Multi-Species Paladarium

[red_wall]

dung beetles and many other insects eat poo. I'm also fairly certain that some rodents will eat their poop to get more out of their hard to digest diet. I'm sure there's more.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. The why's don't really matter but the fact is, a lot of animals do eat poo.

Opps, forgot about DUNG beetles! Gah!

Hermits really eat worm castings? Interesting.

To say that no animals eat waste was a bit harsh.

I stand corrected.

 

[ohbly]

Small insects like springtails and some isopods and millipedes will clear up the poo on land, as will worms and other soil organisms. But they would require a moist environment which many be harmful to birds respiratory systems? (I don't know much about birds)
Poo in the water could be dealt with with plant filters, which could look very attractive. You could use big tropical plants like taro, spathiphyllum and papyrus. There are lots of ways to diy these, try googling 'pond plant-filter'

 

[evelyn80]

this looks like a cool thread im subsribing to it! when can we expect pics

 

[tricksterpup]

Small insects like springtails and some isopods and millipedes will clear up the poo on land, as will worms and other soil organisms.

But would you really want that (the bugs) in your house and what about all the areas that isn't soil covered?

 

[ohbly]

thats a good point. I guess if the aim is to be able to have people be able to spend time in the room it would be best to build it like a conservatory with a tile floor that can be washed, and raised pond and planters above the floor.
birds pooing all over the leaves would still be a problem though.
If it were me I wouldnt have birds, Id have water dragons, turtles and fish.

 

[vanillaXtiffy]

I suggest knocking the room down and in it's place building a green house. It will be more cost effective in the long run because you'd use less electricity, it'd be better for the plants and animals (esp. reptiles), it'd be easier to clean, and probably more enjoyable for you because it's better than being crammed inside a room pretending you're outside. Might even be cheaper, but then again, I've got no clue how you'd go about knocking down just one room of a house.

 

[cam191919]

i cant imagine a bird that wouldnt eat those poo eating bugs...

this thread isnt about poo eaters though!

 

[ohbly]

I suggest knocking the room down and in it's place building a green house. It will be more cost effective in the long run because you'd use less electricity, it'd be better for the plants and animals (esp. reptiles), it'd be easier to clean, and probably more enjoyable for you because it's better than being crammed inside a room pretending you're outside. Might even be cheaper, but then again, I've got no clue how you'd go about knocking down just one room of a house.

these are some good points, being able to see the sky and have natural light would be so much better than ceiling and lights. Maybe you could just knock a wall/walls out and build half a greenhouse onto the room? you could use the original room for people and the greenhouse for plants and animals.

 

[calivivarium1]

^ I think that could be the most economical solution, but the OP stated that they specifically wanted to use this room.

 

[mellowvision]

I'd do butterflies instead of birds, and then you'd also be introducing a method of pollination and a food source for larger fish, while eliminating a lot of the fecal issues.