Ranitomeya ventrimaculata - Terrarium

[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

[clownonfire]

Michael,

Thank you for the thorough response!! Really great. For more flowers, noted! Ill take care of that.

There are no fake flowers, just the vine. And for that one, i've based myself on the breeder where his use the vine to walk on and enjoy jumping from it.

As for heat, the light is extremelly low, 15w and 2.0 UVB, as we have with our other terrariums and mostly for the plants. Air plants don't need much but a bit of light and good moisture.

The heat cable will be necessary. It is hooked on a timer with the humidifier. I live in Montreal and we have extreme weather during winter, for example, this week we've been living with a temperature of -28 celsius. The heat cable only covers half of the bottom and will also help release the moisture. Even with good heat at home, im not taking any chances. We have heat and humidity sensors which will also help.

Lastly, once comes Spring, ill get some foliage leafs to cover the substrate, once our weather will raise from subzero temperature.

Thanks again, Michael.

Eric

Ps: forgot, we wont be breeding our vents.

[Leefrogs]

Nice. In 3 weeks post finished please, you're very thorough. So I don't need to worry bout that. Wisconsin we deal with the same temp craziness. It can drop 50 degrees (or 20 celcius) in 6 hours. I have hand heating pads in case power goes out.

[poison beauties]

you cant stop them from breeding unless you have all of one sex ''females'' as males will fight. You would have to cull alot of eggs and I mean a lot of them. My vent trios produced more than thirty froglets each a year inviv on there own.
As for temps I missed that you were that far up north. Im all the way down in the south east so heating is never required.
I know many great breeders up in Canada that could help you out as well if you need anything, There is Canadart.org • Index page . Darts are growing in popularity up there and finding live plants shouldnt be hard I can help you out there as well if you need,
And make sure you cover the lid with a piece of glass as humidity will not stay in the viv and there is no way to keep a functioning viv for darts with out it. There are build threads on other boards on how to exactly do this.

Good luck,

Michael