my custom rocky background for vivarium

[Alex Arrigone]

hi everyone, ive just joined the forum. in my free time ive been building my own background for my vivarium. i decided to do it all to the specification i wanted before getting my new beardie.
took me about 3 weeks to make. hope you enjoy the pictures

filled the viv with expandable foam and made what will be the basking spot.

once i'd got the design i wanted in order, i went about grouting the background

ended up using about 7 3kg bags of grout, more than i thought id need.

all done so now it has some green in the tank, a nice ramp to the basking spot and a faily deep cave underneath the basking spot.
i know its not the best thing in the world and there is room for improvement but its a good start and i look forward to start designing a new tank within the next few months.

cheers

 

[Alex Arrigone]

oh and here she is ....

 

[Josh&Bowser]

Looks good I like it. I am doing the same project right now.

 

[Dizzy]

Great background he looks a cutie too. Should he be on sand at that age though? I thought a non loose substrate was better at that size

 

[Alex Arrigone]

I debated it for a long time and its very mixed opinions on sand but from the advice I've been given and from many different websites they say that a juvenile over 6 inches will be fine on sand. But everyone has a different opinion and I wouldn't like to advise someone on sand as advice

 

[Noella]

I heard different too. They can be on sand when they're over a year old. And I never thought about using the foam as a rock structure and grout. Could you tell what type to get? I've been thinking adding something else to my tank because she doesn't bask on her logs. But she does bask on a blue soft pillowcase. She never uses her hammock as a basking spot.

 

[Alex Arrigone]

i just went to a local DIY store (B&Q in UK) and bought standard expanding foam. that way you can gey it into every gap/hole and shape it as you want and it will dry in about 3 hours then you can just chip away at bits you dont want. then once i got the design i wanted i just got standard tile grout (but there are loads of diferent coloured grouts available). one thing i would change which i didnt realise until the end, its best to make the grout very liquidy that way it fills overywhere. hope this helps

 

[Noella]

Thank you. Too bad they don't make pink grout.

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

I debated it for a long time and its very mixed opinions on sand but from the advice I've been given and from many different websites they say that a juvenile over 6 inches will be fine on sand. But everyone has a different opinion and I wouldn't like to advise someone on sand as advice

I will on the other hand be happy to advise. Actually particulate substrates should never be used with any dragon under 10 inches snout tip to tail tip as dragons under that size run a higher risk of ingesting it. Doing otherwise while it is the individual's choice is taking an unnecessary risk with the health and well being of the creature they committed to care for. The few months that it takes to let one reach the widely accepted safe size is not a long period of time to wait especially when you are talking about a creature that has a possible life-span of 10+ years. I really can not understand why folks would even consider choosing to take an unnecessary risk with their dragon's health over exercising a minuscule amount of patience most times because it looks cool to have sand substrate. I am and have been for a long time a big proponent of using washed, screened children's playsand in bearded dragon enclosures but not until the appropriate and safe time in their life.
On another note nice job on the fake stone in your enclosure. It looks great!!
Enjoy!!

 

[Alex Arrigone]

Thanks for the advice. Wasn't aware it was 10 inches.

 

[Alex Arrigone]

just removed the sand from the vivarium and put paper down

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

Glad to hear, Alex. It's best for the time being for your dragon's sake It will reach that 10+ inch mark before you know it too so I would just save that sand so that when it does should you still want to use it you will already have it on hand!
Looking forward to more updates and pics as your new lil dragon begins transforming into a big strong dragon
Enjoy!