Thinking of doing a biotope...

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Kioka

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 2, 2007
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Edmonton, AB
Disclaimer: I do not adovocate mixing of reptiles and or amphibians. Doing this take a lot of research and understanding how to meet each individual needs.

I am thinking of doing an Indo-Pacific (New Guinea and Solomons) biotope. I have been talking to a contact that does these for a hobby with frogs, skinks and geckos. We have been exchanging information

Aquatic occupants: Trumpet Snails, Indonesian Freshwater Shrimps (Caridina spp.)
Terrestrial occupants:
Crocodile Skinks (T. gracillis), White-lined Geckos (G. vittatus), Gold Skinks (M. multifasciata), Solomon Eyelash Frogs (C. guentheri)
Aquatic Plants: Working on it.
Terrestrial Plants: Golden Pothos (E. aureum), Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes spp.)
Description:
- Cage will be 3' long
- Substrate will be coco fibre, followed by a layer of mixed sphagnum moss and decaying leaves.
- It will be 1/3 water, 2/3 land
- Humidity: 80%+, night-time temperature 65F-70F, daytime temperature 73F-84F
- Hotspot of 88F will be provided
- UV light will be added

Still working on what kind of plant to add... and what fish to add...
 
Sounds like a cool project. But if I were you I'd go bigger then 3 feet. What's the height and width going to be?
 
as aquatic plants go do java moss, java fern, red root flaoter, and some anubis.
 
good idea, but i would agree with going a bit bigger. croc skinks dont like it warm, as im sure you already know, so make sure the basking spot isnt big. give him some flat rocks to hide under too, which im sure you already know. at the zoo i intern at we have an awesome croc skink setup, i imagine yours looking like that only with other animals lol. good luck!
 
for a terrestrial ground cover plant go with baby tears. not the aquatic type
 
as far as fish go neon or glo light tetras will look good
 
Neon tetras.... no go. Have to check some of the origins of those aquatic plants and plants suggested. It's Indo-Pacific theme. ;)

However, I agree with everyone saying that it need to be longer. I am trying to figure out how to give them more space without the vivarium looking unnatural. I was planning for a 2' aquarium, but decided to go 3' or 4' if possible for proper temperature gradient from 88F to 70F.

Now I am planning on putting this on for display at the ERAS show... and the table will either be 4' or 8' long. So I am trying to work within the table size limit while giving myself room to talk to the people. I am also planning on stacking a Woma enclosure on top of the aquarium or a Coastal Carpet Python on top, but I can't do a biotope theme with them... because well... the Woma would eat anything amphibians, reptiles... fish... and I am not sure if I trust the Coastal yet with anything.

However Bacopa spp. and Dendrobium spp. are either native or invasive species in Indonesia and the Pacific. :D Also found out there are some Betta spp. native to the region I am modelling after, but the only problem is that everyone sell the ones found in Southeast Asia. Why can't my favourite animals happen to live in Vietnam? :(

As far as width and height go -- the biggest I can find. However I am just cultivating plants right now and setting up smaller cages for the animals. Right now, I am trying to figure out how to not overdo my bioload.

I secured a second Crocodile Skink for the project. :) Now that I think about it... I don't think the Croc Skinks have ever been anything bigger than Exo-Terra or a 10g individually...
 
Caridina spp. Bumblebee Shrimp - The complex is endemic to the Indo-Pacific and are representative of the freshwater shrimps in the Solomons
Ceratobatrachus guentheri Solomon Islands Eyelash Frog - Endemic to Solomon Islands
Epipremnum aureum Solomon Island Ivy - Endemic to the Solomon Islands
Gambusia affinis Mosquitofish - Introduced species to the Solomons Islands; saline-tolerant and freshwater tolerant
Gekko vittatus White-lined Gecko - Endemic to India, Indonesia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and surrounding areas
Melanoides tuberculata Malayasian Trumpet Snail - Invasive Asian freshwater snail, tolerant of high salinity, found throughout most of the subtropical and tropical environments
Toxotes jaculatrix Banded Archerfish - Endemic to the Indo-Pacific, including the Solomon Islands; usually found in brackish, but sometimes can be found in freshwater
Tribolonotus gracillis Red-eyed Crocodile Skink - Endemic to the New Guinea and is representive of the related Tribolonotus spp. on the islands

Something I drew up... still drawing up a list of plant species. Hopefully that's enough animals in there. Might toss in some terrestrial isopods.
 
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