Complete Vivarium builder and maintainence guide

[Eric and Stitch]

I was wondering if any of the more experienced Vivarium builders and keepers could point out if it already exists, or put together a complete "how to for dummies" so to speak regarding how to build and then maintain a "live" vivarium/terrarium. specifically I'm looking for a guide geared for Red Eyed Tree Frogs but even a general would be great. I'm not looking for a full typed out book worthy post. I would be happy with;

"First, design your tank, then build using methods similar to these users (links to other forum posts with in depth detail suitable for a complete novice to follow or links to videos even)

Once constructed, place substrate like this (link)

Then pot these plants; for dart frogs (link) for tree frogs(link) using "x" soil mixture found (link)

once potted allow plants to grow in for x time before adding (bacteria, spring tails, other small eco-system organisms and any special notes when they may not be safe for certain species frog) allow further grow in for x time before introducing your frogs.

Your frogs are in their new home, Hooray!!!

Now keep everything healthy

Fertilize plants every x time using y

Change or filter water in enclosure with false bottom like this.......

change or clean substrate according to this......

any other live vivarium maintenance practices or links ect.

I posted before that I'm not looking for anyone to write a book, just give me all the steps and links to follow as a novice builder/keeper. I've done a lot of research already before even buying or building a custom dimension tank. There are just many little bits of wisdom that experienced builders/keepers may regard as "common knowledge" that a novice would never even fathom to look up or research until they post "my frog is sick, help" and it turns out they didn't know how to build/clean a safe Vivarium.

Potentially once this is ironed out and a good complete guide it can be turned into a "sticky?" I know I and especially my frogs would be very thankful.

[DonLisk]

I don't have anything so detailed but here are a few of my build journals
http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...se-bottom.html

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...d-journal.html



http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...cal-build.html

[Eric and Stitch]

I don't have anything so detailed but here are a few of my build journals
http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...se-bottom.html

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...d-journal.html



http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...cal-build.html

Thanks a bunch Don. Those are some impressive builds.

Even if no one person has all the information, I can put the links together in a sensible order myself once I have all of the necessary knowledge required to be a 110% complete guide.

[DonLisk]

There are plenty of discussions on just about every topic here just finding them all is the challenge :-)

There are some great discussions on Water, Lighting, Fertilizing plants, What plants to use, and more. Wish I kept a list of them all to link to :-)

[flybyferns]

I was wondering if any of the more experienced Vivarium builders and keepers could point out if it already exists, or put together a complete "how to for dummies" so to speak regarding how to build and then maintain a "live" vivarium/terrarium. specifically I'm looking for a guide geared for Red Eyed Tree Frogs but even a general would be great. I'm not looking for a full typed out book worthy post. I would be happy with;

"First, design your tank, then build using methods similar to these users (links to other forum posts with in depth detail suitable for a complete novice to follow or links to videos even)

Once constructed, place substrate like this (link)

Then pot these plants; for dart frogs (link) for tree frogs(link) using "x" soil mixture found (link)

once potted allow plants to grow in for x time before adding (bacteria, spring tails, other small eco-system organisms and any special notes when they may not be safe for certain species frog) allow further grow in for x time before introducing your frogs.

Your frogs are in their new home, Hooray!!!

Now keep everything healthy

Fertilize plants every x time using y

Change or filter water in enclosure with false bottom like this.......

change or clean substrate according to this......

any other live vivarium maintenance practices or links ect.

I posted before that I'm not looking for anyone to write a book, just give me all the steps and links to follow as a novice builder/keeper. I've done a lot of research already before even buying or building a custom dimension tank. There are just many little bits of wisdom that experienced builders/keepers may regard as "common knowledge" that a novice would never even fathom to look up or research until they post "my frog is sick, help" and it turns out they didn't know how to build/clean a safe Vivarium.

Potentially once this is ironed out and a good complete guide it can be turned into a "sticky?" I know I and especially my frogs would be very thankful.

Good Morning , ( sorry, I do not know your name ) ( Good Morning, Eric and Stitch )
The search tool here on FF works well for these things. However , I think this is a great idea...if results are specific enough.
If you decide to do this; get all the links to the treads that you think are really great onto one response here.
The easiest way to this is to open 2 browsers ( having logged on to FF first) at the same time --- then cut and paste. Just be sure to save copy your post before you hit the reply button----so you don't time out. Or ( ie) cut and paste the links into a word.docx

Depending on the information you find, it does have the potential to become a " Super search " - sticky. I'm sure you cane think of a clever name for it. All if the links will have to be reviewed, however. Once reviewed , the final decisions can be copied into what could become a sticky. I'm thinking you will want to keep it topical ( ie just build threads w/ false bottoms etc?) You could start w/ Don's 3 build threads.

You could add this as well - it has had 18,000 hits!
http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...-vivarium.html

Now you have 4. Have fun !

Lynn :buttterfly:

[Eric and Stitch]

Good Morning , ( sorry, I do not know your name ) ( Good Morning, Eric and Stitch )
The search tool here on FF works well for these things. However , I think this is a great idea...if results are specific enough.
If you decide to do this; get all the links to the treads that you think are really great onto one response here.
The easiest way to this is to open 2 browsers ( having logged on to FF first) at the same time --- then cut and paste. Just be sure to save copy your post before you hit the reply button----so you don't time out. Or ( ie) cut and paste the links into a word.docx

Depending on the information you find, it does have the potential to become a " Super search " - sticky. I'm sure you cane think of a clever name for it. All if the links will have to be reviewed, however. Once reviewed , the final decisions can be copied into what could become a sticky. I'm thinking you will want to keep it topical ( ie just build threads w/ false bottoms etc?) You could start w/ Don's 3 build threads.

You could add this as well - it has had 18,000 hits!
http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...-vivarium.html

Now you have 4. Have fun !

Lynn :buttterfly:

Thanks Lynn,
I'll keep this thread updated with what I find. the hard part for me as novice is that I dont even know what to look for. I might put something together but leave out a crucial element because I just didnt know it existed. Thats the real reason I need the experienced builders/keeps, so that I know what to include without missing crucial details. As I start my own build I will document everything and make exactly what I am looking for so future members will have it.

I have found many threads of other members documenting their builds, and videos on youtube. but what I dont see or dont know if it is important is what micro-organisms need to be introduced if at all. and what care needs to be done. ie; do I change water or just continually filter using my water feature pump? Do I change substrate ever like in an 'artificial' Terrarium or just let the water washing through act as cleaner?

Those are the big holes.

Thank you,
Tyler

[flybyferns]

Thanks Lynn,
I'll keep this thread updated with what I find. the hard part for me as novice is that I dont even know what to look for. I might put something together but leave out a crucial element because I just didnt know it existed. Thats the real reason I need the experienced builders/keeps, so that I know what to include without missing crucial details. As I start my own build I will document everything and make exactly what I am looking for so future members will have it.

I have found many threads of other members documenting their builds, and videos on youtube. but what I dont see or dont know if it is important is what micro-organisms need to be introduced if at all. and what care needs to be done. ie; do I change water or just continually filter using my water feature pump? Do I change substrate ever like in an 'artificial' Terrarium or just let the water washing through act as cleaner?

Those are the big holes.

Thank you,
Tyler

Hi Tyler,
Here are informative links to help answer some of you questions:
Amphibian Care >> Waterfalls and Drip Walls in the Terrarium
Amphibian Care >> Constructing a False Bottom
http://www.amphibiancare.com/frogs/a...intenance.html

Lynn

[Eric and Stitch]

Just updating some of what I've found lately that will help inform newbies to the live terrarium concept
http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...nt-thread.html

And for making a micro ecosystem
http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...e-remover.html

Can any of the experienced builders tell me that if I have a large tank to small population(55Gallon to 3 Red Eyes), would spring tails and other tiny things be able to keep the tank clean without much work from me?

[deranged chipmunk]

Since it is such a tall build, i would definitely recommend both springtails and isopods. The springtails will help with the waste in the substrate and the isopods will climb and help with the upper portions of the enclosure.