Hello. I just aquired two FBT's that have been living, for the last three years, in a 1 gal. "tank" that just had aquarium gravel and a little dish of water. I had to get them out of there, so I didn't have time to do everything right. I've put them in my 20gal. aquarium that I flooded with about 3" water and built up one half with (ugly!) aquarium gravel. On the land side I have fake plants, wood, and a clay pot. The water has fake wood, a large rock they can sit on, and some pebbles in the bottom. For a top I just have the aquarium lid, but I removed the back half behind the light and covered it with mesh so air can get in and they can't get out.
I got some crickets and I'm keeping them in a separate area and feeding them (piece of apple and carrot) before I give them to the frogs.
Yes, the water is treated so it's safe, and I've just done a partial water change. (They've been in there two days now)
I know gravel substrate isn't good, but in my small town I can't get anything except gravel and reptile type bedding (Jungle Bark and Eco Earth, etc, which I've read is messy and not too nice for the frogs). I'm going to look at mail-order to find things, but I'm wondering. Would it be safe to get small stones/pebbles, etc. from a local river if I boil them first? With the substrate in the tank being wet underneath, I'm not sure on using soil. I don't want to silicone a divider in since this tank may get used for fish again someday, so I'm trying to find a substrate that can handle the flooding underneath from the water. Moss would be nice on land, too.
I know, too, that a filter in the water would be ideal, but my fish filters are HOB and would not work. I'll just have to do with constant partial changes until I come up with something.
These little guys will eventually end up in my 33gal. aquarium and I'll have time to do that one right from the start with no time pressures. But it has fish in it right now so it's a waiting game and they'll be in this 20gal. until then. But even in the 33gal, I'd rather not have to glue in a divider.
I'm thrilled to have found this forum. I have belonged to fish forums and I found them to be an incredible help. Thank you for being here and sharing your expertise with us newbies!
Diane