New vivarium - Crowdsourcing on Frog Forum

[clownonfire]

Hi guys,

I spoke to my wife today, and we decided to get some new frogs... This Summer/Fall only. We are thinking about Dendrobates azureus, either the smaller dots or larger, or both. We are not certain yet, but at this point, it's the idea.

We want to start building the vivarium comes late March/April, so we could get all the necessary material before then. Of course, it will be a natural environment, and we will probably mix small plants and seeds. We will also seed springtails beforehand.

Here's our idea: We would like to build it with you. Basically, we would love to have your ideas, your input, so we can build the blueprint with you, and once we all agree, we'll start building it, and we'll post pics each step of the way, and try and create an environment that you would have participated in, making the adjustments and tweaking together.

We have to admit that Don's (http://www.frogforum.net/members/donlisk.html) dart frog vivarium was the inspiration.

How's that? I'd like to get the group of you who would like to participate first, and go from there.

So, who's with us?

Eric

PS: I will bump this one often until we get all the participants.

[DonLisk]

I'm definitely in. Should e a lot of fun.

[tjtreefrog]

Count me in ! I'm going to be setting up a vivarium for my Ambystoma mavortium (Barred Tiger salamander) very soon, and I might have some useful ideas for you from that build.

[bshmerlie]

Sounds like fun count me in. What size tank are we working with? I would like to recommend a 120 gallon. You have to give us plenty of room to work with. You could do Luecs instead and put a bunch of them in there.

[Ebony]

Great Eric..I'm in too.

[clownonfire]

That's great! Thank you, Don, Thomas, Cheri and Ebony so far...

Cheri, 120 gallons... Wow... I don't even think I could house that home...!

What would you say with a 40 gallons-60 gallons, around that vicinity?

[bshmerlie]

Ok I'll go easy on you a 55 gallon will have to do. Hopefully there is another dollar sale at petco.

[clownonfire]

Bump.

And also, does anyone else want to join our project?

[Leefrogs]

I've never built. I'll just watch ok. But I'm there for ya!!! But if u need to know bout plants that can be cut to height it whatever, I'll voice up!

[clownonfire]

I've never built. I'll just watch ok. But I'm there for ya!!! But if u need to know bout plants that can be cut to height it whatever, I'll voice up!

That is great, Ginger Lee!!! It will be a fun project. Glad to have you aboard!

[clownonfire]

Here's one important question, before we all get started:

Which frog will it be?

We will be building for a pair. That much I know. And I had mentioned dendrobates azureus as species. But this is not set in stone. What I do know, and what we can discuss on before we start thinking about the design of the terrarium and the purchases of the material:

1. It has to be a dart frog (or mantella).
2. Not necessary to be thumbnails. I love mine. They will breed and I will be happy to keep vents.
3. It will have to be available close to home, as I want to avoid shipment.

So... Any suggestion?

Kurt or John, your input could be very useful.

Thanks!

[tjtreefrog]

I've always thought Dendrobates auratus "Bronze and Green" was a beautiful dart frog, but I personally think mantellas would be really cool to keep. The Climbing Mantella (Mantella laevigata) looks like a very nice species.

[Leefrogs]

Colse to home is tough!! Ill be driving 3 hours to pick up a new guy thats under 2 inches. I'm bansai(ing)* a 30 inch umbrella plant to fit in a 17 inch tall octagon viv. And at twice the width. They can really bend. Nothing but the plant and bath will fit. But tree has good climbing and hiding.

[clownonfire]

The D. auratus are indeed very nice. I would have a preference for the Kuna Yala / Chuna Yala / Kahlua / Cream or Ancon Hill or Black colormorphs.

Dendrobates Galactonotus could be nice too, as they live in all levels of the vivarium.

As for Mantellas, I think I will forget the idea as I'm thinking about building a vivarium in length, not in height, which would be preferable for them.

[clownonfire]

Colse to home is tough!! Ill be driving 3 hours to pick up a new guy thats under 2 inches. I'm bansai(ing)* a 30 inch umbrella plant to fit in a 17 inch tall octagon viv. And at twice the width. They can really bend. Nothing but the plant and bath will fit. But tree has good climbing and hiding.

I respect your dedication, Ginger.

[Kisa]

I'm with Ginger, if I can just watch and maybe give a little input every once and a while that would be great for me. Sorry in advance if I can't offer any real help to you, I know nothing of building vivs OR dart frogs. ><

[clownonfire]

Kisa, your input will be appreciated! The more, the merrier!

I have contacted Understory Enterprises, and any of the D. tinctorius, D.auratus, D. leucomelas or the P. terribilis would be good according to them. Now as price will be a factor, we will certainly stay amongst the D. tinctorius or the D. auratus… And UE have a large selection of morphs for all of them. As beautiful as the D. leucomelas are, we will not go that route. And as for the P. terribilis, they are gorgeous, but at this point, outside of our price range if we want a pair.

So friends, if you want to help us chose, here are the choices:

D. auratus – El Cope (turquoise & bronze)
D. auratus – microspot
D. auratus – blue &
D. auratus – giant blue
D. auratus – super blue
D. auratus – camouflage
D. auratus – green & black
D. auratus - campana

D. tinctorius - powder blue
D. tinctorius – azureus
D. tinctorius – cobalt

Thank you for giving us your input!

Eric

[poison beauties]

Detailed build threads are definitely needed in the dart hobby so that we can use them as teaching guides for new hobbyists to go by and one up them if they can. Id be glad to help you out with ideas if needed.
By the way bigger vivs are always better. I wouldn't pack the frogs in just because they are grouping frogs. 3-5 for a 40-70 or even 6-10 for a 125 is common whether auratus, leucs, galacts or even terribs.
Im going to do the same with my two builds and will share all the steps to it from false bottoms to clay bases, backgrounds, planting, lighting, and air circulation. They will be 60''x30''x24'' viv's almost 190 gallons for a trio of quepo and baru grannies.

[clownonfire]

Michael, very happy to have you aboard. It will be a 40 gallons and it will house a pair of two only.

As soon as we settle on a species, we could start start talking desing and execution. I have a nice piece of wood that id like to build around.

[Ebony]

Well..sorry to say ..I dont have experience with any of these. (being from NZ).

So I went through the list and Im going by looks .. I would have to say my faverite one would be D. tinctorius – azureus. I like Blue