Creating a mixed aquarium is stimulating for lizards and amphibians and has the advantage of not having a dirty and unhealthy soil substrate. In addition, more space for movement can be planned.
Steps
Step 1. Get an aquarium (the bigger the better), several pieces of slate (about 12cm long and 1.5cm thick) and two large bottles of aquarium glue
Step 2. Draw an erasable straight line along the entire outer glass of the aquarium about 1/3 from the top edge (2/3 of the tank will be full of water, 1/3 will be the habitat of the lizards)
Step 3. Place the aquarium on its side with the top facing you and glue the slate pieces inside, along the line you drew
Each piece must be on the same level as the others and be a bit spaced, so that the lizards can jump or swim from one slab to another. The pieces must not be too close (so that the lizard can get out of the water). The slate will act as a "beach".
Step 4. Wait for the glue to dry, then glue the other pieces of slate to the other three sides of the aquarium
Step 5. Once the glue has dried, add more to strengthen the adhesion of the slate to the glass
Step 6. When the glue is completely dry and the aquarium is ready to house the fish, fill with water to the level of the slate
Step 7. Run the aquarium cycle
This step is important for the health of the fish.
Step 8. Purchase gregarious tropical fish (small fish, which do not drag lizards underwater) and lizards that are well adapted to water and do not eat fish
Advice
- Lizards and tropical fish appreciate a water temperature between 24 and 29.5 ° C.
- Watch the lizards to see if they can swim back to the slate slabs when they end up in the water, though most lizards are excellent swimmers. Jackson's chameleons are not suitable for this type of accommodation.
- Glue some gravel around the slate slabs so the lizards have additional grips.
- Aquarium equipment should not block the lizards from swimming. Glue the cables to the glass with a few drops of glue above the water line so as not to obstruct the passage.
- Gluing the slate plates well (have thick enough edges, clean and dry slate and glass before gluing, follow the instructions on the glue) should make them last at least 7 years; those above the water level even more. Do not touch them after gluing them, but if you really need to, apply very little pressure.
- Build an elevated bowl out of rocks or a "fence" for the worms.
- Aesthetically it is best to leave the entire front of the aquarium free of slate plates, but that leaves one side with no beach - lizards could swim against the glass or end up in a corner. Make sure that a layer of land can be reached from every corner.
- You can keep amphibians with lizards (if the species get along well!) Or in their place. They are less expensive (no reptile heating device needed) and easier to care for.
- You can also glue slate over the beaches to increase the available space. This can provide more space to run and be more stimulating. This way you can create caves, passages etc. This can be done with the aquarium running, because the slate can stay put while the glue dries, but it's best to wait for step 3.
- Create an elevated "sandbox" using sandy gravel. Put it on the opposite side of the filter, so that the sand does not get sucked in, if some of it falls into the water.
- Rinse the slate often.
- The slate slabs on the water line MUST ALL BE AT THE SAME LEVEL so that it is easy to reach them after falling into the water. However, this should not be exaggerated: if any piece is a little lower, glue another piece on top to fix it. But remember that too high a slab is not good. In that case, remove it with a razor blade and level it. But never remove the glue previously placed or the pieces of slate glued on the corners of the aquarium. Get your measurements right before you start.
- Only use filters that do not require the tub to be completely filled with water. Sponge ones are cheap and are fine, just change the water often. Other types of filters are not easy to clean and slate can prevent them from being removed.
- Lizards can grow healthy even without a reptile heating device, if they live with fish that appreciate slightly warmer water, such as Tetras etc.
- Don't skimp on glue (use ONLY aquarium glue) and smooth it well, like grout.
- Change the water more frequently than in a classic aquarium, as lizard droppings can cause disease. Water is better than other substrates, such as soil or shavings, as these rot faster, are expensive and unhealthy for the environment when changed often. The lizard mentioned earlier, which spends as much time on the surface as it spends in water (on a partially submerged piece of slate), purposely soils in water.
- This "cave" effect can also be used with traditional soil substrate, with vertically climbing lizards and amphibians.
- The water vapor will collect on the glass in the upper part of the aquarium, obscuring the view; then drill a few SMALL holes in the LID or other REMOVABLE PLASTIC pieces (if any). NEVER drill through the aquarium glass. If it is impossible to create a steam vent, a magnetic algae scraper can remove it.
- A cork bark floating platform (often used for turtles) can compensate for some water level problems. It will rise and fall with the water level, ensuring the lizards have a dry surface to stand on even if the water drops (like when you're on vacation).
- You don't have to use slate. Flat rocks or two tiles glued together are fine, but they need to be thick enough to stick one side to the aquarium and they need to have a flat surface.
- Ideally, the slate should be 1.5cm thick, but much thicker where you will be placing the heating device.
- Build a safe place to put the heating device with very thick slate plates, at least 5 cm above the water, securing it so that it does not fall into it. Use a lot of glue to fix the base. Gluing pebbles will prevent the device from moving. Otherwise you can use one with a suction cup.
- Lizards like to climb, so put a few branches in the water.
Warnings
- Some lizards may not be thrilled with this environment, as they need space to run around, catch prey, and not have the constant threat of falling into the water while they sleep. Make sure you have the right lizard species, an aquatic lizard best suited to this arrangement. Alternatively, you can get a turtle or amphibian.
- A good closure is absolutely necessary for the aquarium.
- It would be better to be aware of any disasters caused by whoever put together the wrong species before making the same mistake again. This may not be a problem in 250 liter aquariums or with large surfaces available.
- Make sure the heater does not fall into the water.
- Keep an eye out for newly arrived lizards.
- Lizard droppings can transmit disease.
- If the slates are too close together, the lizard's tails can get stuck between one and the other. However, some lizard species can survive without a tail.
- The heating device you use must be capable of being immersed in water.
- This arrangement can cause stress to the lizards. Most lizards cannot hold onto surfaces securely. Some lizards need an arid desert environment, with only 20% humidity.
- It is a good idea to find out the needs of the lizard species you intend to breed before starting a project of this kind.
