the reaction when it just get dripped across?
3) What gives the best effect? back wall only, back+side or back+both sides? (covered with fake rock that is)
Paludariums are generally for aquatic/semi aquatic species, chameleons aren't what are you doing?... a drip wall could be acceptable in a chameleon viv, but a fully aquatic bottom?.. no, not a good idea, chameleons are mostly arboreal animals, but what people dont realize is that they spend alot of time on the ground, too.
please.. dont put a chameleon in a palu.
anyway, regarding your questions... no, silicone with eco earth on it will not stay in the water, it will come off gradually and make your water brown, great stuff is safe to use in the water, though.
i've only seen a need to make a background for the *back* of a viv..
this is not the only video i've seen of this behavior. there used to be one easily found showing a panther cham in a lake or pond probably ~3 meters from the land swimming around. regardless, the point is furcifer pardalis certainly can and will swim given the chance. not that that's what they prefer but in a small-ish setup they'll certainly have good chances of making it to the waters edge. i can't say the same for other chams though.
land would have to be provided, yes... but that does not rule out a fully aquatic bottom... nor would there be major risks concerning drowning imo as long as there is something to climb out onto.
ledges have been worked into palus before to create land, egg laying sites, etc., etc..
not saying it's the best way... not saying it should be attempted as a first viv attempt... etc., etc..
they don't have to swim all day.
nobody mentioned gravid, mixing sexes, eggs...
assuming 120cm is the height... 25cm leaves 95cm left for height... plenty enough to create lots of land and still have a "fully aquatic bottom". that's just short of 4 feet of height to create "land" to dig in, inspect, hunt, etc., etc..
to answer marcos questions...
1) yes
2) it would likely not last long under water... a drip wall is fine
3) that would depend on the design and how well things are blended from one section to another.
Out of curiosity...Are there any species that could be housed without any land space? I would think some arboreal herps might be able to be housed in an aqua-base viv?
it's been done... BUT, doing so really does go to say that you care more for your pet as a decoration than a living animal imo.
imo... there's nothing wrong with a full aquatic bottom... as long as land is provided suitable for the species in question.
to answer the question... even newts, salamanders and firebelly toads should have some land (aside from twigs and rocks) so, i'd have to say there are no species that should be housed without land.
now, there was one palu i cam across a couple years back where it was just a round see-through tub filled with water that had sticks and foliage protruding through the open top. it did house either a chameleon or an (and i think this is what it was) iguana. there was mention that the animal never tried to get out due to the height it would have to jump from (which wasn't high at all). that animal did have the luxury of having a large living area to roam free often though.
to add another twist to this there are species that CAN be considered fully aquatic that will sometimes come out of the water JUST to bask. musk turtles are a good example and have been housed life-long in an aquarium. they're not really relevant in this discussion though. since many of them will actually choose to never (or very seldom) leave the water they'd have no need for land. as well they eat, play, etc., etc., under water. afaik they only really need air to breathe (similar to a whale).
60x50x120cm chameleon paludarium
Linear Mode
