Am going to set up first Vivarium and collecting now...help please :)

[LisaMarie]

I've been researching and jumping from one place to another, searching and trying to find matching ideas, between sites, on my needs...to no avail First time ever setting up for 2 x green tree frogs and 2 x Green and gold Bell frogs, in the one tank. I will have a water area at the front housing a beta fish and probably some neons, I have a heater for water, bromeliads, ferns, air plants, a few fakeies (shhh don't tell frogs), pumps x2,1 for sprays and, 1 dripping down the back, filter media, filter blanket, and wood ...I have coming a 90x51x60cm Terrarium, a Exo Terra Compact Top Large Canopy housing 4 bulbs, a microclimate heat pad 47W x 230V and fogger.

- Here's the first question...exactly what globes should I put in for day and night use?
- 2nd & 3rd - is the heat pad sufficient or too much? Will it be ok if I put the heat pad in between the glass and the black pond expanda foam background that I will make, hopefully not too thick, and holding some wood, and plants?
- 4th - the fogger is it ok to use this type, as there will be fish in the water - electronic ultrasonic vibration to generate mist from the water? Here's an image....

Help will be greatly accepted

[LisaMarie]

PS This, on YouTube is my inspiration...http://youtu.be/d5QTRxbYtK8

[tonyball]

one thing I will say about the fogger that you show is that it will generate heat and raise your water temps, how much it wil raise is dependant on volume of water in your tank and how long you run the fogger.
(there are other factors as well, eg; circulation ) Just be certain to let it run for a while and monitor the temps and it will probably be just fine. I prefer to use a cool mist vaporizier to fog my tanks, plus with the right plumbing it wil do multiple tanks

[LittleFrog]

One thing, Bettas and tetras do not mix well at all, the tetras will almost certainly chew up the Bettas fins. There aren't many fish that really do well with Bettas, honestly.

[KBDean]

I've kept Betta with neon tetras, mollies, balloon mollies and guppies successfully. Don't know how they will go with the frogs though - when the dumpys get bigger, wouldn't they get a bit tempted?

[LisaMarie]

I have a Beta in my community tank Discus, neons, cats and many others - if anything the neons dart away when a bigger fish gets close then come back together. If anything happens I can always take the neons out and put them in the community tank. Thanks for bringing this up, much appreciated, I have that covered however. I really want to know the answers to my main questions about the heat pad and lights...I will be looking into the heat of the fogger, possibly changing it to the one mentioned by tonyball. I've actually stopped my progress due to these two issues....

[deranged chipmunk]

the question i have is: why would you set up a tank for your native frogs as if they were south american frogs? with the exception of the betta, most of what you want to put in there is more for a south american biotope. you have such an amazing range of rainbows (pseudomugil signifer is my fave) in your country available to you, why would you even consider putting tetras in there? unless of course, you are unable to keep native species.

a note about an ultrasonic fogger in with fish. since it works at a high frequency vibration, i would keep it out of any common area with the fish. fish are highly sensitive to vibrations in the water, and i am not sure what effect it may have on the fish.

[deranged chipmunk]

in answer to your questions about heat and light: it's simple really. an aquarium heater in the water. heat the water and heat the air. then you can use planted tank lighting as you would for for any regular planted tank.

[LisaMarie]

the question i have is: why would you set up a tank for your native frogs as if they were south american frogs? with the exception of the betta, most of what you want to put in there is more for a south american biotope. you have such an amazing range of rainbows (pseudomugil signifer is my fave) in your country available to you, why would you even consider putting tetras in there? unless of course, you are unable to keep native species.

a note about an ultrasonic fogger in with fish. since it works at a high frequency vibration, i would keep it out of any common area with the fish. fish are highly sensitive to vibrations in the water, and i am not sure what effect it may have on the fish.

Thanks for your help...the Rainbows grow to 5-6cm that's too big for the amount of water and only stress them out, I didn't even think of them, they would be good but too big - shame

Am I doing this all wrong for my frogs??? Oh I really need help!!! I'm actually feeling quite inadequate, I really have to get this right...I'm only able to set up one tank and can't afford to get it wrong.....I have lost my job and once my final pay runs out that's it, goodnight Irene!

Yes, do tend to agree re the fogger, I guess I was looking for clarification on that style...I wasn't 100% sure on the effect on fish, but thought it may have -- I had visions of them jumping out of the water!!