Post by fluxlizard on Jul 13, 2015 0:55:44 GMT
A few pics. My style outdoor terraria. lowest point in these is 4-6 inches above surrounding earth level, south facing screen door, earth mound in north-east half with cave beneath mound. Cave made from 2 patio blocks (~14x14"x2"high) side by side, bricks for walls beneath blocks, entrance on west end of hill where it is protected from wind and rain by cage roof above. rear (north) half of roof slightly sloped, west 2' of front also solid roof to give shade, and keep food and water bowls out of rain. Cage made of galvanized steel roof material. Roof has 1" hard insulation sheet beneath to protect from hot metal roof. Began building last year because my water table is very high- I thought carefully for several years about how I wanted to build these- water pools only a foot or two below ground level, so I could not "sink" terraria into ground without making ponds instead of terraria, so I used raised bed garden idea to full advantage- no flooding, good drainage, warmer temps from earth and warmer sooner and later in the year. Ground temps outside terraria here first week of march were 55-65 degrees f, on hill were 95-110 in sun. Bearded dragons were breeding second week of march when day temps outside terraria were in the 60s. In spite of rainy days a few days per week and chances of rain nearly every day, most of my lizards have bred and produced eggs (though i am still getting the hang of collecting these- I had to remove nearly all dirt twice so far from jewelled lacerta terraria to find the eggs! Bearded dragon eggs are so much easier to find!
The walls of these cages extend 1' into the ground at the shallowest (downhill) point and then they are built level like a house- or as nearly level as I can manage (not always very level!) I riveted 1/8" wire mesh over the entire bottom after reading on a gardening forum about a member or two who dug their raised beds up after 10 years and the wire mesh to keep out the rats and moles was still fine, as I also have many voles and field mice and such that might dig in otherwise.
I made several so far. Smallest is 3'x3' and has italian wall lizards, then some 3'x6' for some small groups (1.2) of painted agamas and a group of 1.2 jewelled lacerta, and a couple 3'x9' for 1.5 groups of bearded dragons. Have had good breeding. Had to fight a poisonous millipede in one terrarium- I think we must have dug up a nest of them when moving dirt into the terrarium from another spot in the yard. Had to evacuate the terrarium and am trying to kill them all off with diatomaceous earth, which should be safe for the lizards. Any tips on ridding these pests safely would be appreciated.
Painted dragons terrarium:
a bit closer:
Closup of dragon stack:
The walls of these cages extend 1' into the ground at the shallowest (downhill) point and then they are built level like a house- or as nearly level as I can manage (not always very level!) I riveted 1/8" wire mesh over the entire bottom after reading on a gardening forum about a member or two who dug their raised beds up after 10 years and the wire mesh to keep out the rats and moles was still fine, as I also have many voles and field mice and such that might dig in otherwise.
I made several so far. Smallest is 3'x3' and has italian wall lizards, then some 3'x6' for some small groups (1.2) of painted agamas and a group of 1.2 jewelled lacerta, and a couple 3'x9' for 1.5 groups of bearded dragons. Have had good breeding. Had to fight a poisonous millipede in one terrarium- I think we must have dug up a nest of them when moving dirt into the terrarium from another spot in the yard. Had to evacuate the terrarium and am trying to kill them all off with diatomaceous earth, which should be safe for the lizards. Any tips on ridding these pests safely would be appreciated.
Painted dragons terrarium:
a bit closer:
Closup of dragon stack:
