75 Gallon Vivarium build

[Larry Wardog]

The Fescue Grass is in. The Ferns are getting bigger, the Myrtle is spreading in the tank, and water lettuce is in the water. I've hit the jackpot the last month. I got 17 Wax Moths from 100 total, 7 Mealworm Beetles, and I found baby crickets running around. The crickets are mating. That is so amazing. I haven't done anything to induce this mating and growing season. My tank has been in a major drought lol. I kept the Wax Worms and Mealworms in my room with AC on only sometimes. So it was pitch dark mostly and almost 80. Beats keeping in refrigerator. I'm not showing pics yet because I'm gonna get more Myrtle and either 1 more Fescue Grass or Fern.


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[Larry Wardog]

I got a picture of the updated Vivarium tonight. It's an evening pic. The crickets are still mating. The new Leopard Frog isn't in yet but, all of the plants are in. The Frog and Toads are doing very well. I'm finally out of Wax Moths haha, I'm going to try to culture Woodlice and Crickets in the tank. There are plenty of places to hide for the Crickets and Woodlice. Hopefully I can bring in these two species to breed in the tank, the money I would save and it would make it like a real woods. Here is the photo. I'll give an update with the new Female Frog next week hopefully.




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[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Umm, if I were you, I would make a quarantine tank for the new frog, just incase it has any parasites or illnesses, so they don't affect the other ones

[Larry Wardog]

I have a 30 Gallon and a 10 Gallon on the bottom shelf just waiting for some company haha. I will monitor this frog and get her looked at. Thanks for the concern. I was beginning to think nobody was even viewing this anymore.


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[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Okay good. I thought that earlier that you were just going to put her in with the old ones

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Also nice setup

[Larry Wardog]

No, I'll give he a look, her eyes, appetite, sticky tongue, eyes, lips, fecal sample, appearance, etc and if she is a Goddess like the others lol, I'll put her in after she passes all of it. Thanks for the compliment. They really love it. The new grass makes it look even more wild. Do you know if crickets will eat Woodlice? Because I had Mealworm beetles with crickets for weeks and they never went after them. Not sure if the shell on the Woodlice would deter them?


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[Cliygh and Mia 2]

I imagine that the crickets would eat woodlice if they get their hands on one. I had a pack of crickets eat a freshly moulted adult male chinese mantis once, so a woodlouse would be no problem

[Larry Wardog]

I wonder why they aren't going after the Beetles? Well, the Woodlice will be deeper in the ground and will not be the easiest of prey, there are a lot of hiding spots for a little bug. I'm sure some will or could fall victim, but I guess it's a wait and see.


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[Cliygh and Mia 2]

I don't know if mealworm beetles do this, but most beetles have defences, like some can spray formic acid at the predator, but like I said, I doubt a darling beetle (If that is what that is what it is called) has that kind of defense

[Larry Wardog]

The thing is, the beetles are about as small as woodlice so, idk either. I have all the Mealworm Beetles I had for 2 weeks now. It's something to think about now at least. If they can both successfully mate in the same tank that would be a huge discovery. Also if I do a mini experiment with a large cricket and a pill bug before hand.


Nobody do it before me, or don't tell me what you get until after I try it


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[Larry Wardog]

https://youtu.be/GBtq9lBwyb4

The plants are all doing well, Myrtle has established and growing like crazy. Baby's also, also for the Water Lettuce. The Ferns are slowly growing. The Fescue Grass is doing great as a replacement for the Ribbon Grass which was a mistake. The Animals are all healthy and good. King II has become tame so he is out now even in the day at times. Chromwell is coming tomorrow! Can't wait to see her and see how long until she goes into her home. Now for the big news, I'm on 3rd generation crickets, crickets had crickets that had crickets. They are breeding very well. It's awesome, I have seen them breed as well. I introduced around 50+ Woodlice and they are breeding as well. I found a few tiny ones wondering around. Also what's rare is the Nightcrawlers are breeding. I found little baby worms tonight also. Idk what the heck is in that tank but love is in the air for the Bugs and Plants! I found some evasive Stone Centipedes and they have also reproduced in the tank. Much is going on in there. I really have created an ecosystem for everything in the tank. Next would be cool if the Frogs and Toads mated in the spring. Another video is coming tomorrow!


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[deranged chipmunk]

Very cool. Glad it's growing well for you


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[Larry Wardog]

Your photo the other night inspired me Bill, the running stream would be amazing, amazing for a setup like this!


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[Larry Wardog]

http://youtu.be/niVzCE6J1RA
This shows Toto in her hut, the Centipede, and some baby crickets. Another look at the tank. Cromwell came yesterday. She is the most calm Leopard Frog I've seen. She let me put the cricket next to her and she just looks at me. She is younger so It will be easier to teach her to trust people. Where I got her from listened to the exact specifications, it took 2 weeks longer but, it's exactly what I wanted. She doesn't have photos yet. I'll post those soon. Gonna try to tame her. She is a voracious eater. Appears to be healthy. I'll get her stool checked and see. If nothing and she remains this active/healthy I'm putting her in within the month.


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[monster]

I really like how you put the garden lights into the viv, really makes it look like a piece of the backyard or garden.

[Larry Wardog]

Thank you, the light closest to the water attracts insects. The Leopard Frog (Spot) will lay there and catch the insects that wonder by the light. I really payed attention to the surroundings of both animals to try to make this as natural as possible. I spent a good amount of time on the woods. I thought the lights would be cool because both species sit by the yard lights at my house. And there are some yards that are just out of the woods around here that have lights back near the woods so people don't walk back there. I'm happy someone liked the idea!


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[monster]

The lights attracting the insects I never actually thought of but what a good idea. As you said they know the light attracts them so they stay by them and don't have to chase their food. They are smart little buggers and again as you stated it is something that a lot of insect eaters catch onto and use to their advantage in the wild. I have also seen toads out under a street light or sitting on the edge of the garden lurking close to light source waiting for dinner. Again that was a good idea, something to think about in the future if I ever get around to making a viv.

[Larry Wardog]

Yes, I wanted to give them the most I could that was practical in the enclosure. The led night lights are awesome, it looks like a full moon overhead the tank. I have the video on here, if you scroll up in the thread and if you want to. T5 lights are cool people! Lol


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[Larry Wardog]

New English Daisy and Cromwell




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