Creating a paludarium: preparation and setup

[ameRio]

I've been fixated on the idea of a paludarium for a bit now. A 20-gallon long tank seems like the perfect setup, with some rocky islands in the middle for visual interest. Loaches and simple schooling fish could be a great combo – I love the thought of that. Never having attempted a paludarium before, I'm curious to know: can you keep tiny crabs in there, or is that a recipe for disaster? How do you prevent the dirt from getting into the water and causing issues? What types of plants work well in the land feature – are there any specific ones I should look into? Are there any major pitfalls I should avoid? I've got a ton of questions, and I'd really appreciate any advice from those with experience.

[matti]

I'm also in the process of setting up a paludarium, albeit a larger one - my 60L is getting a re-scape. Like you, I've never attempted this before, but I'm eager to dive in. I've found this playlist to be super helpful for inspiration and tips on creating a thriving paludarium.

[ameRio]

Paludariums are really captivating, I'm absolutely fascinated by them.

[fineman]

How about a painted turtle in a paludarium, it could come onto the land area to rest and bask.

[sageSe]

How about a painted turtle in a paludarium, it could come onto the land area to rest and bask.

I think a painted turtle might be a bit too big for a 20gal tank, they can grow up to 5-10in long, so it'd be a pretty tight squeeze. But in a larger tank, aquatic turtles can be a great addition to a paludarium, they'd have plenty of room to roam.

[bettaMagenta]

I'm considering a small setup, 10 gallons, with a screened cover for air exchange - those are pretty easy to find for that size tank. I'm thinking of a large rock, roughly half the tank's size but only half as tall, and covering it with a big piece of moss from the woods - we've got patches that are several square feet, so I could scrape off an 8-inch square chunk. Not sure if it'd keep growing on a bare, damp rock or how much dirt I'd need to leave under it. The tank would be about half full, and I'm thinking of a couple brightly colored vampire crabs, but maybe that's not enough space for more than one. I've also been brainstorming what could go in the small water area - possibly some floating plants or Java fern.

[BadgersSong]

Here are some process pics from my first paludarium attempt. A quick scroll will show you how I handled the land areas - I'm sure there are other, probably better ways.

Badger's Tea Garden was born from my love of good tea. I'm a fan of Yunnan and Darjeeling teas - similar habitats, shared fish genera. I wanted to recreate those environments in a tank.