Ranitomeya ventrimaculata - Terrarium

[clownonfire]

Hi,

We will be getting our Ranitomeya ventrimaculata in about 3 weeks. It will remain at the breeder until the terrarium is ready, and the fruit fly culture is stable. I've been googling for the past 48 hours, looking for an easy and inexpensive way of creating a viable terrarium/vivarium for the R. ventrimaculata. It doesn't have to be fancy, it has to be nice and good for her/him. We are fully equipped on heaters, misters. fogger... We have an Exo-Terra Terrarium of 30cmX30cmX30cm.

My main questions are:

1. Does anyone has an easy step by step example for one?
2. What would be the best substrate? We have a coconut and moss substrates for our CB Bumblebee Walking toad
2.a. What substrate is also ideal for fruit flies, to make it easy on the R. ventrimaculata?
3. Would fake plastic plants (for the bromeliad for example) be suitable, albeit not ideal?
4. Any other tips will be greatly appreciated.

Once again, this forum just kicks major butt. Thank you in advance for your answers and suggestions.

Eric

[tjtreefrog]

Check out the thread "10 gallon vertical dartfrog terrarium construction" under Vivarium, Terrarium & Enclosure Discussion.

[clownonfire]

Check out the thread "10 gallon vertical dartfrog terrarium construction" under Vivarium, Terrarium & Enclosure Discussion.

Thank you. It's a great place to start, and we will use the idea on a smaller scale.

[Kurt]

Check out Dart Frog Terrarium Building

[clownonfire]

Thank you, Kurt. We got the supplies, we'll start building next week.

[clownonfire]

**Update: Terrarium almost completed.

AND

First cultures of wingless fruit flies successful (great and easy recipe from the Montreal breeder) and springtails.

Thank you again for suggestions and links.

[clownonfire]

Well, here it is. I can't take the credit for it, my beautiful and very talented wife took care of all the handy work.

We opted for tillandsia pruinosa which do well in terrariums for air plants, moss, Malaysian wood, hydro balls, forest bark, coconut husk, cork, Repti Fogger on a timer (6*15 min/day) to control humidity, heat cable on one side under the terrarium, and a fake vine.

[poison beauties]

Looks good and congrats on getting the vents. I would suggest alot more plants in there. You need to grab up a few mini neo species ''broms'' as that is what they need in order to breed and deposit tads in along with the fact they will also live in the brom axils. Id suggest a few other plant species like peperomias, philodendrons, fittonia, wondering jew or any other tropical small leaved species. The frogs really do need it in order to thrive,.
I would ditch the fake plants/ vines as they do nothing beneficial for the frogs or the micro fauna. Im not sure you will need the heat cable either as most dart frogs thrive at room temperatures anywhere from 60's to upper 70's. and can venture down to the upper 50's at night without many issues.
Vents will also need a nice layer of leaf litter on the bottom as they hide in it and forage for the micro fauna that depends on the rotting leaves as the bulk of its diet.
Also make sure the light on the viv doesnt over heat the viv. Heat will kill a dart frog faster than anything. So will dry conditions so you will need to cover the top of that Exo Terra with a piece of glass in order to keep the humidity in. They need high humidity which can be kept up with daily misting only if you cover the top.

Michael