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This thread will be a continual feature where we can discuss building a dedicated room for keeping and breeding Poison Dart Frogs.
FIRST
Location, location, location !
Very important, obviously, because once made, it's hard to tear down or go backwards.
Dart Frog vivariums do best with ambient temperatures, that is, the entire room should be easily and effectively....totally....climate controlled.
Since Dart frogs "do best" in a generally "household" climate - high 60's F to 70's F, it's important to choose a room in your house where that range can most easily be accommodated.
Attics, third floors ? Bad
Basements ? Now we're talking ! Basements (if ya got em - sorry Florida, other weird areas of North America) are by far and away, the best location. The are cooler and usually easier to insulate and thermo regulate.
Secondly, the concrete floor is ideal for our purposes too. Water that will eventually be spilled is easy to clean up from a concrete or tiled floor. FF and other hobby detritus is equally easy to vacuum up off.
Carpet = not the greatest
Concrete and tile = perfect
and remember...cooler is better than "Hotter". Avoid stuffy areas and large windows and potentially drafty rooms.
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Everyday I meet someone I dislike, are you today's pick? If you dislike me it's because somethings wrong with you!
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1.5 kids and a bunch of frogs
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Gotta say I wish I had tiled our floor...DUMMY. I really should have sorted that one but head was more full of having a floor strong enough to take the weight,and i had just ripped our all the flooring because we found woodworm. So failing a basement which we didn't have, an upstairs room is the only option.
Start at the bottom is that floor strong enough,racks full of glass tanks,plus that wonderful bit of hardwood you love so much are heavy when they are 3 high, wall to wall. Its PROPER scary heavy.
If at all possible go for a north facing room to avoid high temps from direct sunlight.
Stick a maximum/minimum thermometer in there for as long as possible,ours was from the hottest part of summer right though to coldest bit of winter months ...check regularly find out what the room does,these things don't just happen spur of the moment, ideally it will always run a bit too cold for frogs, when all those lights are on it will be a blessing.
Insulate everywhere you can,saves bucks later might save our froggy friends lives too when S**T happens...which it invariably does.
Secondary glaze that window, our old single glazed means we have now got triple with the units we installed,erm out of rubbish for the cost of 8 screws...and a bloody big headache trying to work out just how to do it,with the materials we had. If i had double glazing i would still have gone there,keeps heat out,summer and warmth in in the winter.
If you can install running water,that said we didn't and i get to keep fit running the stairs carrying the stuff :lol:
But if you do install a sink be blummin careful what you put down it,heaven forbid you have some nasty disease in your room,would be nice to know that you didn't clobber the local phib population too!! MAY that never happen to anyone that reads this !
Secure those racks to that wall, I have 2 vivs that i bought,second hand,we make all of them ourselves,these were cheap as the were slightly damaged,the guys rack fell over,he gave up lost nearly all his frogs in a few seconds...that breaks my heart ! I would rather not have had that opportunity,and he still kept his frogs. so I'll add here is that rack really up to the job of carrying those tanks...ARE you SURE.
Being a picky bitch whom takes a lot of time to try to put a bit of love into each viv, the best viewing experience is gonna be if you have something to block out those lights above every viv, I know its hard to make your own racks I have that T-shirt , I spent hours last winter freezing my ********s off,would id do it again...hell yeah, HMMM actually I have to...oh HELP :roll: :lol: :lol: Seriously though there is a lot of work in one of these rooms,and a huge joy to be had back from it,always worth going that little bit further huh ?
Regards,
Stu
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