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Thread: First vivarium

  1. #1

    Default First vivarium

    Today I'm building my first vivarium, using the medium size Exo-Terra habitat (18x18x24), for my dumpies. I bought a submersible pump and hose so I can have a water area. I'm using hydroballs at the bottom.

    Tips for keeping the water clean? My dumpies like making a mess.

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  3. #2
    Founder John's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    You could set up a proper substrate on top of mesh which in turn is on top of your hydroballs, and then colonise it with tropical woodlice and springtails, and then plant it. That would certainly keep your maintenance to a minimum. And where are the photos?
    Founder of Frogforum.net (2008) and Caudata.org (2001)

  4. #3

    Default Re: First vivarium

    Putting it together
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  5. #4

    Default Re: First vivarium

    The final product.
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  6. #5

    Default Re: First vivarium

    My dumpies.
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  7. #6
    100+ Post Member Tom Highum's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Where did you get the pillow moss and the plants also could the small rocks you have possibly be swallowed?

  8. #7

    Default Re: First vivarium

    At a reptile expo. They're from saurian.

    And the rocks are too big for my dumpies. That's why I avoided small gravel.

  9. #8
    100+ Post Member Tom Highum's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Ok I couldn't tell from the photos. The tank is great. Where did you get the leaves and is the water stagnant or is there a filter under there? John how would you go about colonizing it with tropical woodlice and springtails? Where do you get tropical woodlice?

    Sorry for all the questions. I am always just insanely curious.

  10. #9

    Default Re: First vivarium

    The leaves are from the same place.

    There's a pump in the part of the substrate where the hydroballs are. There's a hose hidden under the natural color rocks.

    Saurian had pre-built ones at the reptile expo I went to, and I used that for inspiration, though I didn't copy it exact.

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    Founder John's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    You need a soil or coco fibre substrate to have springtails or woodlice. Michael Shrom sells them and Jen Macke on Caudata.org has the woodlice.
    Founder of Frogforum.net (2008) and Caudata.org (2001)

  12. #11
    100+ Post Member Tom Highum's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    1beataway: is it a filter or a pump?

    John: Do they need any feeding? Will frogs like dart frogs eat them (will they destroy the population)?

  13. #12

    Default Re: First vivarium

    Submersible pump/powerhead.

  14. #13

    Default Re: First vivarium

    I need more hiding areas. One of my frogs has picked a place behind a plant as his favorite spot, and it works, but the other has decided on a spot to burrow in, right next to a plant that does not have much of a root system yet.

    I was worried because in the middle of the night, I could hear rocks moving. But everything seems great. Just one leaf in the water. And the water level is quite a big less than what it was.

  15. #14
    Founder John's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Highum View Post
    John: Do they need any feeding? Will frogs like dart frogs eat them (will they destroy the population)?
    Frog waste will sustain them. Dartfrogs will definitely eat them, though they have a harder time eating the woodlice due to size issues.
    Founder of Frogforum.net (2008) and Caudata.org (2001)

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    100+ Post Member Tom Highum's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Ok john would it work to have a 5.5g tank with soil and extra plants and put the woodlice and springtails in there? Would they live with me dumping in some of the feces from spot cleaning my extra tanks?

  17. #16

    Default Re: First vivarium

    I'm excited. My dumpies move around so much more in their new bigger tank. Especially Luigi. He's become a lot more acrobatic. He likes to jump onto the vine in the middle, and kind of swing on it with his back legs hanging down. But he also keeps falling down from the top of the tank. No wonder he has a damaged bone. He's going to end up killing himself from being silly.

  18. #17
    Founder John's Avatar
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Highum View Post
    Ok john would it work to have a 5.5g tank with soil and extra plants and put the woodlice and springtails in there? Would they live with me dumping in some of the feces from spot cleaning my extra tanks?
    I wouldn't feed them frog waste on purpose. The Woodlice will eat fish flakes and the springtails will eat baking yeast. The woodlice will value something to hide under.
    Founder of Frogforum.net (2008) and Caudata.org (2001)

  19. #18
    bobgildolf
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Hi, sorry if this seems silly but John could you please explain to me how springtails and woodlice would be beneficial. Would the WTFs not just eat them? Could they breed to the extent of infestation? Also the exo-terra tank in question has low vents, could they escape?

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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Springtails will break down the waste produced by the frogs. They are too small for most treefrogs to bother eating them. They are not a pest animal so don't worry about the taking over your home - they just want to live in the terrarium substrate.
    Founder of Frogforum.net (2008) and Caudata.org (2001)

  21. #20
    Wyomingite
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    Default Re: First vivarium

    Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
    Springtails will break down the waste produced by the frogs. They are too small for most treefrogs to bother eating them. They are not a pest animal so don't worry about the taking over your home - they just want to live in the terrarium substrate.
    I'm assumin' they will colonize the soil in house plants, so how far from the vivarium would a houseplant have to be to prevent this? The nearest houseplant is in the next room from where I'll be puttin' any critters.

    My wife'll have my head on a silver platter if I knowingly bring "vermin" into the house and they get into her houseplants...

    WYite

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