Fire bellied toad vivarium build - Page 2

stimpy · #11 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 08:02 PM

Sounds like a good plan. Will look forward to seeing some pictures.

seahawksfan_74 · #12 (**permalink**) 12-04-2009, 12:49 PM

I finally took a couple pictures of the set-up we have created.

We also have some driftwood and a ramp to the shelf to add but the camera died so I will post more pics next week. We will also start planting next week. I was thinking of some golden porthos on the shelf and some java fern in the water. Maybe a bamboo shoot too in the water. What are some other choices for the shelf? There is only about 14cm (5") from soil to lid.

froggsong · #13 (**permalink**) 12-04-2009, 02:54 PM

If it wasn't so late in the year I'd say have the kids bring in low growing wild plants. It would give you an opportunity to teach them about the native flora in your area and about plants in general. However, it's to late for alot of plants, and actually digging any up with how cold it is getting could kill them...

Pothos is good, and requires little space for roots. It will also growing well submersed, so you can trail it down into the water. It will outgrow the tank fairly quickly though, so expect to have to prune it.

The "bamboo", which is actually a corn plant, will do well in the water or on land.

You can go with some broms (make sure they don't have thorns on the edge of the leaves) in that amount of space. My FBTs actually like to snuggle down into them to hide.

seahawksfan_74 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-04-2009, 06:10 PM

Thanks Froggsong, great ideas. You don't know how right you are about it being late in the season, we have 3 or 4cm (1-2") of snow on the ground here, so digging up plants wont work, LOL. Finding broms locally has been near to impossible. All that I could find at the local big box hame centers were usually too large. I will keep look though. Here is a picture with the driftwood, the ramp is in the picture but not in place as the silicone is still not completely dry.

froggsong · #15 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009, 07:35 PM

You did a good job with the rocks on the substrate barrier and the ramp. It looks really good.

Are you going to do aquatic plants in the water? I think that would look really nice.

It's too bad about the plants... It's hard to find stuff this time of year. If it hasn't gotten icy just a few days ago, I could have harvested some things for you and mailed them. Too late now... I'm just glad I got all the plants I needed before the freeze. I just did a 20G tall for my native frogs and salamanders with all native plants. Have you looked to see if there are any greenhouses anywhere near you?

seahawksfan_74 · #16 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009, 10:41 AM

I have looked for greenhouses but they don't seem to have much in the way of broms. What they do have has been too large for the small viv's that I have made. I will just have to keep looking I guess. Thanks for the kind words, my students have had a lot of fun creating it so far. Now we just need to get the plants in and toads in the new year. I do have some Java fern in the water already and we will get some other aquatic plants too.

beckdg · #17 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009, 11:09 AM

there are a few different species of both java fern and anubias. both grow very well with little care emersed. anubias and cryptocoryne species look and do exceptionally well emersed imo. google hydrophyte and check out his ripariums for great examples of what can be done.

this may help you find some broms.... and other plants you may be searching for... good places to buy... please add to it!

keep in mind we are getting further out of season and your chances and selection are surely getting slimmer at this point.