Building 40 vert

[Delmarr]

Hello all:

I've been keeping darts for some time and decided to build 2 40 verts for tree frogs.

I am relitivly new to tree frogs and though I know what to do as far as building verts for darts
I am a bit unsure when it comes to tree frogs especially when it comes to ventilation.

How much ventilation do I need to build in? Is a 6 x 18 screen vent on the upper half of the front enough or should I put a vent at the bottom as well?

I am still trying to decide on what species I want to get. Price is not really an issue as I am surprised at how cheap tree frogs are in comparison to darts.

My wife loves the tiger legs but I am looking to see what is out there thats a bit less common for the second tank.

Tank dimensions will be 36 tall 18 wide and 17 deep. Ideas?



Thanks all

Delmarr

[MikeM670]

I'm in the process of building a 40 vert for tree frogs myself. I decided to purchase the door kit from AAAFrogs for my first tank. Have you looked at the images on Aaron's website to get a idea on screen size for ventilation. I've only gotten as far as the kit installation on the build. Still thinking about how it should be built.

[Leefrogs]

I'm doing my own conversion. Went to local hardware, have them make a screen and glass to size, got hinges and knob from Joshs frogs. I'll finish install tomorow. I'll let you know how it goes.

As far as rare frogs just now offered cheap-- check out yellow eyes cousin to red eyes, last year they were 400$ Joshs got them for 40$. Called Agalychinis annae, I'm getting 2 on friday

[JSG]

Delmar, try getting hold of Kurt, LOL, even his status says he is a Tree Frog guru, so who better to ask than our local guru?

[Delmarr]

Thanks for your responses. I have looked at AAA kits and though they would be great for a dart frog tank I have 2 problems. 1. the vent at the top is very small and from what I am reading most tree frogs need less humidity and more ventilation then I think this kit is designed for. 2. the brand of tank I bought has a slightly smaller opening due to a thicker frame and the AAA kits just wont fit.

I am also a bit hung up (excuse the pun) on how to hang the door. I want a side hings but with the thickness of the frame on the tank the josh frog piano hinges would barely reach the door.

I have been looking at some of the gliding frogs as an option but do not know if they are a good choice. ie. can I provide optimum conditions? Are they endangered (refuse to be part of the problem) are they available? etc. Also like the Glass frogs and Peacock's but same questions apply.

I am willing to spend a couple hundred per frog if needed but so far most everything I see is $50 and under. Don't get me wrong, I am not equating cost with how great one frog is or isn't. I am just surprised not to see costlier choices> Maybe I just have not found the vendors that deal in less common frogs.

Again, thanks all for your very helpful responses. This is looking to be a great community of like minded people.

Delmarr

[MikeM670]

I only have darts right now and actually just got them in the past month. The kits for the 10 gallon I believe are really setup for this type. The larger 40 gallon breeder door kit has a much bigger vent. I have seen some videos on youtube from AAAFrogs that show the 40 gallons. Maybe that would give you more information. I might try my hand at building my own door kits as I enjoy building the complete setups just as much as keeping the darts. I'm looking forward to getting some red eyes soon but want to have something ready to go. Just hope I can still get them. They are so popular.

[Leefrogs]

I would make sure everything you buy comes with the tag CB-- that means it's captive breed. Stay away from even "farm" raised. You'll find you pay more fir CB animals. But these are more freindly and healthy animals.
second your conversion. I did a 10 gal conversion today that cost 4$ for the glass the screen and frame was 8, but you gotta figure I paid for laybor. I found the screen to be too big leingth and width. I just pryed it in there. But that made the door over lap a little. So if you do your own conversion. It's better to tell them 1/8 less than you need, as silicone will fill the gaps. Pictures of build will be added to my list of being green and saving $ by Saturday if you wana check it out

[Eric Walker]

Delmarr- in reguards to your venting question. A bit bigger is better. you can allways
put a small peice of acrilic over part of the vent to close some off if it is to much airflow. Its harder to creat more airflow if needed witho a fan. I have 3 40 breeder verts I built with sliding glass doors not in use yet along with 5 30 breeders. I think the vent is abot 3-4 inches but I would have to check. I would recomend trying the sliding doors, they rock. Also there is no stress on you hinge. only problem with makeing them is your measurements need to be a bit more precise but I didn't have to much of a problem. My local glass guys are awsome and made it very easy for me. I was actually able to center the track with the trim so one peice of door fits snug inside the trim and the other outside the trim. not even fruit flys can get out.

[Delmarr]

Eric:

do you have any pictures?

I built a wooden dart tank, 36 x 18 x 25 and put sliding doors in but have had a beast of a time keeping flies in.

Thanks

Delmarr

[Eric Walker]

I will have to try to get some. Unfortunatly when I built them I didnt take pics in the process. you need to do a small slit down the center of the track about 3/8th inch to slide the tank trim into. I have some extra track for 1/8th in glass I may be able to spare. Are you working on just one 40B?

edit:should have gone back and read again, 2 40B verts.

[Eric Walker]

did my best to show what it looks like afterwards. I also inverted a peice of trim ontop of the lower retaining wall to give the track a nice thick, level, solid platform but you have to use 1/8th inch for that so the trim fits onto it as well. I know its kinda thin for the bottom peice but I have not broke any yet ( knock on wood )

also my 30 breeders had trim to thick on them So I had to do it slightly differnt and place extra track on the side so there was a good fit and place it all inside the trim

[Delmarr]

Eric:

Awesome pics! you answered a tun of questions with a couple of pictures.

Quick question. how do you fly proof the gap in the center between the doors?

Glenn

[Eric Walker]

A fiberglass product used with windows i trimmed down. Again from my local Glass shop and is something they had on hand. It also created a bit of resistance so the door don't slide to easly.

[Delmarr]

Eric:

Sorry for all the questions but here comes another one.

I see you have about a 2-3 inch vent running across the top of the front opening.

Do you find that this give you enough ventilation?

I've been reading that tree frogs need lower humidity and good ventilation and have been thinking about doing a euro style vent at the bottom as well as the standard one at the top.

What do you think?

Thanks

Delmarr

[Eric Walker]

I havent had any of the 40's up and running, only the 30's and the vent is a bit thinner.
I do however have one on a 29 vert that is planted and running with no frogs but that one is intended for darts. the vent should be close to 3.5 on that one and I get some good ventilation.

now on the 30 I have my theloderma asperum in I get plenty of ventilation and its only about 1.75 inches

I would say depending what kind of mesh you are useing it will also change how much air is passed through. I use a strechy mesh with very small openings and it seem to be working fine