Everglades Cypress Marsh Biome for Tiny Turtles

This past week I went down to Florida for a few days to relax. While there, I took a day to make a setup for some of the world's smallest turtles! More specifically, the Three-Striped Mud Turtle. These little turtles are really cool and native to Florida. That in mind, I thought it would be best to recreate an Everglades cypress marsh biome or biotope for them. This outlines exactly how I did that.
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[@SerpaDesign]

How incredible are these tiny turtles? I loved seeing them swim and explore their new home. I’ve received videos of them nearly every day since and they really seem to enjoy it. What do you think? Let me know and have a great weekend SerpaSquad!

[@1v3x9]

I think you did an amazing job as always. Can’t wait to see your next project!

[@pencilpauli9442]

There's a hole in your bucket Dear Serpa, dear Serpa. My goodness you made a mistake. You're human after all! lol Love the turtles and they are so lucky to have a great home. Hope the rescue is doing well ❤

[@ghomerhust]

those little guys are adorable! i think you did a great job capturing their natural swamp homes, it really looks like they're enjoying it

[@Velehna]

It really does look like you cut out a slice of their natural habitat

[@MrVovansim]

Tank and turtles look great. Wish there was footage of them basking, but you can't have it all. They look like they are really enjoying their new home!

[@FatherFish]

A genuinely excellent installation! Your serious attempts to create natural environments is deeply appreciated.

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Thank you

[@charlie_moorcroft]

I agree.

[@dookcurruff9047]

be quiet

[@KurbieIsDatBirb]

Fax

[@Tobi-pp2wz]

@@dookcurruff9047 For real, like Fatherfish is in my opinion way too critical. ''everthing needs to be 100% nature if not its wrong. ''

[@Chinesetakeout382]

I love seeing the process, but I love hearing Tanner’s commentary about his thought process throughout. The attention to detail and care for animals that aren’t even his is truly astounding.

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Truly astounding 😊

[@jimkimball4288]

Takes true talent to not only make 3D art, but also make it functional appealing livable and STABLE enough for a living animal to truly enjoy it.

[@jameyregier8054]

I really appreciate how you don't over talk or use filler words. I just watched another Tuber where I knew what they were going to say most of the video

[@justicegreen4055]

I got teary eyed, (with joy) when I saw the title. I just want to point out a couple things. That Everglades are actually wetlands, meaning, they also experience regular periods of drought. I don't know how you would create that, but I challenge you. The most diverse and densely populated ecosystems are wetlands, and I love you are going in this direction. Using terms like biome, marsh, and ecosystem, then showing them how to recreate that; helps people realize that the natural world is the healthiest area for these animals and it teaches how delicate the balance is. That it is far more expensive and difficult to create, but that it's far easier and more affordable to maintain, far better for your companions, and so much more beautiful than what is would be without it. There is a huge movement in this direction and I truly believe you are one of the pioneers. Amazing, I love it, I love what you do.

[@raymondvelazquez03]

As someone that has lived in Florida for the majority of their lives, you NAILED IT. This is by far my favorite set up ever

[@charlie_moorcroft]

He did an amazing job 🎉

[@jlexoticbirds4134]

As another Floridian, I agree!

[@KurbieIsDatBirb]

Saaaammee

[@adambarron4015]

Cypress knees are a fun subject. The structure is an example of a pneumatophore aka an air hole. While the photosyntically active parts to the plants (aka the green bits) produce their own oxygen, other areas get energy via cellular respiration. As gases don't readily dissolve into water at high concentrations, plants have evolved to compensate. Lily pads have stems with air tubes, and cypress and mangrove trees have evolved pneumatophores to poke through the water and act as oxygen conduits to the roots.

[@charlie_moorcroft]

They have always fascinated me

[@bananawitchcraft]

The function of cypress knees is actually heavily debated. That particular theory seems to have lost much of its credibility, but is still widely circulated.

[@BrooklynHudson]

Aww, I'm so glad that little injured female was lucky enough to find Charlie and is now enjoying this beautiful scape. Charlie has an incredible place and does fabulous work with his organization.

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Thank you very much! 😊

[@Himmel.Himmel]

i’m sorry but i think it’s super funny that tanner just invented a project for himself while on vacation. but i have to it’s a beautiful piece and the turtles seem to enjoy it immensely.

[@leemasters3592]

Same. I wonder what his wife thinks of it?

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Both are good friends of mine and wanted to do a quick project to support our cause. They were also able to spend many more days enjoying themselves.

[@Paul-li9hq]

What a delightful design... very simple, not overloaded, but looks great. I do appreciate the addition of duckweed as it is a fantastic water purifier... And keeping it in check is simply a matter of dragging a net across the surface periodically to reduce excess (and these turtles, like most, are omnivorous, so they will probably enjoy snacking on it too)...

[@1v3x9]

Whenever a video drops my day is instantly better. Thank you Tanner!

[@Mbzl]

Same here!

[@1290afineyear]

@@Mbzl That makes 3 of us!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

So true!

[@glassyGREEN_]

I really love these nature inspired scapes with lots of botanicals and plants. They always look like a real and small biotope at home. Great job 😊

[@Emg2463]

Haha....I love that little side trip when you noticed all the turtles staring at you while you worked....lol....😄 Those are really cool turtles....beautiful habitat for them too !

[@charlie_moorcroft]

He kept getting distracted by the spengleri lol. He loves those tiny characters. I see a few in his future!

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

I love their freakishly long necks. Spengleris might be my favorite species of all though.

[@Grace-er9ep]

MCF x SerpaDesign collabs hit different because you can really see how Tanner is passionate about the animals and their care both as individuals and as wild species living in containment. He goes above and beyond to make the best decisions for the lives he's housing and shares his mistakes so that we all might learn from them and improve our husbandry as a community. Truly my favorite KZbinr for years now and I hope I get to keep witnessing his artistry and passion for years to come

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Thank you. I’m lucky enough to call Tanner a good friend. I have so much appreciation and respect. Can’t wait until we do another project. I say “we” but it’s really all him. Lol.

[@suganeeds]

I don't make aquariums or plan on ever having lizards or fish....and I love watching your builds. I stay for the passion you have for small creatures and eye for landscaping

[@shaliekk]

The turtles swimming around are so cute!

[@Hemithrinax]

I would love to see more carnivorous bog setups! Charlie’s looks awesome! 9:30

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Thank you! Tanner inspired me.

[@jomoreno9134]

Just discovered you this week and subscribed immediately! I saw your video covering your whole display room, very cool. Only thing missing was turtles. Then I saw your snapping turtle video. Very good! Your monologue is so interesting and your voice is clear as a bell. Thank you! I saw your 10 year overview. How wonderful that you are doing what you love. I really appreciate your design esthetic. You’re the best. I’m not watching your videos in order so there’s always a surprise around every corner. When The Pond Guys worked with you, what a build! Jo

[@CrunchyFern]

Welcome to turtle town!

[@ALW4YS_TIR3D]

Tutel

[@DanTheTurtleMan_]

So well done, and a VERY under-appreciated species! Great job as per usual Tanner!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Yes, love being able to spotlight them.

[@arigarrido7116]

As a native floridian, the knees and limestone is a nice touch.

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Tanner always puts in 100%

[@davidvento5481]

Charlie Moorecroft has the most amazing collection of Chelonians. He has uncommon species like Black-Breasted Leaf Turtles, Mini Herman’s Tortoises, Florida Box Turtles, N A Spotted Turtles, Albino Snappers, etc.. Kenan (Kamp Kenan) has several videos interviewing Moorecroft and showing his entire collection.

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Thank you! 😊

[@davidvento5481]

@@charlie_moorcroft 👍🏻

[@bighossgames1174]

Wow! Really loving the design here, I love your way of speaking!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Exactly! He’s amazing

[@DuckDuckGoose13]

Tanner, you're such an inspiration. Not only for making your own environments and caring for animals, but because of your commitment to something you have so much fun with. My passions aren't as creative or productive, but I hope I'm able to stay as passionate and have as much fun as possible like you. Awesome build, thanks for the content!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

I am constantly in awe of his passion and creativity 😊

[@markwalter8549]

Shoutout to Mrs. Tanner for letting you do this in vaca! 🙂

[@charlie_moorcroft]

She’s amazing 😊

[@elizabethsmith4398]

I'm so excited you did this!!! I have a little rescue eastern mud turtle who was run over years ago and is blind. His name is My Cousin Vincent Petite Feet (Vinnie.) He has some unique challenges and requirements for his set up, but I want to make it as natural as possible. This is great inspiration! What perfect little cuties they are

[@KurbieIsDatBirb]

I have a rescue turtle we found in a Petco dumpster. He's living high now 😂

[@michaelsp4801]

Love the way that you include your errors….reminds us that we are human…even professionals make mistakes

[@MyTh1cALMuSHr0om]

agreed

[@gablecurtis8380]

I really love the native setups for region specific animals and you always do such a great job. Keep up the passion!

[@jazztripp2393]

Idk if that light you have for basking is only UV, but make sure it can produce UVB as well! Most turtles as they grow need it in order to grow their shells properly. If their shells start looking brittle, start kinda looking spiky at the top, or if the edges curl then they might need a UVB bulb. Idk if all turtle species need them but anytime i ever kept turtles they needed it.

[@Mimir_the_wise_]

Theres mercury vapour bulbs that produce UVB its hopefully one of those

[@ReddOctober]

As much as I love the creativity, I love the lingo… it’s like a whole language.

[@stampinturtles]

It’s beautiful! Those are lucky turtles! I also appreciate your innovative rework when the bucket leaked. Even you still encounter issues despite your best plans and experience. I’m pretty happy with my paladarium for my box turtle babies but I had a ton of issues that made me frustrated. Water wicking from pond into land areas was driving me crazy! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. It helps a lot.

[@justinamerican8200]

You make such great 'scapes and tanks. Your passion is infectious.

[@bradutmicu]

This was my favorite project from your whole channel, the idea of Everglades is awesome for turtles, i bet they loved it, i wish i can do my own one day.

[@prestonanimates7971]

I love when you do reptile/amphibian ecosystem builds!

[@cody.nature]

The double bucket fix was a great idea!

[@joetheagent]

yay a Serpa video! Those turtles looked so happy in their new space. Hope you had a nice vacation, you have certainly earned it.

[@generationia]

Amazing. I’m in awe of projects that are designed to highlight Creations own genius.

[@killerweed]

The little guys look so happy in their new home

[@aurora_dawn123]

Oh my gosh, I love cypress swamps, this is such a cool build, I'm going to have to try to build something like this.

[@michaelrajkumar2346]

Love it! Nice build Tanner.

[@hazonku]

Those are some seriously cute turtles and the look right at home in their new home!

[@jpemydura4860]

Outstanding enclosure and biotope design.

[@john377]

Just the build I needed to get the ideas flowing!!!

[@john377]

@@charlie_moorcroft my snapper will be living in luxury soon🤞🏽

[@olly4591]

I'm always amazed how talented you are. Good stuff

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Same! Always amazed.

[@greatPretender79]

Very beautiful. Can't ever have too many floating plants IMHO.

[@Americancadet]

Love these naturalscapes

[@GlitzyWitch]

Thar is an Amazing set up, they are sooooo cute!!! They look like very happy turtles indeed ❤❤

[@charlie_moorcroft]

😊

[@Cheezitnator]

So cute. I love those little guys. I wish large paludariums were more available as standard tanks. I can't build this stuff or afford custom made.

[@BocksGames]

This was a great video. Would love to see you revisit a scape similar to the temperate forest river from a few years ago. Perhaps an even longer one this time that's also taller and works as a paludarium, starts as a waterfall, goes into a winding stream, and ends with a "lake". Perhaps under the river, connected to the "lake" is an underground cave with little white fish. You could even have an opening in the ground near the "river", like a pond, where light can shine down into it? I dunno. Either way -- keep up the good work. My son and I really love watching your videos and has been very helpful in keeping our spiders (bold jumping and pink toe). :)

[@Apex2301]

Serpa is such an amazing inspiration. I wanna try doing similar things but I don’t know how to keep plants alive. Lol

[@user-so9vi1vz5g]

I think the use of the bucket for a land area is a great idea. Another great video

[@har6106]

i dont know why, but this set up would be my favourite one youve made so far! i love the turtles and how they use the space you made, the small vegetation details in the water for them to slip through is awesome!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Tanner always pour 100% into each project 🎉

[@heatheryarbrough5255]

I love how natural your setups are. Amazing

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Yes!

[@bigdaddy741098]

I would love to have turtles like that one day, they are so curious and so cute.

[@moonbasket]

These tiny turtles are beautiful! I'm so happy you were able to make them such a beautiful and amazing home.

[@KurbieIsDatBirb]

Same!

[@johnmeszaros3827]

I love your visions, wilding the aquariums and teaching us how to make our own. Kudos!

[@MsLeenite]

Those little turtles sure seem happy in their new home! That was quick thinking with the bucket workaround. I'm glad you got to hang out a bit in the Everglades, it's an awesome place.

[@thomashaapalainen4108]

One of my dream pets. My only thing preventing me from these guys is my lack of space in my current house.

[@thanesonb]

Loved seeing how curious the turtles looked exploring the botanicals in the clips towards the end. Your setup really made them feel like they were in their natural habitat!

[@jimmyjames2022]

Turtles are my favourite pet but I can't keep them where I live now. So these turtle-arium setup videos make me happy. Thanks, Tanner and Charlie! I love duckweed in my aquariums too!

[@monke4632]

These videos are so relaxing to me, I love watching them before bed. Thanks for the hard work you do to make these.

[@ReginaRegenbogn]

Wonderful setup! In addition, I really enjoyed your editing. That must have been time consuming. Well done!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Yes! He’s a genius!

[@tylociraptor8131]

mg those vietnamese turtles with their gigantic eyes... i love them

[@Tomy_Yon]

I love turtles/tortoises... and shrimps. 😊

[@ayanpal1]

This was amazing! Well done indeed!

[@IRISnGEN]

The Salamanders would love to hang out there!

[@nattfodd7728]

This looks great. I love the cypress knees. I have lived in Florida most of my life and I never knew about these turtles they are so cute.

[@cathyfrankland9158]

A fantastic build, very impressive, and I loved how much the turtles really seemed to relax and explore their new home. I hope that you and your wife also managed some relaxation time on holiday too though!!!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Luckily they did.

[@ProbBugEaten]

I’m a new edition to the Serpa Squad!! I’ve been really enjoying your content for the last month! I used to make terrariums when I was in highschool but it was never anything fancy You’ve gave me the spark to want to repick-up the hobby, and I’m hoping to try to make terrarium with local plants and house a few american toads! Keep up the creativity dude! You’re like the terrarium LEGEND!!❤

[@joezuto]

I love turtles I can’t wait for this build!❤

[@kennyangel]

Thanks for making the effort to include metrical measures!

[@t_s4500]

List of people who Appreciate SerpaDesign⬇️

[@hallucinatinghawk3917]

Stop fishing for likes

[@t_s4500]

@@hallucinatinghawk3917 Just trying to be nice ❤

[@Skochel]

Shoutout to this guy’s wife who just wanted to go on vacation for once RIP

[@LetsGoPro2666]

This needs more likes 👍🏻

[@canfloyd]

@@t_s4500 no you’re not- you’re just trying to get likes.

[@everettashton2052]

you are such an amazing human and you continue to work with others. i love it

[@deadpoet415]

Very tempted to get musk turtles now with that kind of set up. I already have turtles but if I ever decide to get more I will consider getting "rescues." Thanks for mentioning that and for contributing positively to the hobby.

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

Fantastic set up!! I'd love to copy a set up like that and keep those tiny turtles! That is awesome and something I could realistically maintain. Thanks for sharing Tanner. 🐢🐢🐢 Gina Hetlage

[@woldsee8221]

Wow, great work and pretty animal.

[@Shifterai]

I love turtles and these little guys are so cute! I love that you focus on creating an environment similar to their natural one as well as something that looks good

[@A_Moustached_Sock]

Thank you for this. Really glad you are tackling turtles. I still would love if you one day made an adult red eared slider enclosure. I know its difficult but its possible. Sadly no one ever really wants to try with these guys except for a giant tub with nothing in it, or just a pond out in the backyard. Or any enclosures that do get made are just meant for them when they are just babies. I know they can be destructive but I still believe a scape could be done for adults in the right way.

[@faithlmao5082]

Always a pleasure seeing your process and you get to work. Love these little guys ❤ incredible work yet again!

[@PeterTheFrog]

Having watched all of your content, some of the videos several times, I believe this is my favorite you've made design-wise.

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

Thanks so much for the upload, Tanner. I needed this today. Well worth the wait too.

[@zackthomas1031]

You're a freakin genius dude, that's beautiful as usual 🤙

[@mphillips4324]

Your turtle videos are my favorite.

[@alliegator1372]

Those are super cute ! And your turned out amazing👍

[@SlabOfSlate]

god i love your videos, cant believe i saw this one so early! youre the main inspiration for doing a terrarium for a school project, local uni funds it and i get to keep the left over materials :)

[@michaelw24401]

I love that tank. I've been thinking of doing the same thing but on a smaller scale. I also didn't know what kind of turtle to get because I want one that stays small. Problem solved.

[@boothkids6808]

The Turtles are adorable

[@lindad1195]

Beautiful habitat! Great job! The turtles look right at home!

[@charlie_moorcroft]

They love it.

[@froggochannel469]

Time to watch this and go to work

[@1v3x9]

Drive safe bro

[@diegooteroczeisler]

Just made my first terrarium inspired by you today :)

[@at-exotics]

This is my favorite scape you have done

[@yesthisismaddox]

2:37 THE CUTEST WITTLE TURTLE EVR 🥰

[@mcbabs7495]

Très belle installation, merci pour la vidéo!

[@EduardoSerrano-kt1vy]

If I only I could have someone like you to help me do something like that for my fish tank😭

[@artfisher1235]

"The vision changes constantly" along the build, yes. It is like a hike in the wilderness; "oh let us see this peak as well"....

[@rubikscubeboy9734]

Great video like always

[@GatorLife57]

Great job Tanner !!! 👍👍👍

[@BlaineBlast]

ive been watching some really dark things latley and i see ur face in the thumbnail and it makes me smile.

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Always makes me smile as well

[@kalicampbell2745]

this is one of my favorites!! such an amazing job