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Post by glittersniffer on Jan 15, 2010 15:56:06 GMT
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Dusk
Achatina tincta
In ur viv stealin ur snailets
Posts: 665 
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Post by Dusk on Jan 15, 2010 17:34:15 GMT
Those sort of vivariums aren't really suitable for humid environments - I don't think the electrical socket would be sealed and safe to use, and the mdf wood will rot pretty quickly. If you're going to invest in a snailhouse, they need to be more water resistant  Glass or plastic, really. |
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Post by glittersniffer on Jan 15, 2010 18:24:44 GMT
 I already have a large plastic box. I really don't like keeping them in that. I was thinking of coating it in that Polyurethane varnish-safe for snails. Though the vivexotic ones come in oak, walnut tobacco and beech which will probably be a "look" coating over the top. Could that not make it waterproof ? Those really not going to be suitable enough? I keep seeing pictures on the pet snails forum with wooden vivs.. I'll have a little look for some glass ones, I just find them far less attractive and i wanted to buy one soon Also fish tanks are usually local pick up or otherwise expensive as hell, i just don't have the money. Thank you for the reply! Any suggestions on waterproofing something? |
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Post by crossless on Jan 15, 2010 18:49:13 GMT
Every terrarium is not suitable for snails even not then when it has some on coating. Some of wood qualities can't be coated with any seal they just don't stay on wood surface when it dries. Then some wood break really easily. It's really important to see is terrarium ok for desert animals or high humidity. I think best would be buy used glass tank if you are not expert in building and where you an use which kind of wood. Nother good and cheap light weight tank for snails is duna, you can get them in really big sizes and they look really nice. On those links all of them where for reptiles that don't need humidity. So I think you will find some lovely glass terrarium from there, some used ones are really cheap. I'm getting wood terrarium (Bottom is going to be glass so i can find egg by looking from outside where they are, front is going to be glass too and some of ceiling) , dad builds it so I don't know anything about building, but he has decades of experience so I know I'm getting proper terraium some day. Hope you find terrarium of your dreams. And I would not use any electronic inside snails tank, they could burn or something I will always keep every lamp and stuff outside tank, 'cos snails are so stubid so they will climb everywhere.  |
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Dusk
Achatina tincta
In ur viv stealin ur snailets
Posts: 665
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Post by Dusk on Jan 15, 2010 18:52:40 GMT
There are plastic and glass vivs around if you don't mind the industrial look I'm pretty sure the wood-effect substance vivs are made of is very much like the wood-effect substance my student-living computer desk is made of... one small scratch and moisture will make it though that layer (be it snail misting or, in my case, too many spilled cups of tea). Even if that stood up,I don't think the ends are sealed. Does anyone here have this sort of viv for other pets? Maybe they can confirm their makeup. The varnish might work - I wouldn't want my snails nibbling on it, though, so it's up to you. Sorry I can't be of more help |
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Post by glittersniffer on Jan 15, 2010 19:09:23 GMT
No no you're helping Thanks. I just find a lot of the glass ones really hideous. Fish tanks can look nice in a rectangular shape. I've been having a little look, and i guess not a very detailed search, but all the glass ones and ones suitable for humid temperatues are tiny 30 by 30 by 30- and costing all i have. I only have £45 right now. I guess i could go to £60. Theres so much i need to buy right now Im a horder and my room is crammed with cushions, throws, globes dangling elephants, clothes and loads of junk. I'll just try to sell a bunch off. Thanks i'll look at the ones you suggested crossless. I was going toa ask my dads help with building too. He's had an insane amount of jobs from ice cream man, casino roller and such he's been doing building and handy man and gardening for YEARS so i have all the materials. I just don't think i can make it all totally on my own. That varnish is supposed to be snail friendly... I might just stick with finding a fish tank or i saw this in anotehr post. www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-22057-reptile-vivarium-tough-plastic-easy-clean-vivarium-24.aspx Maybe that will be okay, Though out of stock. |
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Dusk
Achatina tincta
In ur viv stealin ur snailets
Posts: 665
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Post by Dusk on Jan 15, 2010 19:19:25 GMT
No no you're helping Thanks. I just find a lot of the glass ones really hideous. Fish tanks can look nice in a rectangular shape. Fish tanks come in all sorts of shapes, but they do tend to start costing more. I have a 30l biOrb that I modified and now it houses my fulica, I love it They lay eggs right up against the acrylic. You can try looking for a second-hand one - sometimes you get lucky. (I don't advise these if you plan to heat the tank - unless you feed a heat cable in through the airline duct and coil it in the base.) This may be unwelcome advice, but if money's tight, I'd keep the snails in their plastic tub until you have saved up a little more and can buy something exactly right. I'd also wonder about what crossless said - will the varnish stick to the viv properly? Your father might be able to offer handyman-perspective advice on that. I have lots of those I get on well with them and the snails seem to like the opaque walls more than they liked all-glass. |
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Post by glittersniffer on Jan 15, 2010 19:31:49 GMT
I guess i will wait, the box is just a not so clear plastic and doesnt keep the heat in either. Its large but it isnt too high so the plants i'll have can't grow that tall and the plastic/silk ones are all bent over.
I'll put an add in the paper soon too because ebay don't seem to be selling any local, i've seen some perfect ones.. but they are MILLLESS away.
I've emailed that company with the plaper about the plastic tank. How is that with a heat mat and containing heat?
Again, thanks for all the help. I'll give up on wooden and hunt down a nice glass one... sounds liek the heat matt will be a problem with fish tanks though :/
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danikat
Achatina achatina
Posts: 85
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Post by danikat on Jan 15, 2010 22:07:28 GMT
One thing I found worked really well is using a plant propogator. They're actually designed for keeping snails out, but it turns out they work just as well the other way. ;D Something like this: www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=20001&partNumber=368349&Trail=searchtext>PROPOGATORThey're relatively cheap (mine is big enough for 5 fulica and cost £12), the base is always deep enough for a good layer of soil, they keep moisture in but are well ventilated and the lid is easy to get off for a human but impossible for a snail. That's the problem I had with vivariums, most of them have some type of sliding door which meant if any of the snails were sat on it there was no way to open it. You can also get some which come with built in heating systems, but they're a bit more expensive. They don't look quite as nice as vivariums but still presentable I think. |
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Post by crossless on Jan 15, 2010 22:49:21 GMT
Faunas are great too and u can get them as used but I think biggest one is just 31litres so that's kind of sad 'cos they are otherwise really great some times if it gets too dry just cover some air holes. Some small indoor use "greenhouses" are cheap too and usually they are glass or plastic. |
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aerliss
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 281
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Post by aerliss on Jan 22, 2010 19:25:24 GMT
Propagators for the win! I had my fuli in one for a couple of years and my retics in another for their quarantine time and they work a treat as snail homes. You can get pretty big ones from most garden centres and they are relatively cheap. Some of them are electrical, for warming the soil, which is a bonus. No cooking of snails either, because they're designed for keeping the soil warm, not boiling the seeds. Even if you don't want to keep the snails in there forever, it'll make a very nice medium term solution while you save up for something grander. And forever after you'll have a nice quarantine tank for new additions to your snail family. ********** I was looking at the flatpack terrariums for a while as they are very cheap. You can buy a sealant specially designed for making wooden *cough*MDF*cough* enclosures totally waterproof... but I couldn't be bothered with the hassle so forked out for a nice big Exo-terra glass tank. The blurb says it is safe for pets, but they're only considering fish, amphibians and reptiles... |
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Glass or plastic, really.
I already have a large plastic box. I really don't like keeping them in that.
