Tank edge, ideas?

[OZIRIS]

I'd like to set up a new tank soon and I prefer a open one as I could solve a problem, to create an edge on the tank to prevent scapes.

Has anyone tried to make a border in methacrylate for example ? something similar to the pic below. What angle would be suitable to avoid escape? Anyone knows?

Thanks

 

[SludgeMunkey]

I made one a while back out of some acrylic sheeting. I experimented and found that a 45 degree downward angle was best...or so I thought. It works extremely well for completely aquatic species like Ambystoma mexicanum and what used to be called Pachytriton labiatus.

I made each of the four panels about 100mm wide and joined them at a mitered angle in each corner. This was an insane amount of work! All the measuring and calculating proved to be more math than I care to do in my free time.

I also tried a thermal method, using a heat gun and a form a I built to bend and bulge an acrylic frame I cut out. This was much easier to fabricate as it was all one sheet of plastic with a rectangular hole cut in the center.

As it turns out, moist sticky caudates that want to escape will. Even aquatic species like various Triturus figured out how to get around the barriers! (And much to my wife's surprise, into the laundy room !) After fishing little kaiseri and cynops out of the laundry room in my home, I dumped the entire concept and went back to a more traditional screen top.

By no means am I stating this project is not worth a try. Personally, I had nothing but trouble and a few really, really close calls as a result.

 

[OZIRIS]

Interesting, but It seems that at the end animals will find a way to escape :S , and I want it for cynops also and i need 100% of security if i'm not at home.

I was thinking that 45º angle downward was the best also, but these little animals are like geckos! hehe I'll keep thinking about this. Thanks Johnny.

Any other idea?

 

[Azhael]

I have a horizontal rim in a couple of my tanks (including my H.orientalis tank) and i haven´t had problems. They seem completely incapable of scaping. Maybe the fact that the rim is made of wood instead of plastic, has some importance, as it doesn´t offer as much stickiness to a wet newt.
I find it quite surprising that a Triturus could ignore a rim, Johnny, they are so big and bulky, mine can´t even stick to the glass enough to support their weight.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

They were juvenile Triturus that were escaping. (Roughly 50mm SVL)

Truthfully, I doubt if they would even bother now.

With Cynops, they are tied for first place with kaiseri as escape artists in my opinion.

 

[Azhael]

Ah, juveniles i can see scaping. Cynops and Hypselotriton juveniles are really good at climbing glass....really, really good (they may be clumsy but they stick like glue). However the adults seem remarkably uninterested. I think a suficiently broad rim is more than enough, but you are making me paranoid now xD

 

[SludgeMunkey]

I have learned that the best defense in rearing/housing caudates is paranoia.

 

[OZIRIS]

I have a horizontal rim in a couple of my tanks (including my H.orientalis tank) and i haven´t had problems. They seem completely incapable of scaping. Maybe the fact that the rim is made of wood instead of plastic, has some importance, as it doesn´t offer as much stickiness to a wet newt.
I find it quite surprising that a Triturus could ignore a rim, Johnny, they are so big and bulky, mine can´t even stick to the glass enough to support their weight.

Then you have something like this pic but made in wood

Sound nice this type of rim, for sure I will put one in the next tank ...

Thankss

 

[peter5930]

I saw a video on Youtube where someone had used a food-grade silicone oil & PTFE spray to prevent flightless drosophilla from climbing up the sides of a plastic tub, and it looked like it was very effective; the flies would climb up until they reached the border of the treated area and would immediately loose their grip and fall back down.

I have tanks with 5cm glass overhangs that are there to reinforce them around the rim, and I've bought some food-grade silicone oil & PTFE dry lubricant spray to treat the overhangs with. I'll do some toxicity tests with invertebrates before I let my caudates near it, but I have high hopes for the stuff.