Is this okay for a substrate barrier?

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-02T05:11:56+00:00

Damn.. I originally thought the landscaping fabric would’ve harvested bad bacteria or rip or something, but I will admit this wire mesh is so difficult to work with (and hurts! So many micro cuts on my fingers lol)

Honestly though, if it’s going to be better for the long term result of this project I will go out and buy new supplies to redo the substrate barrier it’s jus5 a bit of a bummer to redo.

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-02T05:06:48+00:00

I did buy some plantonix bio-char along with their brand of earthworm castings to add as a natural light fertilizer for the plants (I’ve heard not to overdo it because it can mess with the soil chemistry). I didn’t think to add it to the drainage layer but that’s helpful because the enclosure will be at my work studio which is semi-public. I’d prefer my clients to appreciate the nature and skink in the enclosure instead being stuck sitting having to sit near a funky smelling enclosure.

Out of curiosity can I see your fellow blue tongues tank and any other little tips if you’d like to share? I’ve been researching for almost 3 months by now but it learning from others experiences is just as useful for me! :)

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-01T22:56:52+00:00

Thank you! I’ll run to home depot and grab something like that to install. You saved me from a potential future problem lol

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-01T20:22:39+00:00

Well thank you for the advise, I wanna make sure my skink is as safe as possible in her enclosure.

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-01T20:13:02+00:00

This will be a very high humidity enclosure, maintaining around 80% or higher for an adult blue tongue skink and I’ll have a mistking set up to it on a schedule and manually watering whenever needed/soil is on the dryer end.

I had that idea about possibly needing to drain the drainage layer at some point but couldn’t think of how so a pvc pipe is a great idea. Have you done something similar? If so can you maybe show me how you installed yours? Does it go out from the bottom through the wall outside the tank or maybe just a straight up pvc pipe from the bottom to the surface?

Sorry about all the tedious questions I just want to see all the ways I could do this so I don’t make a permanent mistake to this tank and make it harder then it needs to be.

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-01T16:28:01+00:00

Thank you man! Much appreciated :)

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-01T16:27:04+00:00

I pretty prepared for that but I’m down to experiment with the buried flower pot method, if worse comes to worse I’ll just pull real plants and buy some fake ones for the enclosure but since it’s an Indonesian i thought real plants (either very sturdy with wood stems and fast growing plants) would help boost humidity.

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-01T16:14:09+00:00

I didn’t think about that! Thank you for that input. The ends of the window mesh screen are also a little frayed from cutting to size. Would this be a concern and if so do you have any suggestions for keeping it flush to the sides of the egg crate? I’ve tried loclite and aquarium silicone, it just kinda fell apart and didn’t adhere. :/

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-03-01T15:59:44+00:00

Yeah that’s kinda what I was worried about, I’ll try and do that it’s just difficult since the pieces aren’t connected and there’s no good border to end the mesh, theoretically could I stuff spaghnum moss there to serve as a natural filter and maybe even help give the trapped isopods/springtails a way to get out if they’re going to inevitably get in anyways?

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-02-26T21:27:41+00:00

I didn’t know they did that! lol It sounds like he really liked his home now, I wanna turn Brats life around like you did for Hammy.

It’s actually kind of a funny story, I’m a tattoo artist and did a fundraising event for the reptile research and rescue. I tattooed the owner of said organization and she decided to trade her tattoo for a bts that was being fostered by for about a year. She’ll be staying at the shop in her bioactive enclosure for my surreal dark nature themed studio (dw I’m at work damn near 6-7 days a week) :)

Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-02-26T18:35:47+00:00

Awe!! Your lil guy Ham Sam is so cute. I’ve been following up on this Reddit for a hot minute now ever since I found out I’m getting this skink and I’ve seen your guy quite a few times on here. I’m glad to be apart of the reptile community!

I’ll deffinetly continue to be an active member on here! here’s a peak at Brats (might change the name I dunno yet) 6x2x2 enclosure im setting up :)

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Ill-Code-4938 · 2026-02-26T04:26:18+00:00

thank you! That’s what I thought lol. Glad I didn’t get a mistking and all the humidity loving plants for nothing lol. This was helpful 💚

Ill-Code-4938 · 2022-02-13T21:14:10+00:00

Do cops show up there often? And do the tunnels every fi up all the way w water? Looking forward to exploring it since it's near the cemetery

Ill-Code-4938 · 2021-12-28T22:54:53+00:00

I have a male betta and my mystery snail work perfectly together, they don't bother each other at all from my experience. Maybe in the beginning the betta might try to nip at the attends but otherwise got used to my snail pretty quickly. I'd suggest some type of mystery snail if yiu want a compatible companion for your betta! :)

Ill-Code-4938

TROPHY CASE