A few random questions from a newb

[junebug]

I know that most places that sell dart frogs and such sell bean beetle cultures, though I am sure you can find a nice member that would give you some discounted or maybe even free! I personally wouldn't let a single termite go near my house, much less in a vivarium. Good luck with you viv, I look forward to seeing it grown in and full of toads

Not all termites eat wood At least according to my dad, who used to exterminate them for a living haha.

I will be sure to post pictures! I soaked the soil yesterday so I'm waiting for the humidity to figure itself out (the soil was totally dry so needed a good soaking to get things started). I've had a minor setback with my hygrometer, which fell in the bathing pool and now seems to be reading humidity about 10% higher than it is (also have an analog hygro at the back of the tank which seems more accurate). I think some of the more crucial components got wet and haven't dried out yet. The battery is totally messed up, I know that. Might just spring for a new one altogether lol, it wasn't that expensive.

Anyway I am still planning to order toadlets again next monday assuming the viv has sorted its humidity out by then, so hopefully I'll get pictures up soon.

[flybyferns]

Hi
Your build looks very nice. I think you have done a really nice job setting up the substrate layers.

I build w/ layered bases as well I have never done a false bottom. My oldest enclosure is over 4 years old and shows NO sigh of having to be re-done ( they are drilled, however--so no siphoning is needed) Soil will have to be added - over time.

Leaving it be, reducing the frequency of making changes provides a more 'stable environment' for the frogs ----especially those kept in groups. They find and claim their own 'little niches'. Some species of PDFs (ie D auratus ) really don't like their stuff messed with. It can interrupt their "family planning".

Bill can vouch for the fact that I am am a "nervous Nelly" when it comes to what goes into my enclosures as well as being as chemical free as possible ! If I found a termite, ant or snail of any kind in any of my enclosures I would have a melt down as I think it would be just about impossible for a tiny dart (ie a varadaro or a froglet) to completely digest the snail shell causing the risk of an intestinal obstruction, bleed or worse ! That's my 2 cents. After all the work and $$$$ I 'd rather reduce any potential risks.

I have an intestinal obstruction story ( not form a snail though -- BUT I believe similar ) . I witnessed a dart frog struggling for days; it was just terrible. He was pooping, but it was really stuck ! and obviously not a prolapse. There was really not much I could do but to - hope ! All ended fine. The blockage appear to be from a very small pc of vermiculite that I missed when prepping a plant. (It sticks to the roots sometimes) I felt terrible ! Or maybe he came that way? They are curious and pick at non-insect items or grab them accidentally when feeding. Who knows how long these things sit in their stomachs? He may have had it in his stomach for a long time.? He did have Ca and Vit A deficiency when I got him which could have been caused by this being in his stomach a some time blocking the absorption of nutrients??? Poor baby --- thankfully he's fine now.

Springtails and isopods would do the trick for you....and I agree 100% that ABG should be used.
I have purchased lots of different of pre-mixes.
I like Josh's best. I do however, modify it by adding cocoa fiber or tropical soil.
You might still be able to mix some ABG in ?

You might check out some of the chameleon sites for additional bug ideas?

Most reptile/amphibian shows will have bb cultures.
Warning: when feeding bb - not too many at one time and not too often ; they are tough on the
frogs's digestive system.

It's really comical watching a dart frog eat a bb for the first time! I won't spoil the suspense !

Don't forget your QT
http://www.frogforum.net/general-dis...uarantine.html

[junebug]

Woot update! Isos are in. I wasn't able to get springtails (don't know what that's about) but will probably just order them with the toads. I need some other stuff from Josh's Frogs anyway.

I also got the remaining plants today and added them in tonight. Pellaea rotundifolia, Pilea glauca, Begonia masoniana "Iron Cross", and philodendron "mini red" which I'm growing as an epiphyte on my hunk of manzanita, assuming it survives there and hopefully it won't block out the light the begonia needs.

I'll take pictures soon. Some of you may know that the tank I've put together is completely low tech, no lighting, no heater, hand misting only, so I have no way to light it for decent pictures right now. Hopefully tomorrow :P

[junebug]

Okay, pictures!

I added the begonia, ferns, and philodendron sp. Got a nice shot of the philodendron. Curious to see how it does growing on the wood like that. If it starts to fail, I'll move it into the soil.



The ferns are both at the back of the tank, one growing over the wood a bit to work as a vine and make a shelter for the toads, hopefully a nice humid pocket for them. The back of the tank stays a bit less humid (back is the left end looking at it from the wide side, this tank is in a weird place in my house). I'm hoping to train more vines to grow over the wood, assuming the plant lives.

The begonia is on the "slope" where the soil starts to taper out. Planting it was a bit problematic, as the plant came with a huge root system and removing enough of the potting soil to put the plant where I wanted it with minimal root damage was a challenge lol. I think I've done it, though. And of course the philodendron growing on the root that spans the tank and rests in the water. I'm going to try to redirect the roots a bit to move them closer to the soil. This particular plant came with a handy "hook-shaped" rhizome so I didn't even have to tie it onto the wood.

The last thing I'll likely do is get some more aquatic/marginal plants for around the water feature, and switch out the sphagnum moss for pillow moss. The sphagnum isn't doing well and isn't covering the soil the way I'd hoped it would. For aquatics and marginals, I might hunt down a few more anubias petite nana, or divide the one I have, as it should grow fairly quickly (for anubias). It gets the most direct light of any plant in the tank, actually haha. So if the rhizome grows fast enough, I'll turn that into two plants and move one over to the slope side where it'll get nutrients directly from the soil. I might also get some azolla if I can find it, and maybe a carpeting plant, HC or UG perhaps for around the water feature. Azolla might be the easiest though lol. And if I want some I can just take it from my boyfriend's pond, he has tons growing on his mesh netting.

[junebug]

Well, the philodendron was starting to get a bit melty on the wood. I went ahead and planted it in the soil next to the root. Hopefully it does better there.

Humidity seems to have stabilized a bit and I'm planning on ordering my toads tomorrow.