Lichen tank?

[Experiment397]

So I have a growing collection of lichens in my garter snake tank and am thinking of doing a lichen only tank. My main question is does this sound okay for lighting- since lichens are photosynthetic and so far as I can tell, similar to photosynthetic corals. I will have a 10.0 UVB strip hanging on my rack system for my lizards that should cover the proposed lichen tank. Also since they are similar to corals could I use an actinic 420 nm tube alongside the 10.0 UVB. I currently grow some in my garter snake tank that uses mainly natural sunlight for lighting so they should thrive under lights made for photosynthetic organisms. Any thoughts? I'll try and get some pics of my current lichens in the snake tank so you have an idea of the lichens I'm talking about.


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[COG Commando]

I love the idea. Lichens are completely underappreciated. That being said, wouldn't a 6500K-6700K T5 or LED be better than a UVB as a primary light source for lichen growth?? An actinic bulb might help to promote the symbiotic cyanobacterial growth within the lichen but it will wash out the natural colors of your species and make the tank look like it's perpetually under moonlight.

 

[Experiment397]

Here is part of the current collection. I have even more stored away in a mantis tank and some that I just dried and is bagged away. Sorry the glass is water spotted, when you have a semi aquatic snake that Thinks he is Michael phelps it sort of happens on a regular basis.


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[Experiment397]

Okay. I have 2x 8 foot shelves reinforced to hold my tanks and each one will have 2x 4 foot 10.0 UVB tubes because I am a firm believer in the power of uvb when it comes to reptiles so the tank will already have that going for it. I'll look at putting a second smaller t8 fixture with a 10000k bulb on it alongside the UVB tube that is just big enough for the lichen tank. I'm thinking of using a 10 gallon so an 18" t8 should do it for that. I'm thinking I'll cover
The sides and back in ground tree fern, beaked moss and bark clippings. Then having a rock pile of lichen covered rocks in the middle like a reef then a few pine branches with tree lichens on them and the walls. And maybe a live moss carpet throughout the whole tank. It should be cool! Any other ideas?


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[DariusAmurdarja]

thats an amazing idea! The amount of light they need depends on the species. Also some of them need special air conditioning but i guess you won't keep such species.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I have a ton of different types of lichen growing around my house (moss too). If anyone wants any, just let me know. I assume they're pretty easy to ship.


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[crayfishguy]

my whole tree in my back yard is covered in that stuff

 

[Experiment397]

They seem pretty hardy so I would imagine they would be easy to ship. I found a small branch covered in them once at the begining of a trip and I threw it in the freezer took it out at the end of the trip and brought it home in the ice chest, it was fine and that's how I got most of the branching green ones in the pics I posted. I'll keep you updated for sure. I think I might try keeping some sort of inverts in the tank just for some action in it. Maybe tailless whip scorpions.. They would really complete the primitive look


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