questions?

[flybyferns]

Prepping my first dart enclosure
It's at the glazier for drilling a drainage hole ( very scary)
36Hx18x24H exo terra - glass ready for the top/to cover screen

A temporary enclosure has been prepared and seeded w/ springtails.
Fruit fly cultures(will eventually do my own ) and pin head crickets are readily available near by all year round.
I have not purchased my frogs - yet ( it will be a group of D auratus or more likey D leucomelas )( not sure which)

2 different types of moss are establishing in separate grow-out tank
plants are - plenty around here and well established- lots of varity
equipment is ready to extent Mist King

substrate
Hydro
liner/ screen or fabric ?
ABG
sphagnum ?
leaf litter

Questions:
Is there any reason I should NOT add both isopods and sprigngtails ?
Better liner- fabric or mesh screen?
Am I overlooking anything?


Thank you, thank you, thank you
Lynn

[ToadPaparazzi]

Fruit fly cultures(will eventually do my own )

I'd recommend starting your cultures now I estimate it costs me approx. $1.50 - $2 per culture to make my own although, I think my math was off and it's probably even cheaper. You can by the culture mix or make your own. I make my own and its pretty cheap and produces well.

I have not purchased my frogs - yet ( it will be a group of D auratus or more likey D leucomelas )( not sure which)

Both good choices. Auratus tend to be a bit shy but are gorgeous and have a call that almost can't be heard... Leucs are bold and have a call that can be heard very easily.

Hydro
liner/ screen or fabric ?
ABG
sphagnum ?
leaf litter

If this is in order of how you plan on layering I would change it to this:

From top to bottom:
Leaf litter
ABG
Sphagnum moss
Fiberglass window screen
Hydro balls or egg crate (I would use egg crate on a tank that large to cut down on weight

[B][COLOR="#B22222"]Questions:
Is there any reason I should NOT add both isopods and sprigngtails ?

Definitely add both

Better liner- fabric or mesh screen?

I use fiberglass window screen

[flybyferns]

I'd recommend starting your cultures now I estimate it costs me approx. $1.50 - $2 per culture to make my own although, I think my math was off and it's probably even cheaper. You can by the culture mix or make your own. I make my own and its pretty cheap and produces well.



Both good choices. Auratus tend to be a bit shy but are gorgeous and have a call that almost can't be heard... Leucs are bold and have a call that can be heard very easily.


If this is in order of how you plan on layering I would change it to this:

From top to bottom:
Leaf litter
ABG
Sphagnum moss
Fiberglass window screen
Hydro balls or egg crate (I would use egg crate on a tank that large to cut down on weight



Definitely add both


I use fiberglass window screen

Toad
Thanks very much for your help!
I did not buy enough hydro anyway, I can't return it ( I got 6 bags) ..............maybe I'll use both?
----6 @ 2.5 lbs .....15 lbs (good buy 3.99)
I have fiber glass screen and enough egg crate, I could wrap the egg crate; then hydro.
I don't want the egg crate to show, anyway. Or, is this all over kill? ( my tendency )
I want to take the time to do it well so the ABG lasts longer.

Just wondering? Is the weight a concern for the structure of the exo or in the case I might want to move it?
It be situated on a new rack I just put up (industrial "Whalen" shelving) . Heat and lighting already in place.

The blue and black D auratus are pretty irresistible ! say 5 or 6 ( yikes $$)
The frogs are easy to sneak in though !!!!!! heheheh

Oh ! I ordered culture mix this am, have an hydei ( just hatching ) on hand to start them.
I should get my delivery on Tues or Wed.

Thanks Again

[ToadPaparazzi]

I'd recommend keeping a culture of d. melanogaster on hand; they produce much quicker than hydei do. I also recommend having a backup culture running. Again, the cost to make your own cultures is about 10-15% of the average cost of store bought flies... If you make 2 cultures of melanogasters every week, you will be spending at most 4$/week, but will always have flies. I either freeze off excess or sprinkle them in the yard for my army of jumping spiders.

There is a little bit you should know about making your own cultures though should you choose that route... The initial investment is a little high however; you're going to save ALOT! You'll probably spend around $100 dollars (equivalent cost of 10 store bought cultures) for materials to make 65-80 cultures. Here is what you'll need:

1) Cups and lids (I buy in bulk from online vendors. PM me if you want to know which one I use).

2) Media (you can buy pre-mixed if you like, I think it's cheaper to make your own). This consists of the following should you choose to make your own:
a) Potato Flakes
b) Sugar (I use pure cane granulated)
c) Brewer's Yeast (I buy from vendor)
d) Methyl Paraben (I buy from vendor)

3) Baker's Yeast (not required but many old school dart froggers swear by it)

4) Excelsior or coffee filters (I don't use filters, I have bad luck with them getting soggy plus excelsior seems to hold the media in place better.

I hope this information is useful... It's a pain in the rear to type all this on an iPhone...

-Christian

[flybyferns]

I'd recommend keeping a culture of d. melanogaster on hand; they produce much quicker than hydei do. I also recommend having a backup culture running. Again, the cost to make your own cultures is about 10-15% of the average cost of store bought flies... If you make 2 cultures of melanogasters every week, you will be spending at most 4$/week, but will always have flies. I either freeze off excess or sprinkle them in the yard for my army of jumping spiders.

There is a little bit you should know about making your own cultures though should you choose that route... The initial investment is a little high however; you're going to save ALOT! You'll probably spend around $100 dollars (equivalent cost of 10 store bought cultures) for materials to make 65-80 cultures. Here is what you'll need:

1) Cups and lids (I buy in bulk from online vendors. PM me if you want to know which one I use).

2) Media (you can buy pre-mixed if you like, I think it's cheaper to make your own). This consists of the following should you choose to make your own:
a) Potato Flakes
b) Sugar (I use pure cane granulated)
c) Brewer's Yeast (I buy from vendor)
d) Methyl Paraben (I buy from vendor)

3) Baker's Yeast (not required but many old school dart froggers swear by it)

4) Excelsior or coffee filters (I don't use filters, I have bad luck with them getting soggy plus excelsior seems to hold the media in place better.

I hope this information is useful... It's a pain in the rear to type all this on an iPhone...

-Christian

Christian,
Thanks!
It is so nice to know your name.
I will learn ( very quickly) how to do the cultures-- from scratch ! It reminds me of making bread!
In the mean time--- and to start--- I have purchased 'short cut' supplies.
Plus as mentioned, I have a place to purchase - in a pinch.
I do not want to be caught 'fruit fly less'.

Thanks again!
Lynn