10 Gallon Viv

[Lil' Swimz$]

Salutations,

I set up a viv awhile ago.. about in September, it was simple and ugly and I had two green tree frogs and one got out and the other died. It was an awful tank, feel bad for the frogs.

Since then I've been researching and researching on better ways to keep frogs. I've now got a (sort of) drainage layer made of gravel. The ground is very hilly. I feel like I'm getting off to a good start.

Here's a picture of the first attempt:

And now:

I'm planning on getting either a one or two bumble bee toads. http://www.frogforum.net/toad-care-arti ... eding.html
Params: Temp: 70F (kinda low) Humidity: 88% (high)
{Bumble bee toads prefer temps 65-75 [I'm going for 70 at night and 75 during day] and humidity 60%-80% [I'm going for 75%]
Lid:The lid is screen, but I have used saran wrap to seal off most, but I left a 4"x6" section just screen, otherwise the humidity gets up to Soon I'll be getting the under tank heater, and also fruit flies to start a good culture. Right now the viv is about 70F and 88%. If need be I'll cut off more to get it below 80% (but above 60%) I really like my digital hygrometer/thermometer. It shows both temp and humdity and also records the highest and lowest reading for both for every 24 hours, so in the morning I can see how cold it got and how dry it got. Its pretty cool.

Lighting: Three fixtures, the original fish tank light, its 15w, and really ugly, cause the light is purple! The desk lamp is 27 watts and is really white, and the basking fixture is just a 13 CFL daylight. They all kinda even out into a nice shade. Is that too much light? It doesn't look it. 10 hours on/ 14 hours off

Substrate: The very poor drainage layer I threw together is just fish gravel. Seachem Flourite, to be exact. It works okay. The "hill" gets actually dry and I have to spray it down every other day or so. The substrate is milled peat's moss and clay balls mixed in (heh, I didn't want they were for when I first got them, so I just mixed them in. Derr :looser:) I also threw in some moss from outside. I have no idea what it is. I think its Spaghnum, I'm sure. It looks like it, only tiny. Its growing in some areas, while in others it grew great but got squished when I was messing stuff around Near the shore of the pond is java moss which came from my planted shrimp breeder tank, and its doing pretty good terrestrial.

Plants: Trimmings from my fig bonsai, which actually grew roots! The white plant I have no idea, its from my mom's garden, and is also growing roots. There's lucky bamboo in there also, not just the big poles in the back, but the really light green plants too. They growing really good actually. There's two baby venus fly traps in there, seedlings from my first fly trap bloom a couple years back. Also doing great. Those are really close to the water so they get lots of water.

Pond: The pond I like. I dug it out lower then the rim, and lower the the top of the gravel layer. The edge where the substrate and pond is steep, they never touch. I tried to cover up as much as possible of exposed gravel with moss, cause I don't want the toads to choke on them. There's even a pier made from rocks jutting out.

Um ya that's about it. I can't wait for the toads, but I know not to rush, what I did last time that was the cause the failure.

EDIT: Ugh if you can't see the whole pic, which I can't... Just right click the image and click "Copy Image Location" and then paste that into the web address.

[Dadof4]

Try using something like the Eco Coconut substrate. It holds tons of moisture and is what I use for keeping my Gekos and my Blood Python in a high humidity. That small gap could be enough for humidity to escape but it is necessary for air flow. What kind of tree frogs? Most don't require more than a dish of water as they don't spend much time in it.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Good idea

[Lil' Swimz$]

OOoooo I just read something on using an airpump to circulate the water in the dish will increase the humidity. I'd like to try that, or get a bigger dish and bury it under a bit, so that I can put this pump I have for those mini office fountains, I took the fountain apart and got it, so it shoot water up. I could make a water fall!!! I'll try the steam thing, then airpump, then waterfall if all else fails.

[Dadof4]

That's not a bad setup but I would try to add some leaves for cover on the logs if you can. Leave the top spot open for air flow, humidity should settle low until things heat up a little. Look in to finding one of the automatic foggers if the waterfall doesn't work.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Okay thank you much Dad. I'll get some semi dried oak leaves and layer them on the log. Do you think I should get some more branches, and maybe a small log on the ground?

[Pufferpunk]

I used to just use sphagnum moss for substrate. Held water very well.

[Ohyouknow]

My LFS just got in some red-eyed tree frogs, and some regular green tree frogs. The Red Eyes seemed SO cool, and active... More curious. Made me sad, though - they are in little plastic cups like bettas! The Red Eye was like O.o Let me OUT!... The shop keeper was setting up their habitat though, he really does his best to set up large showy habitats. I'm considering one myself, but the red eye would be $50... It might have to wait!

[jus85411]

i have never tried these. but when i worked at the pet store a co worker who was big into fish and reptiles(he actually had a fahaka back then and i remember how excited he was about it and the big tank he had) he got a red eye, had a nice set up but it died a few weeks into. he got another and same thing so he stopped trying. i feel he was knowledgeable enough to at least look up their requirements. i have never tried to learn about them so i dont know if they are just that delicate or what the deal was with the ones he tried to keep

[Dadof4]

Okay thank you much Dad. I'll get some semi dried oak leaves and layer them on the log. Do you think I should get some more branches, and maybe a small log on the ground?

I would get a log with a small space for hiding on the ground. Even though these guys are mainly arboreal they will occasionally take to hiding in moist spots for protection. For leaves, if you can find some fresh waxier looking leaves, like cottonwood, that will be a little better in there. You can also use plastic or silk plants that are terrarium safe.

[Lil' Swimz$]

I edited first post. I thought instead of starting a new thread I could salvage the one. Save some space

Let me know if you can't see all the picture. You should be able to see both sides. Nothing should be cut off except for the birds eye view, cuz the lid is in the way.

I also have shrimp living in the pond. They love sifting through the debris that falls in.