PALUDARIUM TUTORIAL | Step by step

I know it's been a while since I've made this tank, but the process video is finally complete! Hope you guys enjoy.. and see the snakes I've been keeping in secret for a couple months now..
If you do decide to go out and make your own.. feel free to show them to me! I'd love to see all the cool ideas you have hidden in there!
(send them to my Instagram)
Instagram: / chrisweeet

[@BryceBroom]

This is what keeping reptiles is about!! The science of keeping these animals in the best possible way and learning as much about them as we can!

[@Antillar]

The passion you put in your builds is what makes them truly outstanding. I have never seen an enclosure like that. The vipers will never understand their luck with having you as their owner. Looking forward to your new enclosure videos, aspecially the ones for your big O.Hanna family members. Best of luck! Happy Birthday!

[@christinahayes7343]

This paludarium build turned out to be really awesome. It's so beautiful. Can really see all the love and care put into it. Having those millipedes really makes it feel like a rainforest.

[@GallonMilkProductions]

For anyone else who was combing the internet for these beauties : Azemiops feae or Feae's viper. Allegedly they have a tell before they bite where they flatten themselves like a cobra and their venom is painful. They are more reluctant feeders who eat shrews and prefer to eat at night. there is also a white headed Azemiops species that is a different taxonomy called Azemiops Kharini

[@mandysunderland2163]

Wow! The plants,the music all the little lives...if I was a little smaller I would live in there myself AMAZING

[@justinmelis]

Those vipers really make the whole paludarium. Beautiful

[@C-24-Brandan]

That enclosures a work of Art! Phenomenal design & set up, really nice job!

[@franz357]

Wow, Chris: what a piece of art !!! I can only relate as I'm currently in the process of swapping my Arizona mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis p. pyromelana) from a totally fake home-made enclosure to a bio-active one with only a few fake pieces such as a waterfall and a few rocks... You're a real master !!! :-) Cheers from Paris, mate !

[@psyclinez5985]

Only issues I find with these set ups is at some point the plants roots will get into the pump and then the problems start. So I started making them using bulkheads and plumbing and outside canister filters. Some Building everything from the ground up and others drilling. But great videos love watching others do their thing

[@insanity5037]

I just finished my bio active terrarium for my green anole from a 15 gallon long fish tank! It is now a vertical terrarium. Thank you so much for making this video I learned so much!

[@omarvelazquez1137]

What size is your?? I wanna add a tree frog to my 60 tortoise enclosure so he can eat the bugs I’m gonna be releasing in there soon.

[@Sky_Arcobaleno]

The moment your hand touching it, my heart cant skip a beat, stay safe, great video.

[@reptilesrodents]

happy birthday man. you have the most incredible set ups.

[@pamelaharris5055]

You did a gorgeous job of including various plants as well as the bright millipedes! So pretty.

[@bigsky445]

Instant New Subscriber! ❤ Wow!! I am blown away!! Absolutely gorgeous build & those vipers are AMAZING! Great info & extremely entertaining! Love to relate with the obsessions of builds & I can also sit & watch my critters for hours explore thier habitat. Going to binge watch your entire channel! Thanks for sharing! God Bless!!! ❤️

[@oscarornelas9853]

Amazing enclosure and species. Great video Chris, probably one of my favorites so far. Good luck breeding them.

[@mellewedin8221]

I am not a fan of snakes, but these 2 are very striking. If they are sipping around the enclosure, seems like they are pretty comfortable with you. Happy birthday

[@sxysweetyungthang]

Thank you for being so devoted and enthralled with reptiles!!

[@Fozzdaddy12]

wow those Fea's vipers are incredible. Never heard of them before but now it's one of my favorite vipers.

[@freespiritedsoul68]

The coolest build and vipers I've ever seen! I love your study of them! That is what we do right?! We love to see the intelligence in all life. So freaking cool! Love the hunt!

[@garrickanderson5204]

Never actually seen someone use filter foam as part of a hardscape, that's an awesome technique!

[@CrazyAquariumGuy]

Wow, might be the best Pixie Enclosure I have seen.

[@jroyer9996]

This is one of the most underrated channels!!!!

[@kajalsingh9554]

It was amazing watching them drink water. Beautiful build.

[@Warb50]

Beautiful work! I have tried to replicate it to some extent and have not come particularly close, but it’s my first attempt. I have run into a roadblock of sorts in that I can not find anything similar to the “brown shades of silicone sealant” that you painted on the expanded foam. Will you please provide us with a link or a further description of just what it is you are using, please? Thank you in advance. BW

[@pigsystick8035]

Those are some of the cutest snakes I've ever seen

[@billsmith1998]

such and underrated channel. this woulf probly blow up if you started posting more often. i never miss a vid

[@MadArtistParadise]

OMG!! Really love how this turned out! Stuffs like this I would love to do with my snake enclosure. Currently working on an Egyptian temple theme since getting a BEL ball python and naming her Kebechet, after the 'daughter' of Anubis. Love Egyptian mythology and such so figured why not have fun with this. Great vid, definitely inspired ^u^

[@KM-yh4gh]

Once again, truly the best person on youtube

[@rafaelcostadematos5806]

I love piper! My dream is to have a huge collection of them one day. Amazing paludarium!

[@iainking4256]

Hi Chris first off Happy Birthday mate hope your day is/was a beauty. Now this habitat you just finished, really beautiful and I kinda doubt your two inhabitants notice that it was made for them. You have an incredible skill in building these homes for your beauties. Well mate gotta go, be safe and careful Cheers from Oz

[@geneviever9535]

I've watched this twice. Yes, it is beautiful, but My question -- What about the pump? You just threw it in there and glued it in. You didn't even mention it. What type of pump, and how do you maintain it.? What happens if that pump doesn't work? That is one of the biggest hassles of water features. I was hoping for a step by step, but the most important step was skipped

[@MrPmsavage001]

Most setups get redone or rebuilt after a year or so. With that being said a pump if only meant to last one cycle. They only cost 15 bucks

[@joelphillips6697]

Hey, not sure how this pump was setup. I built a bioactive enclosure for my coastal carpet python and incorporated a water feature/ fish pond. I made a dedicated 100mmx100mm channel down the back left corner that reaches all the way to the top of the tank. It is hidden behind an expanda foam carved background that has been grouted and covered in sandstone coloured, textured pond sealer suitable for fish/ aquariums. The pump just drops in from the top. If the pump ever fails I can remove the mesh screen lid of the snake tank and pull the pump out and replace it. Hope that helps.

[@xxlsor]

Joel, I was hoping you could provide more information on this setup. How large is the water section? What filter did you use? How did you place your pump? I'm trying to do something very similar to what you did but most tutorials are about waterfalls, which I do not want. I just want a small pond with small fish taking up about 1/4-1/3 of the tank at one edge. I would appreciate any information you could provide on this setup.

[@echoesvayne9790]

I haven't tried a waterfall feature yet, but I am thinking I am going to hide the pump inside of a fake rock surrounded by coarse sponge with holes drilled in (think like the one aquarium coop sells but cut out the planting section to use for the outfield for the pipe (again openings will be cut or drilled and blocked from inhabitants with sponge)... that's as far as my brainstorming went, I haven't got to tubing plans yet... but I am sure a series of long drill bits could step drill through a driftwood or fishing line to a pothos vine and having green tubing depending on the amount of water I am pushing... something outside the box that would allow for maintenance albeit inconvenient, I would still at least be possible vs being forever stuck

[@freudsghost]

this tank is amazing! those snakes are so beautiful! very cute when they drink too! fantastic video thanks for sharing!

[@lorettapagan1852]

Happy Birthday, Chris. This is beautiful. I wished you'd do more video's

[@AdamHHI]

Wow, I was just hoping to get into paludariums from the aquarium hobby and wow, what a result. The snakes were a surprise but how cool

[@ianparkinson7039]

Setup was awesome Chris gave us some great ideas. The vipers are spectacular good luck with them hopefully see a video of some babies down the track. Cheers mate from down under 🦘🦘🦎

[@zlotey4510]

it looks amazing at the end! im planning a 200cm x 60cm x 60cm terrarium 2! but i dont like the though, that there are no "real" stones inside... yeah stones are heavy - but a aquarium with heavy stones in it and full of water is much heavier D: i think, i use Seiryu Stones from the aquascaping area

[@joannekaczan6615]

Looks GREAT CHRIS!!! You're VERY ARTISTIC!!! A real nice HOME for these SNAKES!!! Just LOVE your VIDEOS!! Bye the way!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!🎂🎂🎂🎂🎈🎈🎈🎈❤️❤️❤️

[@zanegreay7157]

I know it's a year old but happy birthday and this was an awesome video. You got a new subscriber!

[@eevee_themeanie5883]

Omg Chris those vipers are so special...can't wait for future vids. I can't wait for updates on your other vipers. They are my favorite of your collection. I know most like cobras and big snakes. I like the small colorful ones. Happy Birthday 🎂 Thx take care :)

[@stueysnakebite5988]

I literally lost my mind when I saw the Feas 😍

[@viperafangs]

Great video as alwaysss🙌🏼

[@camiking4602]

they are beautiful, so happy you are uploading more lately

[@realname2964]

This looks awesome! I've gotten interested in making my own paludarium for vampire cramps, but I'm very new and know very little on how to start. I'm not sure on what to use and what's compatible with what, so I wanted to ask if you had any tips and if you know where I can go for an in-depth explanation on how to get into the hobby

[@broadhead4311]

Those snakes are absolutely beautiful.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

I just found your Channel and what an incredible build!! Very inspiring!! Thanks for sharing!!🙏👍

[@tommie827]

I would like more information on the filter system? I only saw the tubing go into the set up. Please explain. Thanks! it's beautiful!!

[@elijahwoods1668]

I was only looking to make a lizard/fish duo tank. But now I kinda wanna snake. Dope tank brother

[@user-uy7qi9ht1l]

OOOOO MMMMYYYY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!! WOOOOOOW

[@alexs-fo6jz]

At 6:58 there is a drip that looks like it's going backwards because of the time-lapse. So cool!

[@erinhallmakes777]

It looks fabulous. I desperately want one of these enclosure but full aquarium on bottom. Not sure if I missed it but is there any filtration in this for the water?

[@cruel.rabbit8200]

Amazing job! I was wonder, what is better filter or water pump? How you keep water fresh and safe for drinking to your reptiles ?

[@ajmcgavic7502]

Happy birthday bud great video and I absolutely loved it and absolutely amazing snakes hello from Tennessee USA

[@lucasroman6510]

The terrarium is so cool, and awesome looking, and you are so passionate about the viper species you have, they are really cool

[@hairybaldwin1663]

Thank you Chris, and I hope you had a great birthday. I hope you have many more.

[@jillmondt5398]

That paludarium is a beautiful set up. Also, loves to your pet vipers. They are amazing creatures. Thank you for sharing this. 😍

[@greenfish5057]

Happy birthday, what an amazing setup and a so special viper. Concerning the food maybe fish or crab, anyway good luck for this great experience!

[@lvanzant3074]

This video made me a subscriber I really like the detail in your work I built my 2nd the Vivarium last year it is bio active and it is doing really well I'm just bored all I do is look at it and rearrange my plants so I have decided to build a bio active paludarium and that's how I discovered your video great work!

[@_Velqine_]

terraristic isnt just a hobby, its art

[@Nightsoil626]

Hi, just found your channel, sorry late to the party, really enjoying your knowledge and expertise , thanks from the UK, take care :-)

[@theyarddogs4100]

Happy Birthday young man. That tank looks awesome great job. Carl

[@Jontae4288]

Wow those vipers are awesome

[@aidenosullivan3989]

Fea's vipers have got to be in my top 3 favorite snakes

[@DeadRipper13]

those pits are just stunning

[@pallasade1807]

I love this! Question: how do you keep it clean and mold-free long term?

[@adrianosorio4650]

Very curious about this as well!

[@mrkato4000]

Does any of these questions get answered?

[@9Cee_Loss6]

Like Any other BioActive Vivarium/Paludarium Isopods and Springtails, before adding any living animal I suggest after setting the tank up to your design let it cycle for about a month mold will grow but dont get startled, thats what adding the isopods and springtails in the beginning are for to maintain the tank and cycle you'll also get to see how your tank grows and develops within that month and your tan ready for live animals. Atleast from what I've done and what has worked for me.

[@yermailmain206]

That rock covered in greenery almost made me faint so beautiful

[@Reptiliatus]

Lovely video my friend! Thank you for sharing! Any chance you might have a link to find the foam pads for sale online 🤞🏼? Thank you!

[@Chrisweeet]

Thanks! U mean the black filters?

[@Reptiliatus]

@@Chrisweeet haha yes :). I can only find small cut squares on Amazon for really expensive. I was hoping maybe you had a better source? No worries if not! :)

[@Chrisweeet]

Ahh i just go get them at the fish shops here in thailand.. aquarium stores online would probably have some type of this filter. (Especially monster fish or carp shops)

[@NORTHERNEXOTICS]

@@Reptiliatus did you find them bud

[@Reptiliatus]

@@NORTHERNEXOTICS unfortunately not! Nothing that cheap :(.

[@craiglayton6108]

Love the way you say ‘Philodendrons’

[@massimoladu529]

Wow so beautiful work, I'm going to build one paludarium for frogs i reckon, and i want to do a water part too. I've saw your foam-filter allover the bottom, after few months those its come stinking? Thanks

[@noechauvin4500]

Unbelivable work this look so beautiful. I wish i could order you a terra like this 😭

[@barttcounts8456]

Happy birthday... Lovely snake, for sure. Its head reminds me of a Salamander or some of the more exotic frogs. Never even heard of the species of course, you never disappoint!

[@stevemunn367]

That looks amazing and those snakes are beautiful 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@casperrealov]

wow so cool. always great content!! happy birthday to you too!! so glad i found your channel man! wishing you all the best, be well and take care

[@JB-hp6up]

Those vipers are beautiful!

[@Juras2137]

Jeez those vipers are stunning!

[@emmanuelalfonso8943]

Hi.,am just starting a new hobby planted tank…now when I saw your video it seems to me to do paludarium and also ofcorse with aquatic plant…now am also thinking my pocket is now crying with planted tank…I don’t know if this hobby will do the same…but am thinking about it…I love the effects

[@BeckyS]

Any update on how the foam substrate works? Id love to hear how it ages.

[@ryanboscoe9670]

It will last essentially forever. It’s made to live submerged covered in all sorts of funky stuff haha

[@danielkarlsson262]

Im not very fond of snakes but that is a beautiful one. great build too. wanna make one in the future in my basement mostly, maybe only for looks.

[@kaizerknightshadekobra231]

I want to do this for my giant centipede and put it in the living room so when visitors come over they are amazed XD

[@DavidWilliams-bu8xt]

This is really cool and informative and also giving me an idea and some tips on mine that I plan on doing in the super near future

[@ericlehman3828]

By the way you described them sounds like they took a way different evolutionary path then other vipers like they got some good parts of different species but fits there strangeness just right

[@tomsgreengallery]

You have quite the talent, bro! I love this, am learning new things from you. Great scape, I am amazed by this. Wonderful work bud

[@kermit9409]

This would be paradise for a tree frog!

[@daronolenus3911]

Incredible video Thanks👍👍👍👍. It's almost like you created a living art work!! I have a 55 gallon I want to turn into terrarium😊👍👍

[@DAAC86]

uh I got a spare 27 gallon tank I would love to make a Paludarium to house plants and also make home for a Betta fish but yeah its just getting the idea of how I want to lay it all out :) but thanks for the inspiration

[@stevenhogan390]

Those are beautiful snake's and great build

[@CaliAnimalLover1961]

Simply stunning Chris! I’m going to be setting up a palladium for Whites tree frogs! Happy birthday! I know this is an old video…. But I’m going to wish it for you anyway! Cool snakes!

[@fraewn2617]

Awesome video thank you. In what intervals do you do water changes?

[@Cheshhire]

How would you maintain that? Wouldn't the foam get disgusting?

[@Solidsnake1985]

I was just wondering when is the new vid coming out? Awesome man!!!

[@calewarner06]

Wow what a beautiful job, happy birthday

[@MrON3uP]

Happy birthday and what an incredible setup

[@apss5736]

this is such an incredible enclosure

[@DennisBernoster]

How do you clean the water and filter pads? Great video I love it.

[@joshcardone1836]

That's what I'm wondering as well

[@ninja250r2008]

i also want to know

[@DNice0523]

i came to this to get an iidea for a set up. not to be corny or nothing but for some reason "we arent machines, we make mistakes" just kinda stuck me in the feels.

[@cutethulhu]

Since you glue these foams down, do the live plants utilize the gunk that gets into them? Or will you have to eventually replace these? My assumption would be live plants would pull the nutrients from the foam once they can get their roots in there, but I really want to make sure so they dont get gross over time

[@NeanderthalDogma]

This is beautiful i built a vertical tank and have a water feature its completely off the top of my head. It works but i think i would do it completely differently next time. I tested it after 24 hours for some silicone to cure because it was leaking out the sides into other parts of the tank. I got that sealed up and it works perfectly but im worried deep in there some silicone got wet that wasnt cured completely. Will it all cure 100% if it is dried out for a while? I smell it very slightly.

[@paulstingray]

Very cool vipers

[@LiviaPeixoto]

this is amazing! I have been wanting to build a mini one for my pacific tree frogs. In addition to the pump will I need a water filter? and is the tank self sustaining or will i need to clean it monthly?

[@ycxydr]

Installing a reptile Automatic misting system is even more perfect!

[@tarahuber203]

Happy birthday Chris. 🎂