Natural Style - Dart/Mantella Tank 18x18x24

[DigitalPunk]

Thanks! Haven't had any additional escapes since the first mass exodus lol. This was by far the least expensive tank to date. I need to cover the sides and the back still but they seem to be loving it still!

I got a great deal on these vents and love them! They are very skittish and run to the back of the tank whenever I get within eye site of them lol.


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[jarteta97]

Just a question, do you prefer the natural rock bottom or egg crate when it comes to having a water feature/area?

[DigitalPunk]

I prefer the rock false bottom myself, but the egg crate cans be cut and molded to create some pretty intricate landscapes.


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[DigitalPunk]

Ugh this tank is going to be the death of me. I had only seen 2 of the vents the last couple days at feeding time. Which isn't overly odd since they seem to stay hidden all the time. Well curiosity killed the cat tonight so I did some "exploratory surgery tonight. 2 of the Vents were up in the normal night time spots down in the big broom. The other 2 are no where to be found. I looked everywhere. I took the split seed pods out and moved the tank so I could see the back side. Nothing Only the 2. So I assume they escaped... but I couldn't fine any points that they could escape from. So now I am considering tearing the whole tank apart and setting them back up in a new tank.

I will be incredibly sad if they are in fact gone and or dead. These would be the first ones I have lost so far :/

[jarteta97]

I'm sorry. I know how you feel. I once thought that I had lost my AGTF, or that it had been eaten by my other, slightly larger one. I tore up the entire tank, emptied everything of the tank except the thin layer of sub (this was in my newbie stage), and declared it lost. Three days later, I found it in the corner of the tank just sitting there. I hope that you can find them. Don't lose hope!

[DigitalPunk]

Now I am debating if I am going to setup the now empty 18x18x24 Exo Terra I have and transfer the 2 I know are still in there to it. Then I can slowly take this one apart and see if I have to missing frogs or 2 frogs who are really good at hiding.

I am a sad Paul tonight though. I was proud I hadn't lost any frogs yet. Guess it happens to us all eventually.

[jarteta97]

I mean, you gave them an amazing tank, and they look healthy. I like your idea of moving the two of them that are out. Hopefully the other two are just burrowing or hiding. I would wait overnight, and see if they show up by morning. Don't beat yourself up over it, you're an awesome caretaker

[LilyPad]

Oh no, Paul! Hopefully they are just well hidden in the stress of the change and come out soon. Ill never forget when I first transferred my greys to the hex. Woke up the next morning to find one sleeping on top of the tank! Luckily, everyone was safe and accounted for. I hope you have the same luck.

[DigitalPunk]

Thanks Jarteta and Amy. I was racking my brain trying to remember when I last saw all 4 of them. It has been at least 2 or 3 days since I saw all 4 of them. I know I saw only 2 yesterday and was a little worried, but only seeing 2 is some what normal. 3 of them usually hang out together and the 3rd ambushes springs and flies from the fern. The last 2 night I have only seen 2 on the broom and nothing else. I just went and peaked into the tank to see if I could see more now that the lights were out, but still only 2.

It will be a week or more before I could have another tank setup for them. I think I found a spot they "could" have escaped from, but there it would of been a tight squeeze and I just don't see 2 frogs following each other around like that.

[DigitalPunk]

Well I looked through the tank a bit this morning and still only see two in there. Looks like I do in fact have two missing frogs :/

[Mentat]

Sorry about the lost darts Paul ! Quite paranoid every time I open my Imi's door to mist or feed them. As Lynn has stated; they are escape artists and will fit through very small holes .

[MsBlueRose]

Oh no! I am so sorry you are missing 2 of your new babies... They may in fact be burried in the bottom somewhere. Frogs that feel out of their comfort zone will try to hide. I have 2 Grey's that are VERY good at it. About not believing that 2 frogs would follow each other around though; they will in fact do just that if they are bonded. My 2 leopard frog tadpoles used to follow each other around all the time, and when the one morphed the tad would try to beach himself just to be near the other... Sadly the one that morphed (Cookie) has passed away and poor Chip is all alone now. He seems so sad, he does not eat as much as he used to and is not nearly as active anymore. I feel so bad for him. My Grey's also follow each other around. They are all from different groups but have bonded over the last year. Especially the two boys, they prefer to stay close to each other. They sleep together, soak together, and if one gets out the other wants to be out also, lol. I love my frogs, they are really something to watch. Tree Frogs are social creatures and develop strong bonds with the members of their colonies. It would not be surprising at all to me to learn that the two you are missing followed each other out of the escape route you found. Though I hope they are just hiding in the bottom somewhere?! I do hope you are able t find them. If I was in your situation, I would have already torn apart the whole basement looking for the little guys... I had all of my Grey's escaped last year and found them all in different rooms in my house. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Set out a bowl of water in the floor in the basement; one in the frog room and in the other part of your basement, just in case they are alive. That way they will be able to soak and have a better chance of finding them alive. Good luck to you and I hope to hear good news about them soon! Best Wishes; MsBlueRose

[DigitalPunk]

Thank you MsBlueRose. I have set out water bowls for them and check randomly around the basement to look for them. I would love to suddenly see them in the tank, but I am not holding my breath

[LilyPad]

Blah, not good hope they find the water dishes.

[DigitalPunk]

Welp one confirmed fatality. I just went into the basement to check the water bowls and found nothing. On m way out I happened to be looking down and found one of them dead on the floor. Looks like he has been dead for a day or 2 at least. Poor little guy/gal. Right now I am assuming the 2nd escape has met a similar fate :/

[LilyPad]

I'm sorry, Paul, that really sucks.

[DigitalPunk]

Thank you Amy. It was rough being faced with that reality last night. It has defiantly pushed me towards redoing their home to get the remaining to out of there so I can break it down and fix any other points of escape before I house more frogs in it. I am starting on the new home today.

[deranged chipmunk]

Sorry to hear about the escapes buddy. It really sucks. I think most of us have been there and can empathize. Hopefully, you will find their escape route and correct it.

And yes, they will play follow the leader. My imitators did


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

Bill,

The escape route is int he front left corner of the left door. Sometimes when the door closes it pulls then vent below it apart and I am assuming it was far enough for them to get through and then crawl right out of the tank :/


I started on setting up the spare 18 x 18 x 24 today. I'll start yet another build thread lol.

[MsBlueRose]

I am so sorry to hear that you lost the babies... It sounds like your exoterra may need some repairs if it is pulling apart. Is there any way you could exchange it for a new one where ever you got it from? I would hate to see the same thing happen again. Good luck on the new build and I wish you the best of luck on the new build and your remaining two babies.