How to build a background

[eric048]

I have a dart frog that I want to make a vivarium for, how do build a custom background I've Seen people on YouTube use styrofoam stuff too make it how do u do that

[Surrealasm]

One method is found in this sticky http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...struction.html

In addition to that, I'm sure there are some how-to's on that viarium forum I linked you to in the welcome area.

Finally, I'm going to be experiementing with the process in the near future, so I can get back to you with how well those projects worked out.

[eric048]

I'm thinking of making a 20tall or 29g tank into a vivarium I'm not sure yet, but keep me posted

[thadmy]

The first tank I ever did was a vertical conversion on a 29 gallon for some tree frogs. I used styrofoam boards that I sprayed GS (Great Stuff) onto and then let it dry. After it dried I cut cliffs and stuff into for the frogs to hide in and on. After that I covered the GS foam with GE 100% Silicon, you want the stuff that is for outdoors and for windows and doors. DON'T get the stuff that has antimold stuff in it (i.e. bathroom and kitchen) I REPEAT DON'T use the stuff with anti mold. As I was putting the silicon on the GS I covered the silicon with a mixture of coconut husk and plantation soil.

There are TONS of ways to do it but for darts you'll want to make a big log or branch your center piece and then GS around that so the frogs have a way to climb up the wall.

Easiest way to do that is silicon the log to the glass or even just use the GS to hold it as long as the bottom of the log touches the ground so it has some support on the bottom.

Thad

[DonLisk]

There are many articles with pictures here on the forum and usually listed as Construction Journal or Build.

Josh's Frogs - Largest online herps feeders and reptile supplies store has some videos on this topic also.

[eric048]

The first tank I ever did was a vertical conversion on a 29 gallon for some tree frogs. I used styrofoam boards that I sprayed GS (Great Stuff) onto and then let it dry. After it dried I cut cliffs and stuff into for the frogs to hide in and on. After that I covered the GS foam with GE 100% Silicon, you want the stuff that is for outdoors and for windows and doors. DON'T get the stuff that has antimold stuff in it (i.e. bathroom and kitchen) I REPEAT DON'T use the stuff with anti mold. As I was putting the silicon on the GS I covered the silicon with a mixture of coconut husk and plantation soil.


There are TONS of ways to do it but for darts you'll want to make a big log or branch your center piece and then GS around that so the frogs have a way to climb up the wall.

Easiest way to do that is silicon the log to the glass or even just use the GS to hold it as long as the bottom of the log touches the ground so it has some support on the bottom.

Thad

How did you mic the soil, what brands and all that, how do you clean it/keep it the glass clear, can you walk me through it

[thadmy]

What I did was I took a bucket and mixed the cocohusk and the plantation soil in it (I used exo-terra) What I did was I waited for the GS to dry so that it wouldn't move about 2 days, from there I turned the tank on its side and only did one side at a time. I put the silicon on and immediately applied the "dirt" I covered that whole side and let it dry for about 8 hours. I then used a thin paint brush to brush off the excess dirt which I then vacuumed up with a shop vac. Then I put the tank on its other side and did the same thing to that side.

For the bottom of the tank I placed an inch or two of hydroballs I think they are also called LECA all they are is clay balls. Above that I placed a piece of mosquito screen to keep the substrate out of the water. On top the screen I placed 2-3 inches of sphagnum moss to help soak up some of the water to keep water on the plants roots. On the moss I then placed 3-4 inches of dirt so that I could plant plants. Since you'll want to "seed" your tank with springtails you may want to make the dirt layer a little thicker but don't go nuts. On top the dirt place large tree leaves, the larger the better since they will take longer to decompose (I used Oak leaves).

Here this kid shows how to do it step by step in like 6 movies.
JesseAKASlick's Channel - YouTube

All I did to find this was search "how to make a fake background for frogs" in google and it popped up

Hope this helps.

Again I set it up for Tree frogs so I didn't do much in the bottom of the tank since they won't spend much time there. For that you'll need to talk to someone with darts or search here in the construction tab there are TONS of posts that follow people through builds.

I would recommend watching ANYTHING by Grimm since he makes KILLER tanks for all kinds of frogs

Good luck and post pictures.

[eric048]

thanks and will do, it will mostly likely be a spring break or a summer build, being in college I don't have the time to build one just now.

[thadmy]

I mean I had mine built in about a week would have been sooner but my first attempt at a vertical glass lid, failed miserably so I had to do it all over again haha

[thadmy]

If you want an idea look at my clown tree frog album, it shows the GS on the walls, then what it looked like after I covered it with the soil mixture and then I have pictures of it planted and then after a month of growing.

[eric048]

The dart passed away yesterday thanks for your help but it's not gonna happen now