Few questions

[nos187]

What do you guys use as substrate above the hydro balls for your dart frogs? How about the substrate you silicone onto the background?

thanks =))

[clownonfire]

Hi Nos. I use to add layers of soil, then substrate (either coco husk or jungle mix) then some sort of moss (sphagnum or pillow moss), all this over a layer of mesh which should cover your hydro balls (to prevent being soiled by the substrate).

Lately though, I have changed my ways, as I find the plants get to wet the way i was doing it. I now mix coco husk with soil with moss in a 1:1:1 ratio, instead of layering each on top of another. It creates a humid but less compact substrate and my plants are much more happy.

As for the backdrop, you can either use bark, or jungle mix glued by foam and or silicone II. I've seen clay, but I wouldn't advise it if it's your first viv. There are many threads on this forum which will detail each step of a vivarium build.

Do you know which frogs you are getting?

Good luck!

[bshmerlie]

Kevin if your real serious about doing it right buy the ABG mix. All your serious froggers use this because it holds moisture and drains well. It is sold at Joshs Frogs who is a site sponsor. ABG mix was invented by Atlanta Botanical Gardens and named after them.

[clownonfire]

Kevin, Cheri is almost right.... SOME serious froggers use the ABG mix. But some other very serious froggers like to mix their own substrate.... It's so much fun!

[bshmerlie]

Yes you can google ABG mix recipe and it will tell you all the proper ingredients. Im just not sure where to get some of the ingredients. OR you can ignore Eric and just buy it premixed.

[clownonfire]

Yes you can google ABG mix recipe and it will tell you all the proper ingredients. Im just not sure where to get some of the ingredients. OR you can ignore Eric and just buy it premixed.

Oh Cheri. I love my new terrib so much that i will concede this one to you.

[nos187]

hey guys thanks for the input. I did a 10gallon today using eco earth for the background. This is more of a test tank so i dont make any noob mistakes on my 36' 18' 24' exo terra tank lol! Im planning on buying 4 leucomelas and raising the froglets in the 10 gallon and transfering them to my main vivarium after about 6months. What do you guys think? I used like a mulch coco mix for the background and i dont know howmuch i like it personally. I definitely want to use the best of the best for my main vivarium though. Any more imput would be great! So that premix would be good then?

[bshmerlie]

I just got four baby Leucs myself about a month and a half ago. Mine have already grown a lot since I got them so you are unlikely going to be able to keep them in a 10 gallon for six months. Which means you're going to have to push up the finish date on that Exo Terra. I have the 36 inch Exo Terra as well and in is a great size for the Leucs...they're going to love it. As far as the backgrounds go there are a lot of options. Great Stuff will allow you to have depth and make ledges and plant holders. It is also lite weight. The clay method is very easy but is extremely heavy especially if you want to add depth. It is also the cheapest way to go. I personally think its too heavy for a tank that size...others may disagree. It also has to stay very moist or it will crack and fall apart. There are cork panels....tree fern panels...prefabbed backgrounds you can buy. You mentioned you didn't like the look of the eco earth...but there are a lot of ways to decorate it. I barely see my backgrounds as the plants, moss, and other things take over. Your tank is 24 tall so you'll want to come up with ways to help them use the height. They will climb like monsters when they are little but I have been told they are more terrestrial as adults. So I use wood to make slopes and tiered levels so they can easily get higher up. The 18 deep will give you plenty of room to do that. Then add in pieces of wood or a waterfall, along with a hillside, and plants and broms in the background you wont see the coco fiber. Also you can get some moss or creeping fig and it will cover it in and look green. The ABG mix is a great way to go and if you do the drainage layer like you mentioned and you wont have to change it out. Seed it with Springtails and isopods and you will have a balanced tank.

[nos187]

Wow lots of good information in that paragraph there. So how long do you think i could keep 4 froglet leucomelas in the 10 gallon?

I've actually already ordered my exo terra so pushing the viv time up will not be a problem. I read somewhere that its best to keep the froglets in a smaller tank to help monitor health conditions and feeding?

I plan on using the great stuff again for the background but i am not a fan of the bright yellow on the side of my tank. Do they sell black? (clay is definitely out of the question)

I do plan on doing a waterfall feature in my tank. Should i use an external water pump? So if it breaks i do not have to rip my viv apart to replace the motor.

As for climbing material i have already ordered some ghost wood and other marvelous diftwoods for aquariums =)

[bshmerlie]

Wow...four Leucs in a ten....Hmmm...maybe a month...two tops. I've been amazed about how quick my little guys have grown up. I feed mine a lot maybe that has something to do with it. You could ration them and stunt their growth....I'm just kidding. Im just playing with you because you seem very level headed.
Anyways, I agree I do tend to like to keep babies in something smaller than the 65 gallon but I think the ten will be just too small. As far as the yellow of the great stuff showing ...it wont be. First skim a thin layer of black silicone on the glass, let it dry and then do the great stuff. Then when the greatstuff is dry and carved put the black silicone over it and while the silicone is wet pack on the "dry" coco fiber. You wont see any yellow. A razor blade will get the excess silicone off the glass. They also sell black GS but it will not eliminate the silicone step. I keep my pump in my tank. I just have it off to the side with a rock over it for easy access. I do not bury the tubes but instead hide them under moss, leaf litter or behind plants. I would not have to destroy my tank to get it out. You can use anexternal canister filter to pump the water but you do have to have one that is strong enough to pump the water out if a 24 tall. They can get expensive and not really needed. I hope you show us the build as it goes. Also...one last thing. Only use the GS and silicone that is for windows and doors. Do not use the kitchen and bath stuff because they have mold inhibitors that are harmful to the frogs.

[nos187]

Wow...four Leucs in a ten....Hmmm...maybe a month...two tops. I've been amazed about how quick my little guys have grown up. I feed mine a lot maybe that has something to do with it. You could ration them and stunt their growth....I'm just kidding. Im just playing with you because you seem very level headed.
Anyways, I agree I do tend to like to keep babies in something smaller than the 65 gallon but I think the ten will be just too small. As far as the yellow of the great stuff showing ...it wont be. First skim a thin layer of black silicone on the glass, let it dry and then do the great stuff. Then when the greatstuff is dry and carved put the black silicone over it and while the silicone is wet pack on the "dry" coco fiber. You wont see any yellow. A razor blade will get the excess silicone off the glass. They also sell black GS but it will not eliminate the silicone step. I keep my pump in my tank. I just have it off to the side with a rock over it for easy access. I do not bury the tubes but instead hide them under moss, leaf litter or behind plants. I would not have to destroy my tank to get it out. You can use anexternal canister filter to pump the water but you do have to have one that is strong enough to pump the water out if a 24 tall. They can get expensive and not really needed. I hope you show us the build as it goes. Also...one last thing. Only use the GS and silicone that is for windows and doors. Do not use the kitchen and bath stuff because they have mold inhibitors that are harmful to the frogs.

Hahahhha ok maybe ill just end up buying a single thumnail species for my 10 gallon and just holding off on the luecomelas until my large viv is seeded and completed!

Great advice on using the silicone on the glass to cover the yellow. I found myself thinkng " Why the hell didnt i think of that!??" lol! I suppose that is why i am here asking questions =)

As for the pump i think i will do something similar. Im yet to design the waterfall but i will definitely keep all that in mind.

I plan on creating step by step post full of images on the creation of my main viv. Hopefully it turns out as well as some of the peoples did on here lol! If i run into any problems i will surely run right back to this forum lol!

Thanks again!