Fire Belly Toad Setup Suggestions/Help

[Hellsrage]

Well, looks like I'll be getting some FBT's in the near future and as such I need to setup my 20 gallon tank for them. Unfortunately I have no experience making something for a semi-aquatic herp, I figure I'll have 4-6 inches of water for sure but I don't know how I'll go about the land, I do have a few ideas.

• I could do a 1/3 ratio of land to water by using a dividing wall and using some sort of substrate.

(While the idea above seems good, I feel like I'm using too much space just for dirt.)

• I could forgo having any dividing wall and just build land with foam and grout that would be put slightly above the water with a lower ledge dipping into the water 1/2"-1" for easy access back to land.

(I like this idea a little better, I'm just unsure if it's okay for FBT's to be on grout?)

Those are the best ideas I've got, the second one leaves a lot of room for creativity. Either way I do plan on having a few aquatic plants in the tank and maybe I could cover the grout with a type of moss?


Enclosure ideas aside, I could use some help figuring out all of what I'll need to get it up and running.

• I know I'll need a filter for the water, anyone got some good recommendations?
• I'll need tube for routing water, the care sheet on here states that they dislike strong flowing water, perhaps I'll build in a channel on top of a cave ect. for it to run back into the pond.
• Something to treat the water.
• Gravel or some other stone for the bottom of the tank. (Lava rock?)
• Egg crates to support the foam.
• Foam (Home Depot sells large 4'-8' insulation foam would that be safe?)
• Grout and some sort of sealant. (Water based polyurethane?)

If I missed anything important please let me know. I'll try making some sort of layout in Photoshop when I have time, thank you!

[maxQ]

This is how I have done mine, with this in mind everyone does it different and everyone thinks that they are doing it the right way. In the end its what makes your Frogs and you happy. Of all my Frogs and Toad enclosures, my FBT's are my favorite and I love my set up. Mine is very low maintenance.

I have had this tank for a very very long time and my FBTs are healthy and happy.

I originally started with Cocco Fiber and honestly, I grew tired of changing soil so I changed to aquatic and never looked back and wont do soil again.

I have 5 FBT's In a 20 Gallon Long filled 1/2 with water. I have no false bottom, I have small river rock on the bottom. One corner I have a waterfall with a built- in changeable filter. I have 100% all live vegetation and tons of shale, rock caves and other nooks for them to hide in. There is also plenty of flat dry area for them to sit. In the middle is floating cork half round for my guys to float on. I have floating moss balls for them to hold on too.

Other than partial water changes once month, twice a month in winter months , this tank runs itself.

Contrary to popular vote, their water does not need to be crystal clear, frogs are used to living in murky water.

[Hellsrage]

Great setup Gary!

I really like what you have done, I think I too will forgo dirt and the likes. What kinda rock is that on the left side that is layered? Do you have any suggestions on a good way of going about filtering the water? What sorts of plants do you have in there, did you find any of them difficult to grow and last what type of lighting do you use for the plants? Thanks.

[maxQ]

The rock is shale that I got at my local pet store, my water is filtered by way of a waterfall in the back right corner (purchased at any PETCO, Petsmart or local pet stores) which has a changeable charcoal filer inside. I got the plants at a local nursery, I don't know the names. I have a fluorescent tube light on top and as you can see, my plants are flourishing.

I also have various rock hides and caves stacked across the whole back, tons of hiding places are important, thy like that.

[Hellsrage]

Alright thanks for the info, I'll have to check around locally for stuff.

[Tongue Flicker]

@cody: wahaha finally you've decided upon something

@gary: your plants are photos. They're nice since they can be submerged in water and survive on low light and the variegated one looks like either aspidistra lustra (cast-iron plant) or dracaena fragrans/marginata haha