New Build in Progress

[LilyPad]

Nothing incredibly exciting here but still fun to share! I'm not sure what this is for yet, toss up between P. terribilis, glass frogs, or Red-Eyed Leaf Frog's. I have a lot of work to do yet but thought I'd share the start and continue from there.

[deranged chipmunk]

Looks good so far, but man, that plant on the left is huge! Almost...overpowering.


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[LilyPad]

I know, I already took some of it back out and will probably get rid of the rest, I'm just not happy with it at all. It's in a pot that I built into the great stuff wall when I put it together a few years ago, not taking into account how close it was to the light. I could never get anything to grow in it so I bought a fake plant to put in it this time, I actually ordered it online which was my mistake because I had no idea how big the leaves were.

I have to finish the waterfall/pond area yet tonight and will probably get some live plants in there over the weekend. I know someone who has lots of baby broms right now so I'm hoping to pick those up tomorrow. Then is time to let it grow and tweak it to my liking. This is the first tropical viv I've done... so feel free to critique as I go so I can fix any flaws.

The bottom layer is hydroballs with a small pump to get any excess water out. Then a layer of fiberglass screen, followed by a layer of gravel (I wanted the drainage a little deeper than I had it with the hydroton) Layer of moss, and finally plantation soil.

The moss on the background is attached with stakes and silicone, I ran a vacuum over it to make sure any loose pieces were off, so no one should be able to accidentally eat it.

I need to get another new lightbulb, the one on the right is apparently the wrong bulb because they're different colors despite having bought 2 of the exact same bulbs. I'm guessing the one on the left is the correct color as I've used these bulbs in the past and they never had a purple hue to them before.

The pond has a gravel base which I plan to cover with a moss, and also add a small peace lily (Spathiphyllum) near the back of the pond. Obviously I'll make that deeper or more shallow depending on what frog I choose to put in there. Right now I just want to get it growing.

As for other plants, I have a list of tropical viv/frog-friendly ones to go look at some and make decisions.

Like I said, nothing too exciting, but should be peaceful to look at and make some frogs happy when I'm done.

[deranged chipmunk]

If you are looking for any specific plants, let me know. I have to trim some stuff soon. And I do have a bunch of stuff in my grow out tank.


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[AnimalEnthusiast]

This is a nice start. I actually like the fake plant.

[AnimalEnthusiast]

What kinds of plants do you have?

[LilyPad]

If you are looking for any specific plants, let me know. I have to trim some stuff soon. And I do have a bunch of stuff in my grow out tank.


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I haven't decided on anything specific yet. I was just going to go look with a list and see what might work. Honestly, I don't have a lot of experience with tropical plants, my other viv is ever changing. The only thing that has consistently grown in there is a pothos, bamboo, and an african violet. I have learned a lot of plants do not survive the abuse of fat female grey tree frogs. There is a gardenia in there right now that they have pretty much decimated with their weight. I did have a large bromeliad do well in there for about 2 years before it died. So my tropical plant experience is fairly limited! This tank should not be so difficult though as I plan to keep smaller frogs in it. If you would be willing to send some clippings of things you know do well, I'd be happy to pay for them. Thanks Bill

[deranged chipmunk]

I may have a few things for you. Mostly, some of the 'Jew' species (wandering jew, Bolivian Jew). I may also have a few other things. I need to take an inventory and see what I have promised out. I do know I have some selaginella sp. 'Columbia' I can cough up. It grows fast, likes humidity and can cover a background fairly quick, if trained right.


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[LilyPad]

I did pick up a few things last night, the broms are, unfortunately out, as someone else got to them before me. So I will probably just have to order some, no one around here has any small enough to work. Nothing that I have is going to trail very well, so some 'Jew' species will actually work perfect. I'm not even certain how well the ones I bought will grow in a tropical tank. None of them had any kind of scientific names, just "tropical" with instructions of moist soil and raised humidity, so it was pick and see how it works. Luckily, most of them were $1.99-$3.99, so if they don't work I'll just yank them.

I already dumped the waterfall idea as I bought the wrong filter/pump system. So now it is just a pond with rocks and a filter running in it with a couple of plants. I am going to take a pothos cutting from my huge pothos at work and get it to work around the driftwood so there are some nice, sturdy, fat leaves in there.

[deranged chipmunk]

That looks great you can find some decent stuff at the big box stores, as you noticed


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[LilyPad]

These were all from a local garden center, they mostly work with outdoor plants though, so they didn't have a huge selection of tropicals. The worker there was telling me that they're having issues getting cuban tree frogs in all their shipments (their shipments come from Florida.) They aren't allowed to release them so workers have been taking them home without any knowledge on how to care for them. I left them my name and number and told them I'd find homes for them from now on. I'll just have set up an extra quarantine tank haha.

I love the ferns, I'm clueless as to why I haven't had them in my grey tree frog tank! They look so nice.

ETA - Do you think I could house 3 RETF's in that size tank? Most of what I read says that 4 could go in a 20 high...that just seems so small to me though. I have 4 greys in a 35g tall hex and that seems small to me some days. I know I would have to get more broad leaf plants and probably add a few more branches for retf's.

[deranged chipmunk]

In a 20h I, personally, wouldn't put more than 2 red eyes in. But I like to give my frogs plenty of territory.

My plant shop also gets Cubans in from time to time and I have taken some in and found them homes. But be cautious if you do. Cuban tree frogs get large and are ravenous. The Cubans I had made my white's look like thumbnail darts lol

4 grey's in a 35 sounds a bit crowded, but I know you have had them in there a while, so they definitely adapted.


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[deranged chipmunk]

And embrace the ferns! They are marvelous plants, and are definitely my favorites as far as plant species go.


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[LilyPad]

The greys and I have adapted together, I learned to take Paddy out during dinner time, she will eat ALL of the crickets and gets surprisingly protective and aggressive when food is around. She eats in a large critter keeper while the rest eat out of a bowl in the viv.

I was thinking 2 RETF's in a 20h sounded more reasonable, I would think 3 was pushing it, and even more surprised that some of the care sheets are saying 5 gallons for each one. I still have not totally decided on one yet though, the P. terribilis is really appealing because they're diurnal and yet will still eat crickets fully grown. I know they would be more fun for my kids to watch and would be easier to breed as a project for me.

[deranged chipmunk]

I won't lie to ya, darts are awesome. Such little characters. I actually rehomed my white's tree frogs with a buddy of mine so I can keep just darts. No more larger feeders, and with the higher humidity levels, and smaller stature, I can grow all the plants I love without fear of having them demolished. As most people know, I love my plants as much, if not more than my frogs lol


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[AnimalEnthusiast]

That is neat (free cute frogs)!! What stores are these; is it Lowe's, or some place like that?
I'll have to check the stores in my area.

In a 20h I, personally, wouldn't put more than 2 red eyes in. But I like to give my frogs plenty of territory.

My plant shop also gets Cubans in from time to time and I have taken some in and found them homes. But be cautious if you do. Cuban tree frogs get large and are ravenous. The Cubans I had made my white's look like thumbnail darts lol

4 grey's in a 35 sounds a bit crowded, but I know you have had them in there a while, so they definitely adapted.


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These were all from a local garden center, they mostly work with outdoor plants though, so they didn't have a huge selection of tropicals. The worker there was telling me that they're having issues getting cuban tree frogs in all their shipments (their shipments come from Florida.) They aren't allowed to release them so workers have been taking them home without any knowledge on how to care for them. I left them my name and number and told them I'd find homes for them from now on. I'll just have set up an extra quarantine tank haha.

I love the ferns, I'm clueless as to why I haven't had them in my grey tree frog tank! They look so nice.

ETA - Do you think I could house 3 RETF's in that size tank? Most of what I read says that 4 could go in a 20 high...that just seems so small to me though. I have 4 greys in a 35g tall hex and that seems small to me some days. I know I would have to get more broad leaf plants and probably add a few more branches for retf's.

[deranged chipmunk]

I've never seen hitch hikers at the big box stores. Local nurseries and plant shops, yes.


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

[AnimalEnthusiast]

Oh ok.

[LilyPad]

So, since my last post, I've added some star moss (Tortula ruralis) and a couple pothos cuttings. I also have a mystery plant that started growing in the tank, I have no idea what it is as it's just growing upwards like a tube column so far. I will have to see what it turns out to be before I decide to move or remove it. Also, one of the water plants (at the front) completely died off, which is okay because I wasn't really fond of it anyway.

I know that mold is a natural process of a new vivarium, but how long does it typically last? I have lots of white mold throughout the viv. I have put some isopods in the tank to try to help clean it up a bit and haven't noticed a difference. I did attempt to transfer some spring tails from my tree frog viv over, but I'm not sure how successful I was with that.

Other than those few issues, everything is growing like crazy and I may actually have to trim a few things soon. I'm hoping I can make a decision and purchase some new frogs in the next couple of weeks.

[deranged chipmunk]

What are the numbers on the tank? Normally mold lasts a couple weeks to a month. And of course, as always, a pic helps

What aquatic did you kill? Normally, in shallow water, aquatics are tough to kill, unless planted improperly, or they get beat up by the frogs. Lol




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