Classroom--Animals for Science and Teaching

[Jbissell1289]

Thought I would make a build thread as some have shown interest as I’ve been posting randomly. I really miss my reef tank being set up, but these guys are a nice way to fill in the gap. My son does want the tank back, so once I have more time, I will be setting it back up for him.

I started with 2 crested geckos and have recently been given a female veiled chameleon.

Stitch:

Lilo:

Pascal:

The original tank Lilo cam in after I converted it to a basic bio active before buying a larger tank for her.

The upgraded tank.

The current cage for Pascal.

 

[Jbissell1289]

The design for Pascals new bioactive. I convinced my dad to build the panels for the base out of red oak for me since he's retired and has more time than me. I will do the final assembly of the panels together once I have it as its hard to fly with a 2 foot box. It glued together using biscuits and then I will use a polyurethane varnish to seal it. then build a glass tank on the inside of the box to hold the bioactive substrates and plants. The top will just be a 2'x2'x4' reptibreeze mesh cage. I'll take pictures and post them as I go through the steps.

 

[Jbissell1289]

The mesh cage upgrade. Now to wait on everything else.

 

[Jbissell1289]

My dad got the base built. Now I have to order the glass, paint the wood with polyurethane, put self leveling foam on the base, and build the tank. Trying to decide if I want to put casters on the bottom or not.

This wood has quite the journey to go before getting back to MA. Went from Arkansas to New Mexico, and now will fly back home with me, broken down into 6 panels.

 

[Jbissell1289]

In the process of painting with polyurethane. Had to re-glue one of the pieces so the one that’s off to the side in the second 2 pics is drying from its second coat. Once it dries, I’ll be able to put it together and take it to school with my on Tuesday to test the mesh cage.

 

[Jbissell1289]

Tank is built and substrate/ a few plants are in. Still have a lot to do before she can go in. But we’re getting closer!

 

[Jbissell1289]

Getting there, got the Mistking set up and running. I need to adjust the basking branch as it’s too close to the top. Getting some braces to build cross pieces

 

[Jbissell1289]

Just An update on my up-and-coming jungle for my classroom. Moved classrooms this summer down to a 6 minute round trip minute commute from a 2.75 hour round trip commute. So I'm hoping to start up my reef maybe next summer. Patience is a virtue... But I'm up to 3 crested geckos, 1 chameleon, and 4 (soon to be 5) red eyed tree frogs (compliments of @EagleEye121) So this update is mainly the frogs. Converted the tank to a palladium with a shrimp tank in the bottom so the frogs can freely breed in their own tank when I simulate a rainy season. Here are some pics. Let me know what you

 

[brandon.l.young84]

Looks good if I could I'd recommend a better feeding station for your Cham though. I loved using something like these for mine
https://framschams.com/products/screen-feeder

Local guy too

 

[MarkSzy]

Love this, super cool! Thanks for sharing

 

[Jbissell1289]

Looks good if I could I'd recommend a better feeding station for your Cham though. I loved using something like these for mine
https://framschams.com/products/screen-feeder

Local guy too

The bottom ones are the frog tank. I have a pair of magnetic dishes for the chameleon. I can post a pic tomorrow after school. Though that does look pretty cool and a bit harder for dubias to escape from. I usually just get her attention and she comes over to the feeding station.

 

[Jbissell1289]

Looks good if I could I'd recommend a better feeding station for your Cham though. I loved using something like these for mine
https://framschams.com/products/screen-feeder

Local guy too

This is what I have in the chameleon cage, she eats all of the bugs put in the bowls within a minute or two.

 

[brandon.l.young84]

This is what I have in the chameleon cage, she eats all of the bugs put in the bowls within a minute or two.View attachment 198134

That's what I use for leachies and crested geckos. Works great. What I posted worked to fill up and not worry about bugs escaping. So could over fill in a sense for them to feed off of all day

 

[Jbissell1289]

That's what I use for leachies and crested geckos. Works great. What I posted worked to fill up and not worry about bugs escaping. So could over fill in a sense for them to feed off of all day.

I may give it a try when I get some extra classroom funds. It would be convenient for sure. Though that may be really convenient for the frogs so it’s not floating in the water.

 

[Jbissell1289]

So I guess I will update my build thread, especially now that I have a reef in the classroom thanks to @Chris.sturgis donating his 20 gallon AIO Water box to my classroom.
So I am up to:
1 Reef tank
3 Crested gecko bio active tanks
+2 Baby crested geckos
+5+ Crested gecko eggs
1 Chameleon bio active enclosure
1 Red-eyed tree frog (5 frogs) enclosure with a fish tank base with cherry shrimp

Now I really need to stop accepting donations(1 gecko, the chameleon, and the reef were all donated) Here are pictures of all set-ups currently.

 

[JPags]

I have to say you are a very cool science teacher. Can I come to your class

 

[Jbissell1289]

I have to say you are a very cool science teacher. Can I come to your class

Haha, they all serve a purpose. You're welcome to come check out the classroom if you want to make the drive, haha.

The different tanks show cycles in nature--the nitrogen cycle, life and death cycle, and the reproductive cycle. It also shows how different animals and bacteria serve a purpose in breaking down dead plant/life matter into usable nutrients for plants. Also with the reef tank, you see symbiotic relationships such as the pistol shrimp and yasha goby. All of which I teach in my science lessons. Just having real life examples helps to drive it home to the kids and helps them to remember what they learn better than just a book can.

It also helps teach the students responsibility and how to care for animals. Each week they rotate classroom jobs, one of which is helping to feed and care for the animals. Some tasks are heavily monitored. But still they are learning.

Plus I like having them. lol

 

[Duds]

Well done!!! Wish I could go back to school and be in your class haha