My Mudskipper Paludarium

[ZoddyZod]

Thank you!

I'm no photographer. I certainly am no filmmaker.
But here's some overall footage of the tank, shot with a Nokia N8 phone.


http/www.youtube.com/user/hexisan?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/m9LNrbVcpe4

superb. Love the multi-level layout you have created. How do you supply water to each of the levels? Does it all cascade/waterfall from the top to the bottom?

 

[HX67]

superb. Love the multi-level layout you have created. How do you supply water to each of the levels? Does it all cascade/waterfall from the top to the bottom?

Thanks!

There's built-in plumming in the scape that takes water up to four places on the top. It cascades down, as you guessed, filling all pools on its way.

Thanks again. The first ever time I have edited a vid with a computer, so please be gentle with the result...

 

[PDSimon]

Good vids! What are mudskippers like to keep?

 

[HX67]

Well, thanks, I hope the story overtakes quality on them...

They are the most interesting fish to keep. Their ability to move around by using their fins like tiny feet and by jumping very deliberate and well-aimed jumps around their habitat is very amusing to watch.
And their way of establishing a social hierarchy and challenge it frequently is something I have never seen in a fish community before...

I have heard they are considered hard to keep.
I think they stress very easily, if their habitat is wrong or there are too many fish in it. Also, there are many species with differing habitat requirements.

These 'skippers are Periophthalmodon septemradiatus, a species that is found unusually far up the river estuaries in salinities ranging from 1.000 to 1.003. Makes them well-adapting to low end brackish water.
They are not the most aggressive species, either. As long as they can be out of each others sight, they seem to fare well, at least these three males and one female in a 140 gal tank do.

They eat anything I offer them and seem to use their smell to find food anywhere I put it.

Great inhabitants, IMO.

 

[mattbleasby]

I dont know what too say, Appart from THIS is amazing! Seriously that is one of the greatest setup's i have ever seen. I love it. Them videos are awesome, Alot of work went into that and im sure its paid off Well done.

 

[Ryefish]

Is there any way you can share some of the materials you used to create this? Im curious about paints etc. if you used any.

Also, we have mudskippers at my college and they are really shy and timid. Their tank only consists of wet sand and shallow water, nothing overly imaginative. They generally hide as soon as you enter the room. From your pictures im guessing yours spend time out in the open view?

 

[HX67]

I dont know what too say, Appart from THIS is amazing! Seriously that is one of the greatest setup's i have ever seen. I love it. Them videos are awesome, Alot of work went into that and im sure its paid off Well done.

Thank you!
I am enjoying the setup, for sure.

Is there any way you can share some of the materials you used to create this? Im curious about paints etc. if you used any.

Also, we have mudskippers at my college and they are really shy and timid. Their tank only consists of wet sand and shallow water, nothing overly imaginative. They generally hide as soon as you enter the room. From your pictures im guessing yours spend time out in the open view?

Sure, there's pics of the process that pretty much reveal the materials.

The basic structure is extruded polystyrene foam, pvc-pipe and expanding polyurethane foam.
On top of those there is just plaster and grout. The color is in the grout, I mix different colors together to get what I want.
I mix in some cement additive (acrylic polymer) to grout to get a stronger structure. This seals the cement partly and prevents leeching to an extent, as well as keeps the color of the grout.
No paint is used.

Yes, my skippers are out in the open alot. They do hide when I go to the tank, but come out very soon.
This might be a question of the species as well as the scape/safety of the habitat.

 

[ian]

I'm on holiday at the minute, but felt the need to say that this looks really good. Brilliant!

 

[HX67]

I'm on holiday at the minute, but felt the need to say that this looks really good. Brilliant!

Thanks!
Have a good one!

 

[HX67]

Some ambiance with a bit of mirrored sunlight:

Riccia, pellia and java moss are taking over the root system. Algae is finally (kinda) under control.

And lo and behold:

A "dead" root clump of Samolus valerandi I buried with fanfares on a peaceful spot up there has started to grow emersed growth. Happy.

 

[lljdma06]

Yay! More pictures of this tank, one of my favorites right now. Makes me want a paludarium, but I'm poor.

 

[mattbleasby]

Omg seriously this looks better every time i look at it I love how natural it looks. love the idea of water and land.

 

[HX67]

Yay! More pictures of this tank, one of my favorites right now. Makes me want a paludarium, but I'm poor.

Will do. Thanks for your kind words.
I don't think money is a problem. You can re-scape any tank to be a paludarium...

Omg seriously this looks better every time i look at it I love how natural it looks. love the idea of water and land.

Thank you!

 

[snowflake311]

Wow a true artist. Are you into sculpting that tree you made is great. I love it. Those are some lucky mudskippers. You you try some different types of moss like star moss.

 

[Verminator89]

That DIY backing is simply sublime! Definately glad i saw this before i cement mine together, going to tweak it a little! Subscribtion to this thread - yes please.

you must be chuffed with it, i would be. Lucky lil mudskippers!