Soothing Shrimp Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 I've decided to take a risk and try Vampire crabs. (Geosesarma) I've been wanting to do a vivarium for several months now,but got sidetracked on coral, etc. It's just how my mind works. I research something for an extremely long time, and then get sidetracked. LOL So, I have to figure out a layout. I'm going to use a tenner I already have and set it up like a vivarium. To buy a viv tank is just too much cost for me right now. I'm going to try to do this on the cheap with parts I have laying around. Geosesarma are notorious for just up and dying, so I want to have everything in place before I even buy them. I know almost nothing about them thus far. LOL But, I knew almost nothing about shrimp when I first ventured into them as well. I'm sure it will be a huge learning curve. I've read they'll eat flakes, but I'd be afraid of mold on the moist ground. Pellets from a dish would be nice, I think? Mealworms/crickets, etc can be done- but I'm not one to keep buying live food. Perhaps some shrimp culls in the water? Who knows? I found some moss growing on the ground on the walk taking my twins to school. Thinking about harvesting some of that for land... mayphly, Wygglz, Vinn and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Anyone have any experience making styrofoam carved backgrounds? I can do the carving from extruded pink/blue foam. What is non toxic/light to coat it with? Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Okay, found out I can use latex dryloc for masonry. Basically a thick latex paint. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGardenofEder Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Soothing I can help you out more on Facebook but I'd go with clay instead of Styrofoam I had one background and I hated it. Love my clay backgrounds though. Soothing Shrimp and Louie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 I just don't want it to be heavy... Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 A few drops of marine iodine in the water will help molting easier. Interesting... Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jomes Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 This might sound kinda silly, but concrete on metal lath can make fairly light and durable backgrounds. Plus it's very cheap! I've used it with amphibians and fish long term without issues. Just recently been adding some shrimp culls to a tank with 3 concrete sides and they look to be doing good. If you have an artistic side, it might be worth a try. All off the design elements in this frog tank are concrete. I plan on experimenting more with shrimp and concrete in the future. svetilda, mayphly, ShrimpDIVA69 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Wow Homes, that looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandovalsbco Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Can't wait to see this when its done. Post pictures along the way soothing! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 I will. It won't be as epic as Jomes does. heh Mine is just a tenner. I have been thinking of adding a volcano though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 These are the type I'm planning on getting. They seem the easiest to breed. Red Devil Crabs Maurice, Sandovalsbco, ShrimpDIVA69 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 These are the type I'm planning on getting. They seem the easiest to breed. Red Devil Crabs Oh those are nice . For me crabs are to violent, to territorial but some like those are certainly very pretty. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skrimps Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I've seen videos on youtube where they carved backgrounds out of styrofoam and coated it with painted on concrete. heres a link to the vid. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Thank you skrimps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 OMG those eyes! Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Been searching much of the morning for ideas on vivariums for my set up. The red devil crabs are about as big as shrimp, but they hide constantly. I know they'll burrow, so need a "soil" to mimic that. OKay. I also am planning on very low in height plants to be able to see them more, with some objects to break up line of sight from each other. I like this digital set up someone created, but I want to add water for some wild neo shrimp as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I wonder how aquatic moss would look across the ground. I plan on a mister, so the moss would constantly be wet. I'll post a thread on emersed plants. Maybe people can help me with some ideas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Dwarf baby tears grow well emersed but if they burrow they may up root them. I was looking at terrarium mosses the other day, maybe those would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Many i have seen say they have to be kept cool. I originally thought of using moss collected from a neighbor's yard, but don't want any bug nasties, and I don't know how it will do in higher heat. 75-80F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 So HC or baby tears was suggested, but I really like the shaggy ground cover look. I'm wondering if aquatic moss grown emersed could have this kind of look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jledermann Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 I carved a foam background out and painted it with quick crete, it was really hard to get the ph of the water to go down since theres so much lime in quick crete and eventually the epoxy i used gave out and the background came off Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 I've been reading the same, jled. I wonder if hair algae can be grown emersed? It would give that shaggy look... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 Have you looked into dwarf hair grass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 If the grass fell over, it would be good. But the grass when emersed grows upward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 Oh! Lookie! Supposedly this is dwarf hairgrass! http://www.substratesource.com/?p=item&a=149&c=p&i=176 This is much more what I am looking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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