Sticker & Bubbles new home 11/27/11

[Heatheranne]

Well, I did it! It's complete as of yesterday 11/27/11. Most of the plants have been growing for a bit.

I ran into trouble creating a waterfall the way I wanted, so I'll continue to work at it through the next few weeks. The basic model I started for it ended up a bit too big after I filled in the plants as should be for my retf's, as per some helpful guidance.

I put my babies in last night and am praying they won't stress too badly and will still eat. Wish me luck!

It's a 55 gallon tank. 48" wide x 13" front to back x 20" tall.

It has an eggcrate bottom. put together with clear zip-ties, with bilateral back corner access holes for drainage in case I need to pump out excess water. It has PVC elbows measuring 2" when laid down.


I then covered it by sewing all-weather screen over the eggcrate with clear fishing line. I then put a spare piece in water and tested the ph, etc. Slightly alkaline at 7.1-7.2, no different than the dechlorinated tap water here. Good.


I added thoroughly rinsed aquarium gravel.


Then added 100% ground, dried sphagnum peat moss.


Then added Eco Earth substrate. And started planting.


I moved the plants around a bit and filled it in. Then put GE 6500k bulbs about it, watered it every now and then and let it fill in. I added their water bowl on left, a few rocks I put together with silicone, and sadly a temporary waterfall on the right until I finish mine. There's a UTH on the left side wall. And an extra moon dark light for extra heating. If they don't like the black heat light I will switch to a infared.

And here is my first red eyed tree frog vivarium . And a couple pictures of my babies exploring. Hope you like it.

[Kristen]

Its amazing! How long did iit take you to build it?
and your frogs are gorgeous

[flybyferns]

JUST BEAUTIFUL !!! Congratulations !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How long is Stickers???
There are other photos of her where she looks -- huge!
Lynn

[Heatheranne]

Thanks so much!!!!

Well, it took about 4 months, I think, but I had two rough delays... I had emergency surgery (nothing serious) back in July and my mom, who I take care of, had a cerebral aneurysm bleed in September, with a 2 1/2 month recovery time.

Stickers is just under 2 3/4". Bubbles is 1 1/2". It took 3 months to grow him to a safe size to live with Stickers. Twiggy is still in quarantine. Likely for 2 more weeks +/-. She is doing well, but I'm trying to get her a little fuller. She's still pretty thin.

[Kristen]

I hope your mums okay
and thats pretty quick, especially with your set backs.

[Heatheranne]

Thanks . She's doing well.

Not too bad. What took the longest was waiting for the plants to grow fuller and the research. It actually only took a few days to put together the bottom.

Stickers is sleeping on her favorite leaf this morning (the only fake leaf in the viv) . Bubbles is on the front glass.

[Kristen]

I hate waiting for the plants to grow in! haha
Cute, I love it when my frogs go on the glass, lol

[Heatheranne]

Me too! It's so cute with their legs all curled in like a baby and their bellies squooshed .

[Poly]

Looks great! Just imagine the plants you could use if it was 5ft tall... hehe...

[Heatheranne]

I'm super excited to see how yours comes along!!! That's truly a fabulous idea! Any tree frog would love it!

A lot of the plants I wanted were too tall. Just think of what you could get . Will you put a water dish right on the side? I've got some ideas already .

[Poly]

I'm super excited to see how yours comes along!!! That's truly a fabulous idea! Any tree frog would love it!

A lot of the plants I wanted were too tall. Just think of what you could get . Will you put a water dish right on the side? I've got some ideas already .

Thankyou!

I was thinking of having branches criss-crossing like an X in the tank, and have water bowl that's made out of styrofoam sitting the the center of them either one that notches over the center of the X, or leave a space in the middle of the X, and shape the water bowl like a cone or a "V" so it will sit in the space left in the middle of the X, I too have got so many ideas I want to try to go into this build!

[Heatheranne]

That sounds cool!

[butcher]

Wow it makes me want to start a new build!!

[Heatheranne]

Me too! A nice "tall" one for some albino retf's !

Royce has inspired me ! Thanks, Royce!

Perhaps after the holidays for my birthday .

[kueluck]

Awesome looking frog home!! That will make for happy & healthy amphibian since that's what it's all about.

[Heatheranne]

Thanks! Bubbles was hopping all over this early morning before I left for work . Hopping plant to plant. Stickers was hiding.

[Heatheranne]

[Heatheranne]

Pics ...

[Heatheranne]

More pics ....

[Kristen]

That makes me want a red eyed tree frog so so so much, they're so cute!!