Custom planted vivs, anyone interested?

[mhbird]

I've made a few of these now, some of you may have seen my crestie one I built first. Just wondering if theres much interest on here for them?

Can be built to specification, anything you like including built in waterfalls, streams, ponds, foggers etc. I've just built a planted naturalistic desert viv for a Leo too which came out really nicely.

I'm not looking to earn that much money off of these, the parts and materials are pricey once you start adding stuff in!

I can built these in under a week easy, and if needs be can drive it too you if petrol costs are covered!

Have a look at this ebay auction if you're interested...
Luxury Planted Vivarium (Jungle) on eBay, also, Reptiles, Pet Supplies, Home Garden (end time 31-May-09 13:48:04 BST)

[GothGirl]

What plants do you use in the leopard gecko ones?

How would I maintain it?

[scalez]

expensive!
lol
im looking for an exo terra viv at the moment, but can't afford to pay that for one with a few plants. xD
it looks real good though, someone will buy it xD

[mhbird]

Originally Posted by GothGirl

What plants do you use in the leopard gecko ones?

How would I maintain it?

I've used tillandia bromeliads in the desert viv, often called airplants for their ability to grow without having to root into anything. The desert viv is semi-arid. Its got loads of tillandsias and moss, but I'm allowing the moss to dry out almost completely. I just have to mist it all once a week for it to look pretty . And as for cleaning, the water (it has a small cliffside leading to water, with 2 cardinal minnows and 2 red clawed crabs in) can be siphoned out if it needs changing, but just topping the water level up and treating it stops it from stagnating. And droppings are easily found and removed. I'll get some nice photos of it soon, still havent got around to that!

[Dan27]

That's amazing!
Do you have any pictures of your leo set-up?
(Ignore that ^ .. just read your previous post!)

I'll remember you for when I (hopefully) get myself a crestie!

[ukgeckos]

I think price may be an issue
Custom natural vivs you see for sale are usually established over a year and vivs roughly 3by2by2 foot ones are a similar price to your starting bid and dare i say it, a lot nicer.
I think you should really look into naturalistic vivs and let them establish for long periods before stepping into the big money ones
If I were to buy I would want something like this http://www.poison-frogs.nl/images/vivarium0410.jpg and would then think about paying £250 +

If you have been to Hamm you would have seen the stunning examples of vivs over there and the prices to compare (bit different now due to exchange rate)

[GlasgowGecko]

My initial reaction was 'Wow, that is expensive', and on face value, without thinking about the components involved, it does seem to be too much. However I guess as the OP says, the components can make it expensive before he goes to work. So I guess my question is, What components go into making one/ come with it? For example do you get the UV light unit...

They do look good though!

Andy

[mhbird]

Originally Posted by ukgeckos

I think price may be an issue
Custom natural vivs you see for sale are usually established over a year and vivs roughly 3by2by2 foot ones are a similar price to your starting bid and dare i say it, a lot nicer.
I think you should really look into naturalistic vivs and let them establish for long periods before stepping into the big money ones
If I were to buy I would want something like this http://www.poison-frogs.nl/images/vivarium0410.jpg and would then think about paying £250 +

If you have been to Hamm you would have seen the stunning examples of vivs over there and the prices to compare (bit different now due to exchange rate)

Good luck even buying half of the plants in there for £250! The one I have pictured cost over £200 in materials/plants/viv. I have looked into it a lot, and you'll struggle to have someone make you such a tank by next week for anywhere near that price. I dont wan't to be churning these out anyways, it's a hobby.

I can sell Leo setups in 30x12x18 tanks for about £150-200 anddd can make basic (no water features) arboreal ones for the same.

[mhbird]

Originally Posted by GlasgowGecko

My initial reaction was 'Wow, that is expensive', and on face value, without thinking about the components involved, it does seem to be too much. However I guess as the OP says, the components can make it expensive before he goes to work. So I guess my question is, What components go into making one/ come with it? For example do you get the UV light unit...

They do look good though!

Andy

I haven't worked it all out properly yet I'm just wondering if theres much interest in buying ready built planted vivs. I plan on making some basic templates so I can make landscaped planted vivs really cheaply. Would essentially look the same as the one on ebay except have no water features - because it was the fogger, pump, filters and the materials/time that went into making the false bottom and plumbing section which pushed the cost up.