How I made my first Vivarium step by step

[nemanjask]

Here I will show you how I made my first vivarium, I hope I did not make big mistakes and please let me point out omissions.
http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/neman ... .html?o=39
http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/neman ... .html?o=39
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It's a little hard to decipher but I do not know how else to put in photos.

[joneill809]

It's a little hard to decipher but I do not know how else to put in photos.

Thanks for posting! Yeah it's not terribly clear how to post links from photobucket. Here's the board code that you would need to insert if you want to embed the pictures:

Code: Select all

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Which will end up looking like this:

[Philsuma]

Looks good but a couple observations.

Your lighting looks to be very high intensity. With an enclosure that is not very high, I would be concerned about heat. Also, Dart frogs, unlike reptiles, do not 'enjoy' or use, that much high intensity lighting on a regular basis. They need a lot of canopy to get out of the full light.

Your soil looks like it could be compacted easily. Combined with your large stream, I would be concerned about the soil being too wet - plant rot, and not being able to support microfauna or insects.

[nemanjask]

The lighting is a little stronger but I think it will not be a problem because I plan to densely will plant the plants that will produce enough shadow, also planning and hiding places for frogs than half of the coconut, explicitly notes, the hood can be moved in height very easily so I can increase my height if I see that is too bright. The substrate is a mixture of quartz sand, white Baltic peat and classical substrates for flowers, were drilled drainage holes through the polystyrene to hydro granules at every 5 cm, it should provide enough moisture, not too much. The water level is just to mesh between hydro granules and the substrate. Stream is not going over the substrate, is a special trough through which flows which is coated infill tile that is inert and does not dissolve in water.

[nemanjask]

Here's how it looks now vivarium. Only frogs wait, everything is ready!

[Philsuma]

Looks good - very nice!

[nemanjask]

And finally came the frogs.

[Philsuma]

Little guys. Feed heavy and make sure you have some good vitamins and calcium. Very nice.

[nemanjask]

I'm a little concerned about the continuing hiding my frog, now it's been a month as long as I put them and still barely seeing, what is causing this? Vivarium is densely planted with plants, has many places to hide, but never see more than one and there are six. The Vivarium has constantly flies and I think that they are not hungry and not exposed even when feeding them. I do not know if everything is normal.

[Philsuma]

Upwards of a month is not a long time as far as acclimation goes. 6 months to a year would be a 'long time' in my opinion.

Some species are very shy. Dendrobates auratus is indeed a 'shy' species on average and taken as a whole. You have several frogs including two different species in that vivarium , yes?

They are also small and juvenile correct? Frogs that are not fully grown tend to hide a lot more than adults. A dart frog reaching adult age and size after 6 months to a year, may become more bold.

There are many hobbyists that report almost 'never' seeing their frogs. There is a distinct possibility that you have some very shy frogs and that's going to be the way they are.

I think you are still too anxious. Give them a lot more time to become acclimated and grow into their surroundings.

[nemanjask]

Okay, now I understand, but I was afraid that something was wrong. I thought it was just shy, but I was not sure.

[nemanjask]

A few new photos of my vivarium and frogs

[Philsuma]

looks good. What species of frogs do you have in there ?

[nemanjask]

Only 5 Dendrobates auratus

[joneill809]

Nice work! I like the look of the top ledge. Which locale of auratus did you go with?

[nemanjask]

I do not know recognize that auratus have.

[nemanjask]

This is how it looks now. In the background you can hear the males who sing "love song" There are only temporary until they finish second vivarium.

[nemanjask]

Finally sourced

[joneill809]

Beautiful frog, but it looks like you are housing azureus with auratus? If so, I'd caution that mixing species is discouraged; here's a discussion on mixing species and hybridization:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4470