BIAZA Newsletter | Winter 2017 | Issue 13

Photos: The Deep

Designing, building and theming an exhibit for the Lake Zacapu garter snake By Phill Robinson - Aquarist, The Deep

resemble bark or soil before being sprayed down with water and covered with plastic sheeting to maintain humidity during the curing process. Once cured it was time to colour the cement with acid stains, a difficult step due to the colours of the tree and the soil being so similar. The acid was then neutralised using a solution of bicarbonate and once dried it was painted with epoxy. With the theming finished, the 18mm thick double- glazed glass was put in place and all of the plumbing was run to and from the sump. Finally the lid was added - constructed from plastic-welded polypropylene with a mesh screen. ADA Malaya Aqua Soil was chosen for the substrate which gives the appearance of a lentic, silty looking substrate as well as being beneficial for the plants. At one end I have added Equisetus hyemale and Mentha aquatica just to provide a bit of variation to the overall colour and accentuate the theme of being a bankside. Once the lighting was in place, chosen specifically to suit the fauna and flora with the enclosure, it was time for the snakes to take centre stage.

In October 2015 a space became available for a new exhibit within our Deep Blue 1 Zone. This area features freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates from around the world, with a focus on highlighting some of the major threats leading to species decline. After careful consideration the Lake Zacapu garter snake ( Thamnophis eques insperatus ) was selected; and four months after their arrival we were thrilled to be greeted by seven neonates. Their arrival meant The Deep was the first in the UK to display this species. Lake Zacapu garter snake Until 2003 there were thought to be only three subspecies of garter snake but further analysis revealed there were in fact seven different subspecies. The rarity of some of these subspecies, particularly the Lake Zacapu garter snake, strengthened the evidence to support their display. The exhibit itself highlights the importance of taxonomy and how subspecies within an isolated community may be potentially lost before they are even discovered. Designing, building and theming The exhibit was to be a split-level system, themed around an eroded bankside of a lake. With this in mind and with limited space in which to work, I opted for an open-topped build with a marine ply shell, covered in fibreglass and wax-based epoxy (for waterproofing), and a glass front. Armed with images of banksides I managed to settle on a rough idea of the design I wanted to achieve. The main bulk of the theming was carved out of high-density polystyrene to the shape of an eroded embankment which surrounded a tree trunk and its exposed roots. After the carving stage was finished the surfaces were heat-sealed to solidify the polystyrene and prevent it from crumbling. Before adding the cement, I painted over the polystyrene with SBR (Styrene-butadiene rubber, a type of synthetic rubber) to ensure that the surface was more likely to adhere to the cement mix. With a clay-like consistency, I layered the cement on to

Photos: The Deep

For more information contact Phil.Robinson@thedeep.co.uk

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