How To Build A Naturalistic Terrarium Background

[@glennjisan9021]

Finished a 75 gallon with a prefab rock wall and sides. Decided to do a DIY backround and sides on my own. I studied so many vids on DIY rock sculpting that my head is about to explode. Have the foam cut and installed in the new 75 gal ... find myself with "writer's block" so to speak. Watching you carve into those foam walls so aggressively has inspired me to jump in and just do it. Found a smokin' deal on the same wire cutter you used. Thanks for the inspiration ... I think our beardie is tired of waiting for me to get my butt in gear ... cheers!

[@marvinschwarz4259]

Yeah, the hot wire tool is so cool. I like it! Thumbs up 👍🏻

[@zippyblood4252]

thanks for the video

[@DaveMartin-in5wp]

that video was very well done thanks,

[@TheReptileHun]

You’re absolutely welcome 🤗 glad you liked it

[@ironcityrc2583]

Cool vid man. Vivariums look cool

[@TheReptileHun]

Thanks bro 🥰

[@AM-Boluke1210]

Thank u 👍

[@SwissFrogGuy]

Useful build! Thanks a lot!

[@TheReptileHun]

Merci vielmol 😜♥️

[@SwissFrogGuy]

@@TheReptileHun No problem !

[@cattfishing]

Wow. New sub here! Best arid set up yet! Great explanation and demonstration. Tfs!

[@TheReptileHun]

Oh thank you so much

[@SpectrumVivaria]

Love the shape you are achieving here with this method, great work!

[@TheReptileHun]

Spectrum Vivaria thank you so much, really appreciate your kind words 🥰

[@S_t_even]

Is this where you got your inspiration? I'm a big fan of your build and am looking into using a lot of the techniques you showed in the video s

[@ssverton]

great videos man! Looks awesome!!

[@TheReptileHun]

Thank you so much 😊

[@indigo2266]

AWESMOME

[@arthropo-reptiles3612]

nice job and really cool background! Great species too :)

[@TheReptileHun]

Arthropo - reptiles thank you so much 😊

[@moritzlaszlo3115]

Very cool! I like the way you mix the soil. Do the isopods survive in such a dry terrarium?

[@TheReptileHun]

Thank you so much 😊 yeah and they’re not only surviving but really flourishing in there, but keep in mind, I’ve used Cuban isopods 🙂👍

[@roxoriginal732]

Good vid mate .well explained.👌

[@sputnick87]

Endlich mal schöne Videos aus Deutschland 🇩🇪😬 wirklich toll gemacht 👍🏻 Auf deutsch würde ich es noch besser finden 😜

[@TheReptileHun]

Danke dir vielmals :) das ist echt lieb

[@Saraliiii1907]

Wie immer einfach ein super Video 😘

[@sweetsulyn1]

This is such a great video! I love what you did to your tanks. 😍 Truly amazing and inspiring!!! Thank you.

[@TheReptileHun]

Thank you so much

[@henry0091]

Schönes und gut gefilmtes Video, mach weiter so :) PS mein Abo hast du schon

[@TheReptileHun]

Henry 00 Danke dir 😊

[@marccfox]

Great video! Can you tell me what’s n the larger monitors do they scratch up the background or does it harden? I wanna build for some Savannah’s and water monitors . Thanks

[@TheReptileHun]

Thanks buddy ☺️👍 the background is rock solide, no way to scratch them out however if you plan to build this for bigger species, make sure to use at least 5 thick layers and you won’t get any problems 😉

[@marccfox]

@@TheReptileHun ah ok thanks for tip imma do it

[@DrakeDragonheart]

Interesting. Most others using bioactive substrates always say to keep it light and airy to keep the CUC well oxygenated, promote "good" bacteria growth, and consequently prohibit the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Seems like the clay would keep it compacted, which I think you said. Will have to try this type of substrate, looks a lot easier to do and maintain. Never thought they sold handheld wire cutters, great tip there for sculpting the foam!

[@TheReptileHun]

DrakeDragonheart yes but since these setups are pretty arid, you should use a partial area covered with leaf litter, underneath that and also underneath the plants areas should be a little bit more moist. The destruction crew will hide there at daytime and come out when the lights are shut to clean the setup ☺️ that’s how I keep it for many years now ☺️👍

[@DrakeDragonheart]

@@TheReptileHun seeing this finally made buy some isopods and springtails to convert my gilleni over to bioactive. Hopefully I got the substrate mix right and colony becomes established. And that he doesn't eat them all too

[@TheReptileHun]

DrakeDragonheart that’s the way to go imho ☺️ they will, they even did. in one of my driest setups and if they eat them... they’re excellent feeders with a lot of calcium and other nutritions 😊👍

[@cattfishing]

That substrate is for a more tropical or even subtropical environment that houses plants and animals that like/need a more humid climate. He is making an ard/desert type set up which requires very little humidity other than what would normally get out in nature. Some types of isopods and other cuc species prefer dryer conditions and will do just fine as long as you provide the little moisture they require. You're right about this type of substrate being easier to make and keep up on. This is definitely a good starter type set up that costs far less money and effort.:):)

[@fabiogiacomelli3410]

Damn, that technique of bending the wire to help giving texture is BRILLIANT!!!

[@TheReptileHun]

Thank you so much buddy ☺️

[@neilhughes9498]

Great video thanks, very helpful. Can I ask what you say at 5:35 which I guess is what is the blue bucket before you add the colouring. It sounds like 'tile sand'. is that correct? I would be grateful if you would let me know what the mixture is exactly. Many thanks.

[@TheReptileHun]

Neil Hughes it’s tile cement, or tile glue 😊👍

[@fatihustun7847]

Nice one 👌🏽

[@TheReptileHun]

Fatih Üstün ❤️

[@jessicaflock9304]

Your backgrounds look amazing! Can I get a link to that foam cutter? The cheap ones on amazon arent nearly as easy to use :(

[@TheReptileHun]

Hey Jessica, i`m going to include the Link here, but i'm not sure, if you can get that exact same one :/ www.amazon.de/Proxxon-27082-Hei%C3%9Fdraht-Schneideger%C3%A4t-Thermocut-Schneddr%C3%A4hten/dp/B001DXMF9M/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=proxxon+styropor&qid=1612967223&sr=8-4

[@AkimboGT]

Vert nice

[@TheReptileHun]

AkimboGT thank you so much 😊

[@savaskahriman6546]

Awesome like always! Damn! Nice job, I’ll wait for some new videos 😎👌🏼🤘🏼

[@TheReptileHun]

LA Savas 🥰

[@ks_reptiles3347]

Hey, Ich fände es super wenn du/Sie auch Videos auf deutsch machen würdest/würden. Tolles Video, würde mich über mehr freuen. 😍👍 Beste Grüße und schönen Tag

[@TheReptileHun]

Huhu, momentan sind leider nur englische Videos geplant aber ich habe schon überlegt ab und an auch deutsche zu machen ;)

[@cadirgemont5900]

Really nice but you should do a product list so people know where to start on getting some of these materials.

[@TheReptileHun]

Good idea ;) will do that in the upcoming ones :)

[@cadirgemont5900]

@@TheReptileHun yeah for example I can't find a full setup for a hot wire cutter like yours for under $100. Also the type of foam board the clay ect would all be helpful to someone who hasn't built to this detail before.

[@lux9350]

@@TheReptileHun are you gunna upload again?

[@TheReptileHun]

@@lux9350 sure 🙃 just had a lot of stuff to do ☺️

[@Ajaxtrippy26]

@@cadirgemont5900 hot wire foam factory $30

[@violetbyers6818]

do you have a link or know what specific brand of clay you used for the substrate at 8:40 ? i know it says color clay on the bag but i dont know what brand also i loveeee this definitely gives me some inspiration for my next build !!

[@TheReptileHun]

Thank you very much, i dont think that you'll find the exact same clay in the states, but you can use any terrarium clay for that :)

[@Fede97de]

Hi! Nice terrarium! How thick is the wire?

[@TheReptileHun]

Hi there and thank you, i think its 1,5 mm

[@varanus_brachylophus_6290]

Top 👍🏻

[@TheReptileHun]

Varanus_brachylophus _ 😘

[@housearea]

Greeting I just saw your video, I am very interested of the brand of this hot wire, the tool looks very professional. Can you send me a link if can be bought online?

[@TheReptileHun]

Hey there, this one is made by Proxxon

[@tomkenyon1430]

Hi mate, where can I buy that foam cutter?

[@TheReptileHun]

Hey there Tom, i bought this particular one from amazon but i'm not quite sure if you'll find that exact same one in your country

[@alessiosoriano7588]

how did you attach the coco fiber in the background?

[@TheReptileHun]

Have you watched the video?

[@jadensingh3181]

This is completely safe for all reptiles? Jw

[@TheReptileHun]

💯 safew

[@jadensingh3181]

Alright ty man, Awesome Job!!!@@TheReptileHun

[@legion321]

Do you add any water sealant

[@TheReptileHun]

Nope not in these kind of builds, there’s no need for that because there is no constant water sitting around

[@legion321]

Im building for my bearded should I water seal mine or it's good with the grout how it is

[@REALGAMING2016]

So do you think this rock type set up can last for a lizard life time if I have something smaller like a collard lizard? Will it stand up to heat. I’d love to know your experience with these and heat tolerance

[@TheReptileHun]

When worked properly and used enough layers this will survive us in fact 😉 I have used these with all kinds of reptiles and even with turkish painted agamas which require extreme basking temperatures and never had any issues 👍

[@colorsAthroughZ]

Will this work for leopard geckos?

[@TheReptileHun]

Sure, just adapt the carvings a little bit :)

[@avetborisovich3479]

👍👍👍

[@cadirgemont5900]

What was the plant species you mentioned?

[@TheReptileHun]

I've used Callocephalus brownii in these setups ;)

[@timo2580]

are there any other thing you can use to darken the cement

[@TheReptileHun]

Sure, you can use acrylic colors or pigments, or other stuf... just make sure to check if it´s safe to use

[@Hodges101]

Whats the brand name of the clay ??

[@TheReptileHun]

CryptoHodges I’ve used knauff at this build but it really doesn’t matter 😊👍

[@geromeprangemeier2083]

Mein Englisch ist nicht das beste xD Woraus besteht der Bodengrund? und woraus besteht die Beschichtung der Rückwand? Vielen Dank vorab :)

[@TheReptileHun]

Huhu die Rückwand wird mit Fliesenkleber und Abtönkonzentrat beschichtet, in der letzten Schicht mische ich oft noch etwas vom Substrat bei… hier ist es Sand, Lehm und Erde gemischt im Verhältnis von 3:1:2

[@geromeprangemeier2083]

Vielen Dank für die Antwort. Schöne Feiertage noch :)

[@TheReptileHun]

@@geromeprangemeier2083 gerne doch ☺️ wünsche ich dir auch

[@fabianabos6702]

if i want to make a custom background do i need to go bioactive?

[@TheReptileHun]

Hey Fabiana, you don't have to go bioactive, but i would recommend it, since it makes things a lot easier :)

[@Hulteke]

What size is it on the three cages? (ET?)

[@TheReptileHun]

Ricard Hulteke two of them are 60x45x60 and one of em is 60x45x45, I’ll just use them for rearing the offspring ☺️

[@Hulteke]

The Reptile Hun Yes but they are sufficient! The odatria hatchlings are so small. And if it gets a little rowdy, small cork bark tubes solves it all. Great and inspiring work! Do you offer any?

[@TheReptileHun]

Ricard Hulteke got 17 eggs from the glauerti's in the incubator atm ☺️

[@Hulteke]

@@TheReptileHun Sounds fantastic! Best season ever? I write to you on FB. Great! :D

[@TheReptileHun]

Ricard Hulteke first season of glauerti 😅 and the bigger female is pregnant still 🤫

[@cdrom4448]

How to clean the background if lizards will poop on it?

[@TheReptileHun]

CD ROM Since the setup is bioactive I don’t need to do a whole lot of cleaning, most dirt is flushed from the background through spraying and the rest is taken care of by the isopods 😊👍

[@FallenP-tg2dx]

How do you deal with pee and poo absorbing into the background? As it has no protective layer.

[@TheReptileHun]

Hence why I always go bioavtive ☺️👍

[@aliciamyers0]

you forgot to add a sealant

[@TheReptileHun]

Marie no i haven’t, you don’t need to seal every kind of background 😉👍 especially not for arid setups 😊

[@TheReptileHun]

No not really, you dont always need a sealant. I've never used sealant for arid setups and never had any issues in over 20 years ;)

[@connykersey698]

I had trouble hearing the list of ‘ingredients’. The “paint” on the styrofoam and the soil mix. I’m 70, and hearing impaired. Please add them in the description or as a reply to this question.

[@danielsmith336]

In my country, the stuff he painted on the foam would be called grout (he calls it tile cement). He mixed in a cement pigment for color. For soil he did play sand (probably quartz sand), red colored sand, coco peat (aka coir, ground up coconut husk), powdered clay (used to make pottery).

[@TheReptileHun]

Its exactly how Daniel wrote it :)

[@Hwoman1123]

so thats a vivarium