Used aquarium as a terrarium?

[Tanith]

My family is hoping to get another BTS soon as my mother wants one for her classroom. Does anyone here use a used aquarium as a BTS enclosure? What do you do with the top of the aquarium? Do you need to make a screen or lid of sorts?

[phaemas]

I have one. It doesn't have a lid but has a hanging heat lamp and a clipped on UVB lamp.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Make or buy screen mesh. Or you could cover part of it with wood. Some people just leave the top open. (knowing that it is too high for the skink to climb out)

[Tanith]

I have one. It doesn't have a lid but has a hanging heat lamp and a clipped on UVB lamp.

I need to build a lid or something though because it will be a class pet and I don't want little kids sticking their hands in it when they're not supposed to.

[phaemas]

ours if 17+'' tall so we have no worries!

You could put the pet infront or behind your desk? Or even in an area they can't reach but you can?

[Tanith]

Make or buy screen mesh. Or you could cover part of it with wood. Some people just leave the top open. (knowing that it is too high for the skink to climb out)

hmm... my dad made a sort of wooden cover with holes drilled into it for digger's terrarium so the cat's wouldn't break through the screen. It has space for the heat lamps and a latch to open. Maybe that would work for an aquarium too. Oh, and aquariums tend to have a lot of hight so no worries of a skink climbing out...

[Katrina]

Much safer with a lid. You can build something out of particle board and screen - you'll get everything you need at a hardware store. Like has been said in a few recent threads, I'd cover at least 2-3 of the sides to help him feel safer and less exposed.

[Tanith]

ours if 17+'' tall so we have no worries!

You could put the pet infront or behind your desk? Or even in an area they can't reach but you can?

My terrarium is 18'' high and my skink managed to climb out of it . Also, the tank needs to be in a place where the kids can see it. We can't put it too high or the little kids can't see.

[Nae]

I have one. I recommend covering up 3 of the 4 sides (cardboard, material, those printed paper things from the pet store, print out your own pictures, I personally am making a fake rock wall)

While I havent made it yet, my lid will be made from wood with two separately lift-able lids (As its rather long). Each lid will have a large cut out with metal screening for ventilation.

But since my centralian is a desert creature, my globes will be attached to a piece of wood inside the tank - That way it will stop heat from rising, but air can still pass above. If any of that made sense

However, many people dont get quite that fancy and need so much heat retention and such, so many do just use a metal screen lid (Not plastic or glass), then suspend a lamp above that.

[Katrina]

Yes - don't assume they can't climb out. They are decent climbers and use their tails for balance. Just because they haven't climbed out yet doesn't mean they can't or won't.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

But since my centralian is a desert creature, my globes will be attached to a piece of wood inside the tank - That way it will stop heat from rising, but air can still pass above. If any of that made sense

When are you getting your skink anyway? You can only be on this forum for a year without a skink and your time is running out of time
Ok im kidding but you better get that skink soon or else...

[Tanith]

Would this do? This is what the top of my terrarium looks like:



It's cat-proof.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Seems pretty good, but:
how much light gets in though the holes
Does it allow enough heat for basking temps
Will the wood possibly catch fire.
Can I have your skink?

[Nae]

Hey, Ive been showing pictures and talking about the wild shingles almost as if they were my own, surely that extends my allowed to be without a skink time??

December Believe it or not, its actually very difficult to purchase bluetongues in Western Aus (That or I am seriously looking in the wrong places ). Those that are bred are snatched up quick, and those who already own them either never sell them, sell them at a bit too high of a price for me, or sell them as breeding pairs. (Ive considered buying a breeding pair, but I want to just have one for a while before getting a second~)

But! I am in contact with a breeder atm who is keeping me updated on what animals he has available (I could have got an adult centralian a few months ago, but I really want a young one )

Anyway, OT

[Tanith]

Seems pretty good, but:
how much light gets in though the holes
Quite a lot actually, the wood is only around the perimeter of the lamps.
Does it allow enough heat for basking temps
The basking temp is usually exactly 100 F and the cool side is 80 F.
Will the wood possibly catch fire.
It's been like that for 5 years and I've never had a problem
Can I have your skink?
NEVER!

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Cool then

[Tanith]

Also, the heat lamps aren't touching the wood or the screen. They're actually held up by nails. (no sharp ends are sticking out.) The only problem is, without the screen, their is a small gap between the wood and the terrarium edge that digger can climb out of. I'll have to figure some way to have no gap if i get an aquarium as they don't have screens.

[Alioop]

You can just buy a screen lid at a pet store for 15 - 25 bucks depending on the size, and you can pick up a set of lid clips (to keep him from pushing the lid off) for just a few bucks.

[ExtremeJustin]

I have one. It doesn't have a lid but has a hanging heat lamp and a clipped on UVB lamp.

I would recommend a lid in most instances. I have kept mine without a lid before in a tank as high as phaemas' tank. It worked for me at the time but when I put in a hide that my Eastern BTS could climb on top of I had to start keeping the screen shut.

Some pet stores do carry screens that might fit. They usually carry clips as well. My Indo BTS is a used aquarium with one of those screens and a set of clips (she can escape otherwise).

[Tanith]

You can just buy a screen lid at a pet store for 15 - 25 bucks depending on the size, and you can pick up a set of lid clips (to keep him from pushing the lid off) for just a few bucks.

I've never noticed lids at pet shops. I'll have to look the next time I go to one.