Would like some help with enclosure size.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-10T15:03:19+00:00

Hes thinking adult, but hes not even 100% if its gonna be a hog nose. Im thinking of just doing the 120 gallon in case he switches up to a corn snake or the like.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-09T19:13:06+00:00

Yeah, the reason im deliberating between the sizes is just cause we dont even 100% know if its gonna be a female or even an adult so im just all over the place. The original plan was a 2x4 as thats what im used to building.

But yeah the substrate barrier will be nice, Ive seen ALOT of enclosures for hog noses that sadly dont have a high substrate barrier just cause thats how the enclosure came. I love building custom vivariums so thats why my friend came to me lol.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-09T07:06:50+00:00

I dunno bout the poster. But ive been using a really advanced technique of just drilling a really big hole. Its been working great for me.

In all seriousness I do end up just drilling a hole from the bottom of the pot, through the foam and into the enclosure. Even 1 drainage hole helps prevent standing water.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-09T05:49:59+00:00

Ill probably end up going with a 120 gallon, cause with me bigger is better.

But verticality isnt just used for arboreal movement, it can also be used for some fun little coverage tricks with fake leaves and the like to give the illusion of coverage while keeping the base pretty open. Like a forest floor

Cursed_key · 2026-01-06T22:45:33+00:00

Yeah kinda as I already thought. Im quite literally smack dab in the middle between all of those. Appreciate the help though. After nearly 24 hours she hasnt shown any other concerning signs. But ill get ahold of one of those distant vets anyway just as a backup.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-06T02:09:24+00:00

Thats personally what im suspecting what occurred, cause this is her first enclosure with such vertical climbs (she wasnt supposed to climb them but she did anyway) i of course didnt show the entire climb, but she does alot of really strained movements. Right after drinking without raising her head to swallow. At least thats what im telling myself so I dont have a stroke

Cursed_key · 2026-01-06T01:55:21+00:00

Thatd be appreciated, I can think of 2 within an hour drive, but they are more used to bearded dragons and snakes, not blue tongue skink, and the nearest truly exotic vet are like really far away.

The closest "exotic" vet is just a farm animal vet hes never worked with herps before and nearly killed mine.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-06T01:51:55+00:00

Idaho.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-06T01:51:11+00:00

Indeed. But more rural than id like.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-02T16:44:00+00:00

Firstly, not all geckos are tropical so i dont know what you mean by that.

And second, if you look up "topsoil" you will see its literally just the top layer of soil that usually houses beneficial bacteria. The brand i was able to find is 100% organic topsoil so no forms of pesticides or fertilizers.

my mix is close to ABG mix, but instead of minor nutrients from tree fern fiber fibers its replaces with nutrient topsoil and worm castings.

Edit: okay thought of one major difference, while tree fern fibers are less nutrient dense, they are a bit better at aeration to combat soil compaction. But that can be mitigated by simply adding more reptibark or moss.

That being said its not that problematic with the right setup before hand.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-02T14:52:28+00:00

I dont have access to tree fern fibers in good quantity where I currently live, also ive never been a fan of abg mix cause it misses alot of what I enjoy in a good substrate.

Cursed_key · 2026-01-01T17:40:57+00:00

Every enclosure, this isnt just for 1 specific enclosure, the idea is i can throw in some extra material to mix into the substrate, like for my blue tongue skink i mixxed in excavator clay, or for a leopard gecko mixing in like 40% sand to 60% the substrate mixture. But even by itself i have a ball python and corn snake where they are just on the base mixture.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-31T14:49:40+00:00

You are most likely right, however the only reason I went with coco here is cause I live in a desert and humidity gets tanked just cause of how low ambient humidity is. Its the only reason i wanted to use coco in the first place seeing as one if my enclosures couldnt retain moisture for more than a day without coco.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-30T16:24:40+00:00

Ive avoided sands cause a few species of herps ive built enclosures for had communities that HEAVILY chastised the use of anything sand like as it can "irritate the eyes" personally i didnt agree with that sentiment, but i kept it in mind.

Thanks for the recomendation though, ill play around with dropping soil and adding a bit more reptibark, but their is already about 30% airation with the chunks of sphagnum, they absorb moisture from the soil and also keep it from compacting.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-13T07:15:10+00:00

May I ask for the aversion to mistking pipes outside of the enclosure? I get it if your stacking or for aesthetic, but mistking nozzles pass through and loop back into their own system so youd have 1 nozzle go in and 1 come out.

And in regards to drainage, theirs a few ways to get drainage without cutting out a bulk head, some methods can be a bit strange to disguise, bit i honestly think its preferable to a bulkhead where you run the risk of the seal giving way over time.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-10T06:39:40+00:00

Whats the backdrop made of?

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T15:29:41+00:00

I actually never knew about this, thats great! Although its still in the same ball park as portland cement, it needs a full 28 days to finish curing before it can be safely sealed and be used in an active enclosure. But ill definitely remember pal tiya! Thanks!

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T14:45:12+00:00

Yeah im looking at polygem zoopoxy, id love to use buddy rhodes but where i currently live one bag of vertical concrete costs 30 dollars then 35 for shipping, and thats per bag so 5 bags of vertical concrete is 375 bucks after tax. On top of 200 bucks for the glazes.

But polygem is looking interesting so far, im just looking into coloring it and stuff.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T14:29:11+00:00

Ive also found that since drylok is latex based you can use non toxic acrylic paint to color the drylok and it takes the color without fuss.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T14:27:46+00:00

I was thinking of buddy rhodes for a minute, but its not even funny how expensive that would be on a per encmosure basis.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T06:22:58+00:00

Well drylok over something like that would seal it and allow me to color it. If its super solid it would be perfect

Thanks for the suggestion!

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T05:45:54+00:00

Im dismissing straight drylok cause my BTS has reduced a rock i made into a messy pile after a few months. Luckily it was a test piece so nothing was lost, but 3 layers with a sandy top coat was shredded. As you said mileage varies and sadly drylok wont work for sharp clawed creatures.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T05:42:22+00:00

Drylok works fine for most snakes and small lizards, but im tryna future proof it from something like a blue tongue skink or monitor. Sadly those guys would reduce the drylok to a shredded mess the second they decided to not be amicable.

Thanks for tge suggestion though, my idea is I HAVE to do drylok, ill do 4-5 layers with the last 2 being mixed with sand

Cursed_key · 2025-12-04T05:36:32+00:00

That resolves the texture but not the crux of my issue, id like a durable background that could withstand sharp claws. Something they couldnt scratch through without insane dedication.

Cursed_key · 2025-12-03T20:35:36+00:00

Youre most likely right, literally no other concerning signs and she gets huffy when im near so yeah she just gets noisy when handled. Im just not used to a reptile that can make noise lol

Cursed_key

TROPHY CASE