couple question on plants/layout for dart viv

[Saviorself]

I have a couple questions. When creating my layout do I have to worry about the frogs jumping down from to far a height? I thought about having a ledge behind a tall waterfall that they could hide behind?

Second question is I know pitcher/carnivorous plants are a bad mix for darts because of there size. However tank I am using is a 125 gallon and I was thinking if I were to have them on a "island" so to speak surrounded by water. Would the frogs still try to get across to the plants? If not what would you recommend for distance of water between dry land and the carnivorous plants.

Not sure if this makes a difference but I am looking at doing either azureus or leuc darts.

Thanks

[beckdg]

i moved this thread over to the dart section. you might get better responses here.

[WannabeVivMaster]

I don't think you have to worry about the frogs falling from the top of the tank (within reason).
I don't think it's a good idea to have enough water in the tank to stop frogs from getting to the CP's because dart frogs can easily drowned. They are frogs but they don't swim well.
Would be awesome to have 125 gal dart frog viv!!!

[Grimm]

I have yet to hear of anyone loosing a dart to a cp, but they are not recomended. Here is a good thread on cp's in dendrobates vivariums...

http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/pla...ium-guide.html

I have seen multiple vivs with nepenthes...Typically they are mounted near the top, in their own well draining substrate pots. I would just make sure that the opening of the pitchers are not big enough to let a dart inside.

Edit: And as for the height and fear of a frog jumping to it death, it isnt an issue. Darts typicall lay eggs in broms well over 100ft in the air in the wild.

[Saviorself]

Originally Posted by WannabeVivMaster

I don't think you have to worry about the frogs falling from the top of the tank (within reason).
I don't think it's a good idea to have enough water in the tank to stop frogs from getting to the CP's because dart frogs can easily drowned. They are frogs but they don't swim well.
Would be awesome to have 125 gal dart frog viv!!!

I had asked about the issue with the frogs drowning and the response I got was as long as it was sloped gradually from the shore line it should be fine.

My plan was to have a waterfall on the right side of the tank and have a shallpw stream run to the left side and dump into a small pond that would take up the first 12 inches of length. Had planned for a few neon tetras in there and have the carnivorous plants above that body of water in the back left corner

[tclipse]

Here's what I did with my 125, hope it gives you some ideas. I originally planned on larger water features, but this was really the best option for PDF's. There are a few male endler's swimming around in the left side pool.



A good pitcher plant would probably be nepenthes bellii, the pitchers are small enough that you could get away with D. azureus or leucomelas. PDF's are way clumsier than you would think when it comes to getting around in the water, I put in a ton of java fern and anubias that come out of the water to give them stepping stones to get across or out. If I did it again, I'd have that right side pool in the middle instead, so they could climb out on either side. Last step is some black contact paper to cover the false bottom. Hope that helps!