This Is My Basement: The Ultimate Animal Room (Tour)

Last year I designed and built the new animal room. Since then, I've been slowly adding things to it to fulfill my vision of a unique space dedicated to showcasing what’s possible within nature design. It’s still a work in progress, and things will change significantly in the following year, but I’m extremely excited to share it with you all today. This is the updated look at the room and all my animals as of December 2023.

Video Chapters
00:00 Intro (The Room Today)
01:15 No Filter Guppy Ecosystem Fish Tank
03:02 Hideaway Caves Mountainscape Aquarium
04:16 African Dwarf Frog Paludarium
06:09 The Low Tech Nano Fish Aquascape
06:54 The Perfect Low Tech Aquascape
07:37 Blackwater Tetra Community Riparium
09:09 Luminous Quartz Crystal Mine Fish Tank
10:35 Vintage Refurbished Meta Frame Aquarium
11:17 Rubber Ducky Isopod Dripping Cave Vivarium
12:13 Blue Death Feigning Beetle Vivarium
13:28 Samurai Betta Botanical Aquarium
14:34 Ancient Ruins Jungle Paludarium
16:04 The Play Button Paludarium
17:21 Rainbow Shiner River Aquarium
18:03 Fishing Spider Vivarium
18:55 Behind the Scenes Quarantine Room
20:35 African Bullfrog Paludarium
22:07 Hybrid Snapping Turtle Grow-Out Paludarium
23:21 Butterfly Splitfin Biotope Aquarium
24:28 Fire-Bellied Toad Paludarium
25:38 Loggerhead Musk Botanical Paludarium
26:44 Suriname Toad Aquarium
28:35 New Caledonia Gecko Bioactive Vivarium
30:20 Blotched Kingsnake Bioactive Vivarium
31:30 The Nature Design Studio
32:18 In-Wall Bathroom Aquarium
33:06 Saltwater Coral Reef Marine Aquarium
33:57 IKEA Display Case Paludarium
34:44 Bearded Dragon Bioactive Vivarium
36:23 How I Maintain All of This
37:25 Closing Thoughts (Why I Do This)

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[SerpaDesign]

It took nearly 200 hours to script, film, and edit this tour of the new animal room. I hope that you all enjoy the updated look of it all and the animals. I'm really pleased with how it's coming together and can't wait to show you all what I have planned for 2024. Until then, enjoy this video and enjoy the holiday weekend SerpaSquad! 💚 Also, what your favorite setup/animal in the room. Let me know! 👇🏻

[RIPvizzini]

The tall ceilings, the dark walls, the magical lighting, the sound of water and pumps, the attention to details, the varied biomes. All you need are little description plaques and you have a perfect rendition of some of my favorite childhood aquarium days.

[katynosework]

I appreciate your transparency on things that go wrong. As a multi animal owner I tend to hold myself responsible for the good and the bad. But sometimes things just happen. I like how you have investigated these issues and share the knowledge. Thank you Tanner!

[DoAqua]

This is what I enjoy the most about the hobby. No rinse and repeat aquascapes, durable and functional designs that are best suited for their inhabitants.

[lxrj]

Tanner, I’ve been here from 15k subs and just want to say how amazing it is to see your success over the years. The first terrarium I built from your how to terrarium videos is still going strong. Congrats on 1.7M subs and to many more!

[reginaphalanges]

Honestly, all of the zoos I've visited can't hold a candle to Tanners animal husbandry! This animal room walk through is so inspiring, beautiful and relaxing! Thank you for bringing us along! ❤❤❤❤❤

[sravanvs]

It's amazing to see the diversity within these tanks and the fact they are all so well maintained is just a testimony to how much you respect Mother Nature. You deserve way more subs and i wish you the best for the future

[seanroach]

While it's super easy to complement your craft—you're one of the best at it—one of the most notable changes over the years is that, at least to a camera, your charisma has definitely improved like, so much so that it's worth congratulating.

[HipyoTech]

12:11 PLEASE share this in a video - I want INFINITE rubber ducky isopod content

[ietjesiobhan]

I really love how you show long-time care for your animals and continue to do the best for them and improve where necessary. So often in this hobby there is this extreme focus on adding ever more animals instead of the long-time care of the ones one already has, and it really makes me appreciate this channel. It‘s also really lovely to get an update on past builds and your animals. A perfect video to watch to cool down while visiting the family for the holidays, thanks!

[RainbowFacedCupCake]

i've been watching since you were making terrariums on a dinky plastic table and it's crazy seeing where you are now. good job tanner you've done amazing

[scrubjay]

I really appreciate what a role model you are for others in terms of respecting animal lives, not glorifying the collecting of rare animals, and making brilliant and beautiful habitats for your little creatures to have their best lives. Miniature habitats and small animals are a much more sustainable hobby for Earth and for most people's pocketbooks too. Thank you for this wonderful tour! 😊

[Chinesetakeout]

I’m always really happy to listen to people talk about their aquariums and terrariums because I can talk about mine at lengths too. It really speaks to a passion that I’m always happy to see.

[dillon]

I was a fan of this channel probably 4 or 5 years ago and eventually stumbled back upon it a year ago when trying to find ideas for scaping my turtle tanks to look as natural as possible. The amount of influence and inspiration I’ve gathered from your videos to help me with my goals cannot be understated. Thank you for everything!

[Beast_Hub]

I want to be reincarnated as one of Tanner’s animals

[PeterPan-kumf]

I love your dedication to create optimal conditions for animals, that - unfortunately - end up being accesories way too often. Most people can't imagine what it takes to make animals happy and contempt. It usually involves dialing down your ideas & wishes and underlining the needs of the animals. The last animals I kept were Malawi Cichlids, that I simply fell in love with, but it meant there were no plants in the tank. The Cichlids reproduced wildly and I had countless years with them, that I'm still very fond of. Unfortunately some day the heater broke down and the grandfather fish died, which broke my heart. The more time I spend with an animal, the more I appreciate it and sadly I can't have animals at home anymore, I get too attached to them. Your videos simply scatch a particular itch for me and allow me to get a glimpse into the life of these beautiful creatures, without having the need to keep any of them. I love your geckos, they are just so damn adorable... Have a nice holiday <3

[cfoster]

This is so relaxing. What a great talent you have, Tanner!

[goldrivers]

My day just got a lot better! The amount of work you've put in this room and these videos is baffling. You're killing it, man.

[justicegreen]

Love it. And more so, love how responsible you are. Best part was at the end when you talk about improving the conditions for your exiting animals rather than just buying new. You are single handedly inspiring a revolution in human amimal care!

[the-stove-is-on-fire]

I'm glad you take time to always emphasize that the animal's needs come first. I have been inspired by you and others when it comes to scaping, but I know myself well enough to admit I would not make a good animal keeper. However, I am the proud keeper of three small moss terrariums! They're rewarding enough to check in on every now and again without the need for any critters. I brings me joy to sit and just observe the little worlds I've created for a few minutes.