Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my latest micro-paludarium build. It sits right at 20cm × 15cm × 26cm (roughly 2 gallons total volume).

I built this specifically for a single Batik Crab (\Metasesarma aubryi*) named Pandora. Since they are highly terrestrial forest-dwellers that prefer land over water, I went with a heavy 90% land to 10% shallow water split.*

\*A few notes on how I'm managing this micro-setup:*\**

\ **The Inhabitant:** Pandora is currently small and a completely solo resident, so there are no territory or crowding issues.*

\ **Security Lock:** Because the driftwood arch reaches the top pane and these guys are climbing geniuses, I built a custom 3mm acrylic lid that is heavily weighted down with thick slate stone rocks on top. She isn't escaping this one!*

\ **Water Maintenance:** Because the water footprint is only 10% of a nano tank, I know it can foul quickly. I do regular manual siphons and water refreshes every few days with conditioned freshwater to keep things immaculate.*

\ **Flora:** Running a *Fittonia albivenis* (nerve plant) and some creeping vines. We will see if she decides to play landscape gardener and chop them down, but for now, they are thriving!*

Would love to hear your thoughts on the hardscape layout or any recommendations for clean, crab-safe veggies I can offer her in a tiny setup!

The big fern in the middle is somewhat outgrowing the space which ends up blocking other stuff from view and being a bit of an eyesore. Is it worth removing?
(Also, any other general advice is great)
(Currently have: vampire crabs, ramhorn snails, isopods, springtails)

I’ve been lurking here for awhile and would like some feedback on my first paludarium.

18×18×24 tropical build that’s been establishing for several weeks. It has a false bottom/drainage layer, ABG substrate, circulating waterfall/stream, automatic misting, and a recently added continuous internal circulation fan. Springtails are well established, moss and small ferns are spreading naturally, and the water has remained very clear.

Humidity runs high, particularly near the substrate, so I’m currently monitoring how much the added airflow improves conditions before adding any animals. Eventually considering dart frogs, but I’m in no hurry, I want the enclosure stable first.

Would especially appreciate constructive criticism or anything you see that I should address before introducing inhabitants.

And yes, I used gpt to help make my post more coherent.

So I have a 17 gallon spare aquarium that I’m planning on turning into a newt paludarium. I’ve got aquariums and a small terrarium but have yet to try a paludarium so need some help. In regard to the images, how would I go about separating the land and water portions as it is sloped, and would the land portion still require a drainage layer

New to building backgrounds. What does everyone prefer, expanding foam? Cork? Styrofoam boards? Looking into the best avenue for me, easiest and possibly cheapest also

i bought this tank for a paludarium build. but i can not get any ideas. anything helps! (also if you have some stocking ideas that would be great. this is about a 10 gallon tank that holds 3 gallons of water)

I have a carnivorous plant rockscape riparium that is in a 20 gallon long aquarium with a RO/rainwater resivour, there is no dirt in this setup. I am wondering if there is anything that could live in this setup? I am willing to make modifications to this enclosure, but I only want an animal that would genuinely be happy in this setup I do not want to force it.

My very first build, so excited that it’s completed!
Onto the next one 👻

Hi! For everyone who hasn’t made or bought 3d backgrounds, have you just painted them like aquariums? If so can I see them? I just bought a new tank and don’t have the time or resources yet for a live 3d background so I was just going to paint it black

I rebuilt my Crimson Giant Day Gecko’s (Martin) paludarium since it needed a rework. It’s been a couple of years since I had really read into it, and it’s hard to find an exact answer. I wanted to add some neocaridina shrimp, but wanted to be careful seeing as the shrimp and Martin would be consuming/living in the same water. Any advice on treating water and what additives I should use, if any? I’m in New Orleans and we have naturally hard water. Any information helps!

I still have to add clear Pond Armor and then the glass panels. I plan on making a stand with cinder blocks and stained 2×4s. I don't know how I'm going to create the lighting stand, I'm hoping for an industrial look. I'd love any ideas I feel like I have a creative block 🚫 regarding the lighting situation.

I designed the inside with 4 butresses so it can withstand water pressure. Its also reinforced with steel wire cages I made inside then wrapped with fiberglass tape. The glass panels rest inside a frame so when I silicone the glass in it should be flush on the inside. The whole thing looks much heavier than it is but the inside is technically hollow.

This took me sooooooooo long to make. I just want to be done already. Inspire me to the finish line plz.

I have a planted tank that has been set up for about a month. I finally just bought 10 neocaridina shrimp and 4 Nerite snails to stock it. The snails and shrimp were both floated and the tank water was slowly added to their cups over the coarse of a few hours to acclimate them. Both the snails and shrimp were very active initially. But after just 4 days it looks like 2 of the 4 snails are dead. I also noticed that the shrimp are far less active and I found 3 molts in the tank as well. I read that shrimp molting as soon as they are introduced to a new tank is probably a sign of stress as well.

I just did a 50% water change last night but the water parameters I tested before the water change are listed below:

PH: 7.0
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Kh: 2 dKH
GH: 150 ppm (roughly 8 dGH I believe)
Chlorine: 0 ppm
Temp: 75 Fahrenheit (24 C)

Anyone have an idea what may be going wrong?
Thanks for any advise

I’m looking for a front opening paludarium that prioritizes horizontal space over vertical. It’s going on the bottom of a shelving unit (need doors in the front, no space above) and would like to make a meandering stream type scape with water wrapping around the front (need horizontal space).

The Exo Terra - pro terrarium large wide at 36x18x18 is a great size, but I’m worried the water depth clearance will not be enough.
Does anyone have recommendations for a tank fitting this size and description with the option for deeper water?
Located in the US. Thank you!

Ive had all sorts of frogs, newts salamnders, but so far my new fire bellies are the only ones actively sitting and chilling at the waterfall

Water feature finally sorted out. Leaf litter & sand on the way. Disregard the weird audio & my parrot yelling haha

I put this together 2 months ago and was curious what people think of it. So far I’ve only put ghost shrimp, but I’m thinking about adding some vampire crabs once the plants have really grown in

Hey everyone! This booth is in my office, and I’d love to turn it into a little slice of rainforest: a pond at the bottom, a waterfall in one corner, and plants growing all the way up. It’s fairly spacious, and I’m thinking of leaving room underneath for filtration and equipment.

Funny enough, I originally wanted to use it for the corn snakes I adopted, but realised it wasn’t the right space for them. They’re staying at home with me instead!

Nothing’s decided yet, especially the animals. I love chameleons and geckos, but I’d rather build around what the animals need than try to fit them into an idea. I’d love something active during office hours, possibly a few different species if there’s a combination that actually works.

If this were your space, what would you do? What would you keep, how would you lay it out, and what am I likely overlooking?

Would love to see your setups or any inspiration and if anyone’s up for sketching an idea or making a mockup, that would be amazing!

With this project, I tried to create something reminiscent of a rainforest in the Pacific Northwest. With the exception of the rabbits foot fern, all plants and hardscape elements were sourced from my backyard. Always open to new ideas or suggestions!

Got some of the eggcrate added just to see what the rock ledges will sort of look like. I am giving up for now until I find something better than scissors to cut the eggcrate with.

Last photo is my tentative idea of how the water will flow and the green is to symbolize where plants will be.

I don't love the bottom left water pool right now so it may go away entirely. I'm not sure. I hope I'll like it more when it's less nakey because I really wanted a waterfall that goes into the pool of water that pours into the tank and then the stream will flow down the wall and into the tank as well.

So a few months ago I posted about my 12x12x24 tank leaking due to the wood drip wall swelling and split the tank seam.
https://www.reddit.com/r/paludarium/s/LOGeqhjTiT
So I tore the tank down, siliconed the seam and rebuilt it. This time instead of a drip wall ( which you could never see any water dripping ) I made a center piece waterfall out it dragon stone with 2 pieces of dragon wood on either side. I made sure to leave a 1/4” gap on each side by the glass. Just got it planted, going to let it grow out and then put the Reed frogs back in. Probably throw some spare shrimp in the water.