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This article was co-authored by Brian Blake. Brian Blake is an Aquarium Expert and the Owner of Boodleshire Aquatics based in the Kansas City Metro Area. With over 20 years of experience, Brian is an expert in freshwater planted aquariums, saltwater reef aquariums, and aquarium installation, care, and maintenance. Brian holds a Bachelor's degree in Ichthyology and Aquatic Environmental Science from Emporia State University.
This article has been viewed 238,308 times.
Create an educational fish tank that is stimulating for lizards and amphibians without a messy and unhealthy dirt substrate. More surface area for running can be created.
Steps
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Draw a removable straight line all the way around the tank on the outside glass 1/3rd of the way from the top. (2/3rds of tank will be water, 1/3rd is lizard habitat.)Advertisement
Set the tank on its side with the top facing you and glue pieces of slate on the inside of tank on your line. Each piece must be level with each other and spaced so that a lizard can hop or swim from one to another, but not too close (so the lizard can get out of the water). The slate will act as a beach.
Wait for the sealant to dry, then glue more slates on the remaining 3 sides of tank.[2]
After the glue is dry, use more sealant to strengthen the bond between glass and rock.
When the glue dries, and the tank is set up for fish, fill tank up to the main slates.
Cycle the tank. This step is important to the health of the fish.[3]
Buy community tropical fish (small ones that won't drag lizards under) and lizards that are comfortable with water and won't eat your fish.
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Expert Q&A
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- QuestionCan I repurpose an old TV to make an aquarium?
Brian BlakeBrian Blake is an Aquarium Expert and the Owner of Boodleshire Aquatics based in the Kansas City Metro Area. With over 20 years of experience, Brian is an expert in freshwater planted aquariums, saltwater reef aquariums, and aquarium installation, care, and maintenance. Brian holds a Bachelor's degree in Ichthyology and Aquatic Environmental Science from Emporia State University.
Aquarium ExpertTo repurpose old TVs into aquariums, begin by clearing the TV interior and removing glass components. Utilize the TV frame to house the aquarium, ensuring a seamless fit within the frame. Verify that the TV's support can handle the weight, factoring in freshwater weight, tank weight, and gravel weight. Ensure sufficient space inside for easy equipment access during maintenance. Anticipate future needs by incorporating features like a top hole with hinges for convenient access. Prioritize both aesthetics and functionality, meticulously checking for leaks and sealing any visible holes to maintain structural integrity. This comprehensive approach ensures the creation of a visually appealing and functional DIY tank for your aquatic pets. - QuestionCan long tailed lizards swim?
Community AnswerYes. They fold in their legs and swim like a snake by twisting their body in a ribbon like motion. - QuestionCan guppies and green anoles live together?
Community AnswerYes, but get full grown guppies, as the anole will eat the small ones. Make the tank half land and half water.
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Tips
- A cork bark floating platform (often used for turtles) can compensate for some of the water level issues. It will rise and fall with the water level, assuring your lizard of a haul-out point even if the water level falls (like while you're on vacation).[4]Thanks
- Watch new lizards to see if they are adept at swimming back to the slate when they fall in the water, though most lizards are expert swimmers and buoyant. Jackson chameleons are not good for this.Thanks
- Glue coarse gravel around the tips of the slate so the lizards have extra gripping power.Thanks
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Warnings
- Lizard waste can carry disease.Thanks
- Some lizards will not thrive in this environment, as they need room to run around, catch their prey, and not have the constant threat of falling into the water in their sleep. Make sure you get the right type of lizard- an aquatic one that would be best suited for this- or get a turtle/amphibian.Thanks
- If slates are too close, they can create a 'pinch-point', where tails can get stuck. However, some species of lizard can live without their tail.Thanks
- It would be a really good idea for the lizard keeper to thoroughly investigate the needs of the particular lizard they are wanting to get before doing anything like this.Thanks
- Keep an eye on all new lizards.Thanks
- It would be a good idea to read up on "Species Mixing Disasters" before putting lizards with fish in such a way. It might not be an issue in a 70 gallon (265.0 L) or larger aquarium with very large land area.Thanks
- A secure top is a must.Thanks
- Make sure reptile heater does not fall in water.Thanks
- This setup can cause stress to lizards. Most lizards do not hang onto things very tightly. Some lizards need an arid desert environment with about 20% humidity.Thanks
- The fish tank heater must be the submersible type.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Fish tank, the larger the better.
- 2 large tubes of aquarium glue.
- 20 pieces of slate or more (depends on tank size), each piece having a flat edge about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) thick.
- Tank hood with UV (special for reptiles) fluorescent bulb.
- Gravel, thermometer, underwater heater and filter (not requiring a full tank).
- Knowledge of lizards, amphibians and fish.
- Reptile heater.
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about creating habitats, check out our in-depth interview with Brian Blake.
References
About This Article
Aquarium Expert
This article was co-authored by Brian Blake. Brian Blake is an Aquarium Expert and the Owner of Boodleshire Aquatics based in the Kansas City Metro Area. With over 20 years of experience, Brian is an expert in freshwater planted aquariums, saltwater reef aquariums, and aquarium installation, care, and maintenance. Brian holds a Bachelor's degree in Ichthyology and Aquatic Environmental Science from Emporia State University. This article has been viewed 238,308 times.
Co-authors: 39
Updated: April 23, 2024
Views: 238,308
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 238,308 times.
Reader Success Stories
"I'm getting a chameleon for the first time in my life. Known about the slates in about how much water to put in the tank even though they're good swimmers I wanted to make sure it's taken care of my animals are my babies are very important to me. "..." more
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