150, and 30 gallon terrarium (update)

Trohr · #1 (**permalink**) 12-21-2009, 12:54 AM

Hey guys, hope your all doing well. It's been about two months since I built my first vivarium, and it's doing very well. I had a bit of a pest problem with mites, but sealing off the top of the vivarium with Saran wrap and releasing CO2 inside for an entire day destroyed every living creature in sight.

From tail to snout my frogs are about two inches, and are growing rapidly day by day.

>>>> YouTube - White's Tree Frog Terrarium <<<<

beckdg · #2 (**permalink**) 12-21-2009, 10:41 AM

things have come a long way with just a little growth. the dumpy viv is looking fantastic!

auggie · #3 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 12:07 AM

Hi both of your frogs tanks look great! Although i do have a couple of questions for you:
1.What species of plants/moss did you use?
2.How do you clean out your water dish, since it looks like it would be a hassle taking it out?
3.What form of lighting do you use?

-Luke

Grimm · #4 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 12:34 AM

Im gonna say the larger tank has Golden Pothos...And Java Moss on the ground?

And I have no clue about the smaller tank. They both look good tho! I like the grass look

Trohr · #5 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekul luke2

Hi both of your frogs tanks look great! Although i do have a couple of questions for you:
1.What species of plants/moss did you use?
2.How do you clean out your water dish, since it looks like it would be a hassle taking it out?
3.What form of lighting do you use?

-Luke

Hey Luke. In the Dumpy tank I use Golden Pothos, Snake Plants, Java Moss, some sort of Ivy I bought from my local grocery store, and those droopy low growing things that I believe are ferns of some sort. In the Fire Bellied tank I use the droopy ferns, and used to use grass until it started to mat down and die so now I use dried leaves.

As far as the water dish goes.... It's just a little flimsy plastic thing that people use to catch water from potted house plants. I have a long piece of air tubing that I siphon the water into a great big bucket with, then pull out the piece of plastic, wash it thoroughly, toss it back in, and fill it with a jug of water. I use the air tubing to drain the Fire Bellied Toad's pond too~

The light is a fluorescent "Coralife" something or other lamp that came with the tank when I bought it. Here's a picture of the exact model:

The original owner of the tank used it for a saltwater aquarium. It has a blue LED "night light," and two intensity levels for the day- one sort of dim, and one very bright that requires all the light's fans to be turned on to run. I heat the tank to a balmy 83 degrees during the day by lowering the light straight onto the tank, and I use a ceramic heater to heat one side of the tank to 70-80 degrees at night. I have a large PC fan that kicks on for two minutes every few hours to push the stale air out of the tank.

froggsong · #6 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 03:48 PM

Those are darn good pics. If we were running a contest, you'd win in hands down with those pics. Your frogs are looking VERY healthy, and VERY happy in those environments. You've done a great job. I'll have to remember to watch that video soon.

phoenixflames44 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 01:38 AM

your frogs are to die for! and at first I was a little skeptical about your 150 set up... but upon further thought... the suburban look that it seems you went for is quite charming, and a nice break from the tropical setup.

Trohr · #8 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixflames44

your frogs are to die for! and at first I was a little skeptical about your 150 set up... but upon further thought... the suburban look that it seems you went for is quite charming, and a nice break from the tropical setup.

My only regret is using way more soil, and drainage layer than I needed. I used up almost an entire foot of vertical space with soil that I don't think I needed. The frogs don't seem to complain much though :]

phoenixflames44 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 01:31 PM

you have no idea how much that helps... I'm scared not to use to little drainage in my tank (not very high)... I guess less is more in tis case huh?

Trohr · #10 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixflames44

you have no idea how much that helps... I'm scared not to use to little drainage in my tank (not very high)... I guess less is more in tis case huh?

In my experience I think two inches of LECA, a heavy duty screen, and two to three inches of dirt would be perfect. If you really wanted to try, I'm sure you could get away with using an inch of LECA, sphagnum moss, and dirt but you would need to be very careful of your plant's roots.