First attempt at a planted viv!

[Floof]

So I was planning on waiting to do this until I could upgrade the little lady to her awaiting 3' viv. Except I forgot I promised to let the roommate use it for her mountain horned dragon (and I'm not a big enough jerk to take that back--though I wish I were...). And then, while trying to decide how/when she WOULD be able to be upgraded, I got impatient!!

So here's what I spent yesterday evening doing. It's still under construction--have to track down some proper climbing sticks, work out lighting and, I'm sure, rearrange things a million times before I'm 100% happy with it!

The plants are from Petco. Two varieties of Dracaena and a Pothos. They ARE live; apparently some Petcos are now carrying live terrarium plants, which I think is pretty cool! They're hydroponically grown and cheaper than the chemical-laden stuff from Home Depot. So far I'm pretty happy with them... Hopefully they take root without any trouble.

The enclosure itself is a 12x12x18" Zoo Med terrarium. It won't last her very long, but at least it'll look nice until I DO upgrade her!

(Front view)

(Top view)

(Side view of substrate; the back left corner is a hill, with a PVC T-connector inside the hill as a burrow/hiding place)

Thanks for peeking!

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, I'm not a snake fan, however, you've made a pretty nice-looking habitat for him.

 

[Floof]

Thank you!

 

[Jacqui]

Looks like the snake is enjoying it.

 

[tyguy35]

Looks like the soils has fertilizer. Not sure if thatwould effect the snake or not.

 

[poison]

looking good. but did you use potting soil or top soil? potting soil has fertilizer in it that can harm the snake and top soil is just plain old dirt

 

[Floof]

The soil is the Organic Potting Soil by Miracle Gro--doesn't even have perlite in it. The little white bits are perlite that I added in myself to help with drainage. As far as I can tell, the only "fertilizer" in it is "pasteurized poultry litter"--nothing chemical in nature. Don't worry, I wouldn't grab a bag full of chemical fertilizer pellets and put my snake on it!

In any case, good top soil is nigh on impossible to find it seems like. The last half dozen bags I've tried were completely useless to plant anything in, and extremely inadequate for animals--clay-heavy, sticky, smelly, and half bark. The last bag of top soil I tried is still sitting on my porch... Even after mixing it with copious amounts of coconut coir, it was still just awful. Blech!

I'll be watching her just in case she doesn't react well to the soil for whatever reason, but I'm confident in my soil choice.

 

[poison]

you got a problem with top soil? lol jk. i like top soil i like how chunky and dark it is but ive never tried planting any thing in it i use eco earth for my frog and corn snakes cage (3 bricks for $6) and it does great with plants

 

[Floof]

Lol! Nothing against GOOD top soil... Problem is, I haven't come across a bag worth the trouble in almost 3 years! Honestly, dark and chunky isn't a big issue... I just wish it wouldn't turn to mud the moment you add a drop of water.

I might try using eco earth instead of potting soil next time around (already wanting to do another for one of the corns or a rosy!) and see how it does in comparison to the potting soil.

 

[poison]

im sure your rosy and corn will love it