A sculpture in many stages, My in Progress dart frog Viv...

[Lady]

So now we have decided to move our set up to a different part of the apartment and are waiting for a dresser we ordered to arrive. The dresser will accommodate a bigger enclosure, but we have put too much work into the one we started and can't afford to buy anything bigger for a while. So I am still building the 12"x12"x18" but in the future we can buy something as big as 24"x18"x24". Too bad I will have to wait a few years for the bigger one but we will be buying the plastic tub for our quarantine next time we go shopping. I will order plants once the dresser is in place.

[Lady]

The dresser should be here by Saturday, but the plants from Josh's Frogs might be here on before that.

[Lady]

The dresser is here and the plants will be here tomorrow. I have everything I need for my quarantine tank and and the last bit of silicone is curing on the vivarium. So I should have the tank set up early in the week but there are still many preparations before I can buy my frog including making homemade fruit fly culture media. Thankfully my cups and wood wool will be in with the plants. Yay I'm making progress.

[Lady]

Ok, so I have the Viv put together and looking nice. I'm going to give my plants a little time to adjust before I post a photo. Mainly because I want the leaves to all turn to the light. I'm hoping that the materials are all frog safe, heaven knows I tried, but only time will tell. I have several hiding places for the frog that should be downright homey to an amphibian of that size. The humidity ranges between 80% and 95% at different times without a glass lid. If the humidity becomes a problem we will cover the top with lexan. The light is a tropical sun compact florescent. The plants are all rated for moderate light and will become more vibrant under intense light. They all seemed to purk up after some time under the lamp. Especialy the begonia, which was half dead last night after it's trip from Josh's frogs and in the future if it ever has to be removed I will have to put it in a container with a lid to keep it from dying from the air-conditioning.

If I can keep 1 frog alive for 2 years I will build a bigger enclosure and add more of the same species to it. So here's hoping.

[flybyferns]

Hi,

Sharing:
I have 8 exo terra enclosures ( 6 breeding PDF species)
Except for the 2 tree frogs enclosures, I have removed the screening from all 6.
( this is NOT difficult---believe me.......If I can do it anyone can )
If I had not done this ....it is my experience that the humidity would not be high enough.
Keep in mind this is not something that is easily done once the frogs are in the enclosure
Also keep in mind.....if the enclosure will be housing a thumbnail species--- the tubing holes in the lid of an exo terra will have to be siliconed /sealed.
Or they WILL get out. They are escape experts !!!! I could share some harrowing stories.

EVERY- hygrometer I have ever purchased has been inaccurate, and worked intermittently.
If used them, it would be for a guide only. We need learn to judge the humidity in every other way possible.

Have fun watching all your hard work grow !

[Lady]

I have used Lexan aka Plexiglass on my snake's tank to keep in humidity. It works just fine laid over the mesh and the way my tank is designed I belive this to be the best solution if the humidity drops. Though I tested the humidity not just by a gauge but also by sticking my hand in. It feels like the air after a heavy rain and only drops slightly when my air conditioner kicks on. My tank does have a small waterfall running down the back which will keep the humidity higher.

I have also already plugged the holes you mentioned with silicone. I had already heard about thumbnails escaping that way. Though right now the plan is still for a single Fine Spot Leucomelas since I am as my brother joked, "A First Level Frog Handler"

[jarteta97]

EVERY- hygrometer I have ever purchased has been inaccurate, and worked intermittently.
If used them, it would be for a guide only. We need learn to judge the humidity in every other way possible.

Yup, I just got tried out the new National Geographic one, and it seemed to be working fine for about 2 weeks. Yesterday though, while I was airing out the tank for about an hour and a half, the hydrometer stayed at 83%, and that's with half the top screened and the doors cracked. I think I'll just rely on the health of the plants

I'm glad the tank came together, Lady, and I can't wait to see pictures . If humidity drops, a towel over the top works too FYI

[Lady]

I am seeing a drop in the humidity today, we will be cutting some Lexan tonight. Part of why we set up the tank and let it run is to iron out kinks like this before the frog is bought. It's better to have it all working right first.