New Terrarium Project: Running creek

[Happy Frog]

I'm not a big fan of water features, that's my personal preference, but I am curious as to how that stream was created. It does look good.

I'm like Carlos and will say it's best to cycle a new vivarium for at least 4 weeks. I will let mine grow in for at least six weeks. Besides letting the foliage grow, it also gives you the chance to "fine tune" the landscaping, take notes on the temperature and humidity, and save up for the frogs and other things.

I have to admit something - I have a Exo Terra 18x18x24 that houses a trio of D. Leucomela and I never sealed up the back channels on the styrofoam background. In the winter all three of them climb into the channels and only come out in the morning when they are hungry. They like to stay back in the channels till spring time and then come out into the enclosure. When they feel like hiding they'll utilize the cork tubes, leaf litter, and other parts of the vivarium. That's one thing your tank is missing, leaf litter. I see a lot of beginner's tank that don't have leaf litter. Leaf litter is very important to the frogs. Leaf litter helps grow springtails and Isopods, gives frogs a hiding place, and is used as a surface to lay eggs; my pair of D. tinctorious azureus lay a lot of their clutches on magnolia leaves and the leaves of living plants.

It's all a learning experience so if you ever decide to start another vivarium you can learn from all this and take your time and build it up The right way.

[ukfan1976]

I'm not a big fan of water features, that's my personal preference, but I am curious as to how that stream was created. It does look good.

I'm like Carlos and will say it's best to cycle a new vivarium for at least 4 weeks. I will let mine grow in for at least six weeks. Besides letting the foliage grow, it also gives you the chance to "fine tune" the landscaping, take notes on the temperature and humidity, and save up for the frogs and other things.

I have to admit something - I have a Exo Terra 18x18x24 that houses a trio of D. Leucomela and I never sealed up the back channels on the styrofoam background. In the winter all three of them climb into the channels and only come out in the morning when they are hungry. They like to stay back in the channels till spring time and then come out into the enclosure. When they feel like hiding they'll utilize the cork tubes, leaf litter, and other parts of the vivarium. That's one thing your tank is missing, leaf litter. I see a lot of beginner's tank that don't have leaf litter. Leaf litter is very important to the frogs. Leaf litter helps grow springtails and Isopods, gives frogs a hiding place, and is used as a surface to lay eggs; my pair of D. tinctorious azureus lay a lot of their clutches on magnolia leaves and the leaves of living plants.

It's all a learning experience so if you ever decide to start another vivarium you can learn from all this and take your time and build it up The right way.

Bryan

Thank you for the reply! I created the stream using a small pump i got at the pet shop for like $20, a thick garbage bag to line the channel only, and some flat rocks and coarser aquarium gravel as the substrate. I ran the tubing from the pump under the soil up to the head of the stream and covered with rock/soil. I was careful to only line the stream channel with the garbage bag so not to affect drainage of the surrounding soil in the rest of the vivarium. Its hard to tell from my video but there is a slope up from the pool to the head of the stream and I made sure the surrounding soil was above the stream so there shouldn't be any major drainage issues with the soil. Was super easy, took me about 2 hours total to set up the whole thing.

After reading the feedback I've received so far I'm super scared to add the little guy to the vivarium until it cycles. I am currently cycling a freshwater shrimp tank (gonna raise some red cherry shrimp) so I have the necessary testing supplies to check the progress of the cycle.

I like the idea of leaf litter. If it'll help the isopod colony i'll definitely add some.

I'm definitely on a learning curve here so any advice/constructive criticism is more than welcome.

[Happy Frog]

What size is your azureus? I ask because it's often advised not to put small frogs with deep water. Once my froglets get close to 3/4" I take the lid from a small Tetra Min or Repto Min container and put a little bit of water in it, maybe close to halfway, just enough to cover their back end. Little froglets are able to hop out of water in a shallow dish.

You're lucky, you are close to LLL Reptiles and Dart Frog Connection. I have bought a lot of my reptiles supples from LLL over the years and DFC's own brand name products are very good. For years I bought Indian Almond leaves from Singapore but DFC's Indian Almond leaves are very good quality. Their Live Oak and Magnolia leaves are also very good. There are some people on the other DF forums that have a problem with DFC's owners but I've had nothing but good experience with them.

Check out my azureus thread in the breeding section. I'm about ready to make my last update to it.

[Happy Frog]

Go check out the pictures on this thread on Dendroboard and go through every page. Pay close attention to the jungle floor and you'll see why leaf litter is important. You'll also notice running water going through their environment.

I always reference this thread to other people when I can remember. When I was first starting out I learned a lot from these pictures.


http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/gen...u-trip-ue.html

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