Fire-Bellied Toads, Am I doing it right?

[ericbrookey]

Agreed, that IS a nice setup for them. They should do very well in there. Couple of points..

1. They will eat the guppies so if you use them, be prepared for that. The guppies will help cycle the filter but it will take a long time wit such a small bioload. Over the next few months, make sure to check for ammonia buildup and do water changes accordingly.

2. You can use java moss, frog bit or ducked but be prepared for an explosion of the frog bit and duckweed. Once it is introduced it will be near impossible to remove. Water lettuce works well but has a tendency to die off and needs to be replaced. Pothos will grow well but needs to be rooted in something and has a tendency to melt when exposed directly to water.

3. Make sure they have some hiding spots, plant cover, etc. It gives them a sense of security.

4. If you can, put a few pieces of wood that extend up high above the water line, they will love to climb on them.

Overall, nice job!

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[Marinecrab]

Agreed, that IS a nice setup for them. They should do very well in there. Couple of points..

1. They will eat the guppies so if you use them, be prepared for that. The guppies will help cycle the filter but it will take a long time wit such a small bioload. Over the next few months, make sure to check for ammonia buildup and do water changes accordingly.

2. You can use java moss, frog bit or ducked but be prepared for an explosion of the frog bit and duckweed. Once it is introduced it will be near impossible to remove. Water lettuce works well but has a tendency to die off and needs to be replaced. Pothos will grow well but needs to be rooted in something and has a tendency to melt when exposed directly to water.

3. Make sure they have some hiding spots, plant cover, etc. It gives them a sense of security.

4. If you can, put a few pieces of wood that extend up high above the water line, they will love to climb on them.

Overall, nice job!

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" 3. Make sure they have some hiding spots, plant cover, etc. It gives them a sense of security.

4. If you can, put a few pieces of wood that extend up high above the water line, they will love to climb on them. "


Good to see you again, man!

In response to #3 and #4, I have both of these. They seem to be enjoying their new home alot.

As for #1, I might consider waiting for the filter to establish itself before adding guppies. But i'm fine if they eat the guppies. ​1

[ericbrookey]

With just the frogs in there I'm not sure the tank will ever cycle. They do tend to poop in the water but compared to cycling with fish the bioload will be small. Just watch the params and make sure ammonia, nitrites and nitrates don't get too high.

You will get moss tracked in the water which may help towards the cycle when it breaks down.

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[Marinecrab]

With just the frogs in there I'm not sure the tank will ever cycle. They do tend to poop in the water but compared to cycling with fish the bioload will be small. Just watch the params and make sure ammonia, nitrites and nitrates don't get too high.

You will get moss tracked in the water which may help towards the cycle when it breaks down.

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Hmmm, I will keep this in mind.

Should I add a bubbler if I plan on keeping fish?

[ericbrookey]

Hmmm, I will keep this in mind.

Should I add a bubbler if I plan on keeping fish?

Not necessary. It will help speed up the cycle if you are doing a fishless cycle but I wouldn't do that with the frogs already in there. Way too high ammonia content is needed for that and will not be good for them. Just get an API Master Test kit and test every week until you establish a cycle then every month or so before water changes. With this type of setup you can probably get away with a 50% wc every 2 weeks once established, occassionally vac the gravel, and they should be fine.

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[Marinecrab]

Not necessary. It will help speed up the cycle if you are doing a fishless cycle but I wouldn't do that with the frogs already in there. Way too high ammonia content is needed for that and will not be good for them. Just get an API Master Test kit and test every week until you establish a cycle then every month or so before water changes. With this type of setup you can probably get away with a 50% wc every 2 weeks once established, occassionally vac the gravel, and they should be fine.

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Hmmmm, I'll see if I can get a cheap vac kit, but I will be getting water test kits.

[ericbrookey]

Hmmmm, I'll see if I can get a cheap vac kit, but I will be getting water test kits.

I just recently bought a vac that has a fairly thin tube with a manual squeeze pump on it. I love it because it can get in the crevices between all the dw and decor and the manual pump keeps the frog toxin laced water out of my mouth lol

I went with sand in my setup as it seems easier to keep clean but gravel is fine. As long as it's not up top where they might ingest it accidentally.

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[ericbrookey]

how are your little guys doing in their new home?

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[Marinecrab]

how are your little guys doing in their new home?

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We lost one, he got out after my girlfriend forgot to close the top properly, they are doing great, we have a total of four now. I've added a bunch of live plants, a new filter, two plecos and ten tetras and they're doing great.

I switched them over to medium crickets and they're eating more often than they did with small.

Now!! Before you say!! Yes, I do realize that there are some failures with mixing, but there are also huge success stories with mixing as well. I've taken it slowly with adding fish and plants. And so far, i've had sucess

Other than that, they're doing hell of a lot better, i've a few pictures i've taken.


I have a question though, I read online that my water is being cloudy from a bacteria bloom.
Its been little over a week and i'm still seeing stringy strands of white algea and slime. Is this Okay?

Also, how often should I feed these guys and how much?

What about a superworm dish, I know meal worms are to thick but, how about a superworm filled dish?

I'll send pictures as soon my phone charges, I used it up from work.

[ericbrookey]

I don't think that's taking it slowly with adding fish. Your tank is nowhere near cycled and those plecos will have a big bioload, which with that small volume of water, you will see the ammonia rise rapidly and the tetras will suffer unless you are monitoring it very well. Water changes are also going to be rough as ypu cant take more than a few gallons out at a time.

Either way, not the stocking choice I would have made but it's your tank. What kind of plecos are they?

That does suck about the eacapee. Hard lesson to learn.

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[ericbrookey]

Food size should typically be no larger than the space between their eyes..5-6 small or 3-4 medium crickets a couple times a week is fine. Small meal worms are fine..just don't let one get all the worms, cause they will gorge.

As for algae, it's typical in a new tank to get diatom blooms. It should go away. Stringy algae either means too high light or nutrients or not enough filtration. Pictures would help. You will get it also on new wood that is constantly wet and it will dissipate.


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[Marinecrab]

Food size should typically be no larger than the space between their eyes..5-6 small or 3-4 medium crickets a couple times a week is fine. Small meal worms are fine..just don't let one get all the worms, cause they will gorge.

As for algae, it's typical in a new tank to get diatom blooms. It should go away. Stringy algae either means too high light or nutrients or not enough filtration. Pictures would help. You will get it also on new wood that is constantly wet and it will dissipate.


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I can always move the Tetras into a different tank until then, I understand the bioload of the plecos, I just want them in there for the first few weeks to help with algae.

As for feeding and the pictures, I do it every other day.


Here are the pictures.



Still working on getting UVB





This stuff seems to never come off, any suggestions? This is a used tank, I cleaned it to the bone. Looked like it sat in someones attic for awhile, had cobwebs and everything. I resealed it.



He really seems to be enjoying his new home.

[ericbrookey]

Pics aren't coming up for me for some reason. How big are the plecos? I have seen instances where a toad tried to eat a pleco and it got stuck. The toad didn't make it, so be careful. It was a big toad, or bullfrog, can't remember, but if the FBT see it they may go for it.

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[Marinecrab]

Pics aren't coming up for me for some reason. How big are the plecos? I have seen instances where a toad tried to eat a pleco and it got stuck. The toad didn't make it, so be careful. It was a big toad, or bullfrog, can't remember, but if the FBT see it they may go for it.

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Currently, I've only seen him come out of his log during the night. He's maybe an inch or so.

I feel like i've seen that before...

[ericbrookey]

Do you know what type of pleco?

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[Marinecrab]

I believe he is a bristle nose, I will go back and check on my way to get the gravel vac and the UV sterilizer.

Here is an update on the water quality, I took the fish out, and washed the gravel from inside the tank. Was a very long process but its more clear and looks better. The fish are doing great!