Red Eyed Tree Frog Beginner

[Frogman1031]

Wash and rinse well, (no soap) beforehand just to be on the safe side. After baking and cooling
(and before too) checks for insects and fungus that might hurt your frog. You want to absolutely OBLITERATE anything that might be harmful to your frogs. Can you post a pic of the vine? I doubt this could happen to anybody but me but i found a great brach once! (Poison ivy) not fun

[jarteta97]

For plants, especially if you have a tight budget, you can also go to Home Depot or Lowes. Bromeliads are extremely popular on frogforum, and you can find a lot in just the houseplants and air purifier sections. Sansevieria is very similar to Snake Plants (I think they might even be the same). I've even managed to find irish moss at Lowe's. Keep your eye out for upside-down ferns if you go too, I have one, and they are quite beautiful and delicate, as well as small.

[frogeyes]

Wash and rinse well, (no soap) beforehand just to be on the safe side. After baking and cooling
(and before too) checks for insects and fungus that might hurt your frog. You want to absolutely OBLITERATE anything that might be harmful to your frogs. Can you post a pic of the vine? I doubt this could happen to anybody but me but i found a great brach once! (Poison ivy) not fun

Thanks for the reply. I doubt it's poison ivy. Here's a pic. It's a bunch jumbled up. Really neat and I'm planning on sanding it down to make it smooth. Also going to make sure there aren't any sharp edges that could cause harm to the frogs. I cannot see any insects/bugs on any of the pieces but I will clean to the best of my ability.

[frogeyes]

For plants, especially if you have a tight budget, you can also go to Home Depot or Lowes. Bromeliads are extremely popular on frogforum, and you can find a lot in just the houseplants and air purifier sections. Sansevieria is very similar to Snake Plants (I think they might even be the same). I've even managed to find irish moss at Lowe's. Keep your eye out for upside-down ferns if you go too, I have one, and they are quite beautiful and delicate, as well as small.

Alright thanks for the tip. I was going to buy some online, but the shipping really makes it better to shop locally.

[DigitalPunk]

Always a good idea to boil wood and vines and then bake in the oven to dry on a low temp... like 125F. The boil and bake combo will kill any parasites or bugs on or in the vine.

[frogeyes]

Always a good idea to boil wood and vines and then bake in the oven to dry on a low temp... like 125F. The boil and bake combo will kill any parasites or bugs on or in the vine.

I washed them thoroughly, then put them in the freezer for about 20 mins, and now I'm baking them at 200. Do you think this will be enough? Or should I boil as well?

[DigitalPunk]

The boiling will kill more bugs and parasites that freezing will. I would boil just to be on the safe side myself, but that is up to you.

[Strider18]

Paul hit everything right on the spot You should boil the vines if you can, but I have just washed mine with hot water and been perfectly fine after the mold stops. I know many people are cringing at that statement, but I was antsy so I rushed it :P But then again mine came from a tree we cut down in our front yard which was pesticide free. I hope this helps!

[frogeyes]

Thanks for the input DigitalPunk and Strider18!

I quickly found out that I had way too many branches/dead vines, so I decided to incorporate them around the tank as well. Also planning on building a "skirt" for the stand.



and then here's a pic of the inside at an angle...




ABG mix is on its way, as well as some frog moss. Canister filter will be installed soon. After that I need to pick up a thermometer, hygrometer, repti-fogger, and plants... and of course frogs and springtails later on

[Strider18]

Np So far it is looking good! Can't wait to see it finished.

[frogeyes]

Np So far it is looking good! Can't wait to see it finished.

Thanks! Getting there step by step haha.

[Strider18]

Hope you have fun building the tank!

[DigitalPunk]

Looking great! Building a tank is a long slow stroll down a old brick sidewalk (read as something your meant to enjoy) not a sprint. Always better to go slow and enjoy the process because as soon as this one is done you will have ideas flowing for the next one, or see things with this one you wished you'd of done different lol.

I never liked frog moss. I prefer Sphagnum moss my self. It looks cleaner and is a long fiber moss and will not be as easy for the frogs to accidentally swallow.

[LilyPad]

Looking really impressed!! I agree with Paul, long slow walk. I rushed my first viv and while I liked it, it wasn't what I knew it could be. I've been working on my most recent one for about 6 weeks. Tweaking things and letting the plants establish and grow.

[frogeyes]

Thanks everyone for the replies,

Update. I got the Repti-fogger and changed some things around. Decided I didn't like the forest moss up on the "wall" of the enclosure. However, I thought the frog moss looked neat and since it is in clumps it won't fall off as easily. The canister filter is up and running (pulls from the left side, and returns back on the right side (kind of like a waterfall). Also picked up a thermometer and hygrometer (currently 73 F and 82% humidity).

Either way ABG mix should be here tomorrow; also going to look at plants tomorrow and some type of material to space the substrate with the false bottom.

[DigitalPunk]

Always good to acknowledge when something isn't turning out right and looking for a different option. Never easy, but always a learning experience

I use Fiberglass window screening to put on top of the egg crate. You can buy it by the roll at Lowes or Home Depot for cheap (I think for like $4 or $5). Just cut it so it is 2 or 3 inches bigger on all sides so the substrate sits in it like a bowl and you will be all set.


Did you get a digital Hydrometer? Analog ones are notoriously inaccurate. Heck digital ones are not all that accurate. I ended up buying a couple and running them side by side to see what the variance was so I could guestimate the actual unity.

Tnak is looking good though, keep the updates coming!

[frogeyes]

Always good to acknowledge when something isn't turning out right and looking for a different option. Never easy, but always a learning experience

I use Fiberglass window screening to put on top of the egg crate. You can buy it by the roll at Lowes or Home Depot for cheap (I think for like $4 or $5). Just cut it so it is 2 or 3 inches bigger on all sides so the substrate sits in it like a bowl and you will be all set.


Did you get a digital Hydrometer? Analog ones are notoriously inaccurate. Heck digital ones are not all that accurate. I ended up buying a couple and running them side by side to see what the variance was so I could guestimate the actual unity.

Tnak is looking good though, keep the updates coming!

Thanks. They are analog ones (I can see where you are coming from with digital though; it's kind of like hydrometers and refractometers with saltwater). Fiberglass window screening would be perfect above the eggcrate! Going to Lowe's tomorrow anyways to look at plants, might as well check out the window screening.

Thanks again, you've been a huge help!

[DigitalPunk]

I love using fiberglass screening! You will find that Analog Temp and humidity sensors are worse at accuracy than their digital counterparts unfortunately.

[frogeyes]

Hey everyone, here's a few new pics. Plants, fogger, and the custom drip/water setup.





With the ABG mix, would it be ok to mix it with unfertilized potting soil and some soft coconut fiber (to make a thicker substrate bed)?



Also, here's a few pics of my reef just for fun

[Lija]

Wow! That looks awesome! All of it!