Ever Evolving Exotics

02/05/2025

This is how I built a 4x2x2’ bioactive enclosure for a California Kingsnake.

11/29/2024

Open 12-6pm today and 12-4pm tomorrow. Don’t miss our Black Friday and Small Business Saturday SALE! 🐍

11/22/2024

This is how I created an arid bioactive enclosure for a hatchling Leopard Gecko. I used a front opening ZooMed 25 gallon (30x12x16”). Add drainage layer consisting of pumice and sand. Lay down arid bioactive substrate mix (60% tropical mix & 40% excavator clay). The hardscape is flagstone corkbark and grapevine. Plants used: Haworthia, Earth Star Bromeliad, Echeveria, sansiveria, jade. Dwarf purple isopods and springtails are the clean up crew. Lighting is an Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED. Heating Arcadia 50w halogen. This will last for around 1 year before needing to upgrade to a 36x18x18” or larger enclosure.

10/30/2024

This Exo Terra measures 36x18x36”. To make the custom terrarium background lay the enclosure on it’s back. Spread GE1 silicone to create texture for the foam to adhere to. Wait for the silicone to dry before foaming. Vigorously shake the can of Great Stuff Pond and Stone foam. Add foam to the entire background. Lay down corkbark and finish foaming. While the foam is still wet and expanding lightly sprinkle dried spagnum moss followed by completely dry coco fiber. After adding a thick layer use a glove and gently tap the fiber into the foam. Add more substrate to any exposed foam. Leave it to dry overnight. In the morning lift up the enclosure and tap off the excess. Now it’s time to build from the ground up. Add the drainage layer, substrate mesh barrier, and bioactive substrate. Arrange the hardscape made from cork and manzanita. Plant your favorite tropical plants. Add isopods and springtails topped with leaf litter. Let everything grow for a month before adding the skinks.

10/13/2024

11 years at Ever Evolving Exotics. Thank you to everyone who has helped make my dream a reality!

09/21/2024

22nd Annual Tucson Reptile & Amphibian show. Only two more weeks to wait. Stop by our booth! Go to https://tucsonreptileshow.com for more info.

08/28/2024

05/03/2024

This is how I created a custom terrarium background. Lay the enclosure down on it’s back. Add GE1 silicone to create texture for the foam to adhere to. Wait for the silicone to dry before foaming. Vigorously shake the can of Great Stuff Pond and Stone foam. Add foam to the entire background. Lay down corkbark and finish foaming. While the foam is still wet and expanding sprinkle down dried spagnum moss followed by dried coco fiber. After adding a thick layer use a glove and gently tap the fiber into the foam. Leave it to dry overnight. In the morning lift up the enclosure tap off the excess and enjoy.

04/05/2024

I created this 16 gallon biOrb for a client awhile back. I finally got around to editing the video of my process.

03/29/2024

This is how I built a small temporary grow out paludarium for a baby Budgett’s Frog. A tiny pump, sponges, substrate, and plants act as a filter to keep the water quality in check. These frogs are incredibly goofy and a joy to observe.

03/08/2024

Aquascape a Fluval Flex 9 gallon freshwater aquarium with me. Fluval BioStratum was used for substrate. Mopani hardscape wood. Plants include crypts, anubius, java fern, peacock moss, subwassertang, hydrocoytle japan, various stem plants, and salvina floaters. This was a commissioned build for a client and was given a month to grow and cycle before sending home. Like and subscribe for more content like this.

01/26/2024

Final results at the end. 18x18x24” bioactive build for Dart Frogs. Check out my past videos for more detail on how I created the background using Great Stuff Pond & Stone foam. Begin by adding the drainage layer, hydroballs/charcoal. Lay down substrate drainage mesh. Build up the bioactive substrate so it’s deeper in the back than the front. Hardscape materials are cork bark and manzanita. Plants include: peacock moss, marcgravia, philodendron miccans, episcia, oak leaf fig, pepperomias, kangaroo fern, neoregelia bromeliads, and others. Clean up crew consists of dwarf white isopods and temperate springtails. Top it off with oak and magnolia leaf litter. Let it grow and establish for a month before adding frogs.