Thoughts on Mesh Enclosure?

[coffeebutt]

Just curious what everyone's thoughts were on mesh enclosures...I found this really nice custom made viv for sale but i'm not sure about the mesh if that will be an issue for the heat in there. During winter it gets p cold at my place in NJ but every other time of the year its above 70' ( i hate to be cold).

The post says it DOES come with plexiglass sides....BUT another issue is that i've been researching bioactive vivs (lets not start wars) and not sure about how the bottom will work? I guess I could buil dsomething to sit in the bottom, but then can't all the bugs escape? :O

so yeah just looking for advice. my beardie is in a 40gal now and i would like to upgrade so not sure if I should stick with a regular old glass enclosure or if this one works nicely.

From seller; "42.5'w X 29'd X 41.5'h. Can be converted back to have a metal grate base with tray. It also has plexiglass sides that can be removed to have metal grated sides. "

 

[Taterbug]

That's a great size. A mesh cage may be harder to heat, not to say it can't be done but it won't have the insulation properties as solid walls. On the other hand mesh is good for ventilation. A radiant heat panel might be a useful heat source for that sort of thing. Or you could add walls too it. You could use the plexi-glass walls but in my experience acrylic scratches easily. You could also set something into the back wall like plywood or even plastic sheet. Your walls don't need to be glass. (I have two wood vivs and a plastic one the only disadvantage is its not clear)

For a bio-active system, you'd want to build a tray or see if you can find a plastic tub or pond or something that would fit the size. You could get clever with disguising it if its a bit too small or something. With screen you may get escaped cleaner crew, depending on what you use. The humid loving ones like springtails and isopods don't usually do so well if they make a break for it, but I've found a couple Isopods wandering about but other hardier bugs (darkling beetles, roaches) would probably give it a go. We've had a few escaped roaches fluttering about so I need to go back and seal things up better I think. :O If you have any questions about bioactive, I'd be happy to help

 

[coffeebutt]

Thanks for your advice! I thought about that too like adding wood or something on the back...I was reading a few posts I found here warning about how mesh can get their nails caught..

Thank you for the bioactive tips I absolutely LOVE your setup! I believe you are on tumblr too...? If so i am p sure I follow you.

Still debating this, it's only $50 and i'd like to upgrade her like I said. With this I might have to hold off on the bioactive though. Currently I live in an apartment and my fiance is really bad with bugs. He was kind enough to let me keep dubia roaches in a bin in our tiny place in the laundry room so I'm not sure how he'd feel finding other tiny bugs around (honestly it doesn't bother me but gotta compromise).

Guess will think it over, initially we planned on building our own enclosure when we move into a house next year so I could have it how I want it specifically but i'd love to upgrade her while we are still here :O

Well one 'stupid' question, could I do bioactive without the actual bugs for a bit? Like i'd LOVE to have the dirt and have some plants growing so she can dig around and such, but wait on the bugs. I know i'd have to clean her poo myself so that's like ok whatever.

Do you have a recomendation on the soil mix? I see a bunch of mixed advice on this, like i'd like to mix play sand with regular top soil without any fertlizer and add some leaf litter on top for her to dig around, even if she doesnt' seem to really like digging in dirt except when she's trying to sleep lol.

 

[Taterbug]

50$ isn't a bad price. You could replace the walls with a thin plywood or even melamine. The thin stuff is flimsy but only like $13-20 for a 4x8 sheet. Just a thought

You can do bioactive without inverts but you will need to spot clean, yes. The soil establishes a nitrogen cycle sort of like a fish tank but the insects are needed to break the big wastes down. The soil bacteria should be fine to digest the remaining liquids.

My husband is a sweetheart about the bugs, he returns them home if he finds them. He did draw a line when a male dubia launched himself from the ceiling one night. Can't say I blame him. Springtails and tropical dwarf isopods probably won't do much escaping, the ones that get loose for me are the big local ones. It would give you a feel for if you like it too, for sure. I find having plants helps me keep better care of the soil since they die if I don't water it. I will say, plants need a lot of light. Even with all the lights I have (in part because my enclosure is so tall) I need extra lights for my plants. Pepper doesn't really dig much, I've heard females maybe like to dig more.

I use a mix that's 50/50 sand/topsoil and add in a brick or two of coco husk (eco earth or whatnot) the soil/sand alone (especially the store stuff) comes out sort of.. grey and lifeless IMO. I don't have a good mix ratio to recommend after that. I mostly am still experimenting. The write up on the bioactive Facebook page is good and so is this one http://www.beardeddragonforum.com/threads/bioactive-soil-as-a-substrate-choice.11152/

I am on tumblr

 

[SukiLove]

He did draw a line when a male dubia launched himself from the ceiling one night. Can't say I blame him.

OMG. What I would pay to have seen his reaction to that! :lol: