New T.Shanjing Tank

[Ben Krysa]

This is my newest vivarium for my T.Shanjing. When I took this picture they were not in there yet. I'm going to take more pictures with the newts in them too.

 

[froggy]

Looks very good; I particularly like the way the land and water areas come together so naturally. What sort of lid do you have for it? I have experienced mould issues in vivs like this when the lid did not provide adequate ventillation.

Chris

 

[Greatwtehunter]

I like this tank as well. Looks like you may have some experience with dart frogs based on how it's designed.

Exo-terra lids are almost completely screen with the added benefit of the ventilation holes in the brace that goes across the front. Unless they have covered the lid with plastic wrap it should have excellent ventilation with minimal problems with mold.

 

[Ben Krysa]

Thanks for the comments guys. Unfortunately when I got this tank the lid was damaged. However I was able to make a new one that is also entirely screen.

This cute little guy likes the water feature. He sits on the rocks on the waters edge and hangs his tail in the waterfall.

 

[Ben Krysa]

This cute little guy here is one of the happy residents. He likes to use the water area more than his little friend. They both seem really happy since being intoduced to their new home. I'm going to post more pics soon of the entire tank since they moved in.

 

[linda]

great set up.:happy:

 

[Aimee]

Looks amazing! I would love to know what you used for the backing (what it is, where you got it, how you put it in, etc). It looks like a wall of soil....very awesome

Cheers.

 

[Ben Krysa]

Thanks again for commenting everyone. I'm fairly new to forum type postings, although i've been visiting for a while now. I enjoy being able to share my newts with other people around the world. Not everyone in my personal life really understands my appreciation of these amazing creatures, as I'm sure many of you know how that goes. Anyhow, down to business:
Aimee, The background was done much like a dart frog viv may have been done, hence the comment left by Greatewtehunter. I started with black GE Silicon II, coating the back and patially the sides of the tank. Once cured I used expanding foam, "GreatStuff" to shape the back, adding bits of rocks and bark where apprpriate. When this dried, I cut and shaped the foam with a knife to give the look of roots. To the sides of the tank I used "Terra-Root," a natural dried root that ibelieve is distributed by T-rex. ? Once I finished sculpting the bakground i painted on a layer of brown, GE silicon II and pressed a micture of co-co fibre, peat moss and root bits left over from the sides. When it's all dried, just a few finishing thouches and voila "Dirt Wall."


Here are some pics of the tank and newts about a month and a half later.

 

[eljorgo]

those look pretty much like T.verrucosus light form.
Nice terrarium between....
chip.

 

[troutnerd]

Lovely tank Ben. I've ued the exo terra for reptile but never amphibians.I still have one that I might set up if I get anymore shanjing or kweichow.I did the GE silcone/great stuff background on my kweichow tank and it turned out pretty well.

Where do you find the shanjing stay most of the time? Do they go in the water at all? My two rarely go in, although the female was dipping in a bit early this winter..but she's back to her usual haunts.Mine have found little hollows they have either made larger somehow or the dirt has settled.They are almost like caves and they are in there a lot unless hungry or out for a roam.This winter they've been hiding a lot.Which is fine.They are both bright eyed and happy.

 

[Lusiwarrior]

Continue you on track!
cheers

 

[Ben Krysa]

Thanks for the comments.

My female spends alot of time in and around the water. My male is a bit more shy and also occasionally wanders into the water area but not near as often as the female.

I recently decided to try and breed these two newts and as a result I will be making some changes to this tank, sacrificing some of the look for a much more simple design. Even with the highest land area about 5 inches above water level my substrate had far less of a moisture gradient than I had hoped. my newts seem very happy, but I would still like to set my goals for what I had in mind originally.

when I first got my shanjing they were quite shy particularily the male. But now they are almost as big of beggars as my tiger salamanders, running out of their hides as soon as I enter the room. Hehe, I sure do love these little buggers.

 

[Punkamph]

looks like a small version of my frog tanks... did you use a screen top? That's what I use.. and the tank that's heated dries up super fast... I am thinking about switching it to glass.

 

[Ben Krysa]

The lid is all screen. My tank is always moist as I have no need of a heater. I do have a set of small computer fan than are used to help cool this tank but I havn't had a chance to set them up yet. I get the feeling once the fans are going It will get slightly drier.

 

[duncan]

Viv looks great Ben! When I had my shanjing they almost never went in the water. I wonder if a distinct cooling period would trigger a spawning more readily than the change in water level (although I agree that you'd have to raise it a bit if you wanted them to breed). Not difficult to cool things down in our area of Canada right now (- 40C with the wind chill). If you get them to "go" I'd love to have some again. You'll have to let us know how you remade your top for your Exo too, I need to replace one for an 24x18 version and would prefer not to buy new.

Cheers,
Duncan

Duncan

 

[troutnerd]

Duncan: No shanjing any more? You had a few I think.

 

[Viv]

how big is that exo terra tank? is it 18x18x18 inches?

 

[sfmmfreak]

Beautiful Tank!

 

[grius]

Thats is a nice vivarium! i look easy but still with much work behind if you know what i meen and that is a great combination many times..I also like the way water and land part flows together.

By the way, can you please take a photo on the hole tank But without flash? I think most pictures looks better without.

 

[grius]

I mean a simple but natural design.