Stu & Shaz's Dart Frog Room

[Stu&Shaz]

I dig the tad setup! I have been thinking about doing something like this, but I mainly feed a couple different algae powders and ground fish food and was wondering if it would all fall through the bottom screen. I have also thought about having solid bottoms with drilled sides or something.
Looks good.

hey Scott,tell me more about your algae powders,do they contain spirulina? Scott I made this out of the same mesh we use to build our vivs,its 0.4mm,not sure how that translates...terrible that an English guy now only knows a european measurement...its ruddy small Scott,guessing 1/32" or there abouts.I had fears that tad waste would build up but it doesn't,and the mesh also reduces flow in the box,to a very gentle...drift, i think is the most apt word.It will depend i guess on how big the powder partical size is and how long it floats for.I am feeding tetramin which i powder with my fingers,cyclops-EEze which floatsfor a while anyway,with no problems,ha plus the live grub which can't escape :lol: .
I will say this though,so far it works well i feel, its a doddle to manage,partial waterchange take around a minute tops,there must be a greater continuity to the water quality,because of the filtration and teperatures vary very little. If i thought i was going to be breeding this soon i would have made this system sooner and had those boxes outside for months in water...growing algae...thats the main reason for this modular design: the reason for the extra work on all those single boxes!!i want them green before a tad ever goes in them.With the risks excepted,ie possible growth inhibitors and disease,i would say build one,and just feed a bit more often,it ain't like your gonna pollute the water,the filter has your back,and the feed is such tiny quantities,thats not really an issue even if it costs as much as cycloop-EEZE. My filter is hugely overkill for the body of water,and the small mesh has prevented to much tad disturbance,so all good so far. Actually i worry about the plastic tray most,but the water(filtered rainwater) is held in plastic water butts,is moved in plastic buckets and stored in 4pint plastic milk cartons in the room so,maybe i'm just looking for something to worry about!!! Trouble is with these designs one simply doesn't know how it will work untill its in operation!! If i get good morph out with both the auratus and the mysties in this set up then i guess its a winner,the odds are massively stacked against this,one 'cause i am a novice and 2 becuase everyone,i have spoken to here has problems with mysties and sls.A good friend and one of the best young dart breeders here told me yesterday,evryone has problems at first morphing mysties,after around 60 they settle down,a bit and gradually get better, so that will be a fair test of this gizmo i would think...ahh man if i have to euthinase that many it will be very very hard....fingers crossed on that uvb light eh?
regards
Stu

[boombotty]

Yes, the algae powders I use are spirulina/chlorella mix with some fish food mixed in. I have used just this for years with excellent morph outs.

I am anxious to see how the uvb bulb works for tads. I have been thinking about rigging one up over mine, as well as on my viv for a little while each day.

1 minute partial water changes would be real nice! Right now, I just use a turkey baster to suck out the waste every week or so. It works out good though, my 4 year old daughter likes to help me "suck out the poop."

[Stu&Shaz]

ahh mate you an your 4 yr old daughter sucking out the poop made us smile, do you have brand names for the feeds you utilise?
Buddy check out Todd's set up on the rearing section,there is another option there for you!!
tell me also what you keep
take care buddy
Stu

[boombotty]

I don't know the brand, I got a bag of it from Patrick @ Saurian.net. I think he still sells it, but not sure he can ship across the pond. If you e-mail him, I bet he'll tell you the brand he uses, he is a real nice guy.

I only have 3 vivs and am keeping 1.1 Regina and 3.3 Benedicta. The other viv is reserved for something real special in the up-comming months :lol: The regina and bennies lay non-stop, so they keep me pretty busy with tads.

The 3 vivs I keep are a 90g split into 2-45g, and a 50g corner viv that is getting ready to be replaced with a 75g corner front opening. Pretty stoked about this, as I hate reaching into the top of this one to feed and collect eggs. I would much rather keep a few large ones than a bunch of 10 gallons.

[Stu&Shaz]

I don't know the brand, I got a bag of it from Patrick @ Saurian.net. I think he still sells it, but not sure he can ship across the pond. If you e-mail him, I bet he'll tell you the brand he uses, he is a real nice guy.

I only have 3 vivs and am keeping 1.1 Regina and 3.3 Benedicta. The other viv is reserved for something real special in the up-comming months :lol: The regina and bennies lay non-stop, so they keep me pretty busy with tads.

The 3 vivs I keep are a 90g split into 2-45g, and a 50g corner viv that is getting ready to be replaced with a 75g corner front opening. Pretty stoked about this, as I hate reaching into the top of this one to feed and collect eggs. I would much rather keep a few large ones than a bunch of 10 gallons.

Thanks for the insight Scott, i will talk to Patrick....ahh regina, benedicta we love,hmm i am guessing you have the same adoration i have ...with something special...if it is the same yearning as i have,then would you tell me everything you can about why and how you will set up this special viv.It can be pm'ed if needed.
I had top opening vivs as a kid when i did this mate..ok not darts,but other phibs, not for me. I know i am a novice mate, make no bones about it,but i love this ,you call em euro design,its just right,through flow of water,regulated circulation of air(by mesh density),and easy access,ok if ya build em in the shapes i do them its a tiny bit tricky to get to the back :oops: :roll: :lol: ,but you understand what i'm saying they WORK!!! ahh man i wish i knew of this design for my amphibians when i was little, take care buddy cheers for the help
regards
Stu

[Todd S.]

Stu, I wanted to ask... what are those panels on the backgrounds? Cork?

[Stu&Shaz]

Stu, I wanted to ask... what are those panels on the backgrounds? Cork?

Absolutly Todd,they are cork,much talked about much wanted,but damn hard to find,a constant serch an ebay for erm a while,yeilded these,there is more backaways about them.Lets say this if i could find more i'd want to!! I'm learning what they do Todd....how they grow,i had problems about them at first,water retention etc. Now i know more i don't,i can set baby ferns into them,gametophytes etc if i get my end right they grow,ficus cuttings bla bla,i have some pics loading of the next viv,i'll post soon,this viv will rely lots on my/our ability to work da cork,once it settles into viv life its easy to work with,but with gametophytes,that are native to here!! in the first couple of weeks after setting a viv,ha there's a plantsmans challange,have a read a bit back Todd ,its real important that you get the ones without glue
regards
Stu

[Stu&Shaz]

here's those auratus viv pics,this will take a good while to grow in lots of real baby home grown plants in here,little ficus from eucador will eventually cover back and left,one from cuba and a bit of margravia...if it does,its the one with the white vein,will cover right. Ferns are some natives,some gametophyes again all home grown,still to add the top layer of leaves. Rocks are our usual blag,i'm happier now than i was,but might go out there a bit more on the next lot with the pigments,still desparate for a better palatte to work with. Oh and there is a couple of spots of that wonderful native liverwort that looks a bit like seaweed,i actually created little hollows in the rocks to hold a bit of water for them,they like it damp,beatiful plant that looks so tropical to my eyes,not like thats based on any reasoning but we like...anyway pics eh

left side

right side

and a kind of overal shot with it next to the panama specials viv,whom are getting bolder daily which is so cool

So i guess those are 2 of the most unusual shaped cubiod vivs you'll see,but it gives them a real good floor area and some good climbing,and plenty of dark where they feel safe i guess,not easy planting the back though :lol:
bring it on
Stu

[frogfreak]

Hey Stu,

I love the way you build the tank around the frog. Your Auratus will love that viv! Nice job!

[Stu&Shaz]

Hey Stu,

I love the way you build the tank around the frog. Your Auratus will love that viv! Nice job!

Thanks Glen,i tell ya what it becomes much easier when you have kept some morphs of the same species for a while,we really try to do this for all,infact we have a viv stuck at the moment becuase we are starting to get quite abit in front of the frogs viv wise,and we are not quite sure whom its for and of course whether we will be able to find them. We love the idea of setting a viv up and just letting the ecosystem develope as long as possible,i'm really starting to believe this approach gives the new occupants the best possible start but i'm under the cosh to get plants into vivs before winter hits.Its an unusual situation i guess. Most folks are up for getting the frogs as quick as possible,we are in our first year,did our homework hard and solid,have tads and stuff happening before we expected,and not really in a huge hurry,apart from the winter thing that is. I guess we might have more guys to look out for after the frogday,who knows, but we need to think and build more tanks most of all,and as you say try our damnedist to build it round the frog....ha i like that mate,i have heard it before but its still a great little phrase
thanks Buddy
Stu

[Stu&Shaz]

There are lots of really cool things about this web thing about being able to talk with you guys over there and here learn stuff and make friends.There are also lots of very kind folks associated with this hobby,kind knowlegable folks whom go out of there way to be helpful,to broaden your knowledge,to help you out when your stuck and in other ways too. It seems to be one of those rare occassions in life when people think they are part of a greater thing.....ya know....so you keep darts here ya go....and they ask nothing back !! how cool is that that that someone will go out of their way for a guy that they have only talked to on the interweb,to help a guy that they have never met.Its kinda been my take as a beginner just try in a tiny way to put a bit back in for all the help and kindness shown to us,of course there isn't that much that us novices can do maybe we have bred too many feeders and get to help a guy thats had his crash,maybe send a few plants to a lady thats not well,ya know the little things,that make someone somewhere that you'll never meet smile.
Well I got some back today,not expected,I'll elabourate:
In Germany there is a massive reptile show,its mindblowing i'm told, We have been wanting some macheto for a long time now,the viv is built and as ever we are waiting untill we can find exactly what we are after,a guy has not only gone out of his way to show me a site where frogs are offered,but when i couldn't really handle stuff (am ruddy hopeless with computers) then set about hunting some down for us,we are picky we knew exactly what we wanted,he still went ahead talked to us untill he got what we were after,kept Pm ing me untill nearly midnight,even rang us from abroad to tell us our options and then brought these home for us,fed them overnight looked after them like his own,and we got to meet him for the first time today. Fortunately i was able to give a tiny bit back,other than a thankyou,but evenso where else in today's society does one see this.We are so proud to be part of this hobby, oh and we get to play with awsome frogs as well.
Here's our new guys,and yup the yellows are washed out Todd if you see this i have got to work harder on the photos! But at presant the frogs skills are needing to be honed more :oops: Shaz has named them after my gran(93) and my Grandad,an unreal guy whom taught me so much and had hands like SHOVELS,sadly not with us now you'll see what i mean with the fellas mitts...Gran will probably kill us :lol:
Here ya go ERNIE and MILLIE











so hows that for really cool huh!!
regards
Stu

[Stu&Shaz]

just nice to get this.
" right ...I've had it with this wet stuff, I'm outa here"

Stu

[frogfreak]

Nice shot!

They look great!

[ems1016]

Stu: My name is 'Ed' and I read through your entire post for the first time tonight. What has impressed me so much, in addition to your ingenuity and modest unassuming manner, is the empathy, regard and respect you so generously bestow upon all of us, your fellow froggers. As much as I am in awe by what you have built, there is much more to it all than just leaves, second hand glass, and frogs! Your heart is in all of it and speaks so loudly and coherently and, for that, kind sir, you have won my respect and admiration. Ed

[Stu&Shaz]

Nice shot!

They look great!

Thanks buddy,all good there mate? one got himself way up off the ground Glen i was amazed, really chuffed too, as ya know how concearned we've been about this damn sls,everyone i think oh man are those strong legs,they all just seem so small
belucky mate
Stu

[Stu&Shaz]

Stu: My name is 'Ed' and I read through your entire post for the first time tonight. What has impressed me so much, in addition to your ingenuity and modest unassuming manner, is the empathy, regard and respect you so generously bestow upon all of us, your fellow froggers. As much as I am in awe by what you have built, there is much more to it all than just leaves, second hand glass, and frogs! Your heart is in all of it and speaks so loudly and coherently and, for that, kind sir, you have won my respect and admiration. Ed

Thanks Ed,not really sure what else to say,bit humbled. Essentially it just goes round in a big circle i think with froggers,i don't see us as different,i can't help the guys much following me with the frogs,but i am able to chuck some of those little skills foward we have learnt. Phil is a great example of a more experianced guy going out of his way to helps us novices, we just run with the ball abilt i guess,
very greatful for your kind words Ed
regards
Stu

[Todd S.]

Great looking frogs!
Are those Saul Yellowbacks?


Todd

[Stu&Shaz]

Great looking frogs!
Are those Saul Yellowbacks?


Todd

Macheto's, Todd,blummin yellow tinc morphs,i have been asking about these yellow tincs for ages pretty much ever since we started reserching,now whether they are the same i haven't the foggiest,might be nomenclature is different in europe to america Tod,but i don't think so in this case as we do see saul here and I am not aware of other names at all for saul.
In the yellow tincs here,i am aware of regina (giant orange?) nakita lafumee,citronella saul,macheto mt achibakka. Any light you can shed on how each yellow tinc is ID ed would be most welcome.
These macheto's,were breed in holland they for the most part share a very similar colour pattern no blue in adults at least,and characteristic markings in black around the eye and back legs,i was quite particular about what we were after to my mate whom brought them back from hamm,and he found them without to many problems,i've seen many pictures of them over here exactly like mine,but i am aware of others that carry black on the back. Its abit like the debates over citronella we see here,some folks say the must have deep blue legs,others are carrying black legs,some with spots some without,there is much debate,and honestly mate i'm about as confused as one can be over this.I have posted here,and on 2 forums back home,and never had a clear concise answer. I think the machetos breed pretty true for the above pattern,as i am aware of many marked such, but i cannot varify this, and don't want to line breed either just deal with a straight morph,all real hard for a novice.
Todd i am very aware of the tropical experiance morph guide,but it dosn't answer all my questions,as excellant as it is.
thanks for the interest beautiful are they not
regards
Stu

[Todd S.]

I have no clue how to tell the Matecho apart from the other yellow morphs. In my opinion its much like IDing a plant. if you didnt get the info when you bought dont try to label it.
However something Ive noticed in the Matecho Ive seen is the more.... orangish vs yellow coloration. But again I always think its a bad idea to label something if you dont know.

Todd

[Stu&Shaz]

I have no clue how to tell the Matecho apart from the other yellow morphs. In my opinion its much like IDing a plant. if you didnt get the info when you bought dont try to label it.
However something Ive noticed in the Matecho Ive seen is the more.... orangish vs yellow coloration. But again I always think its a bad idea to label something if you dont know.

Todd

I guess i'm as sure as i can be that they are macheto Todd,but i don't have paper that says where they were collected,and a line foward breeder to breeder to these,i can't even do that with our superblue auratus which can be traced back to understory,then sndf,yes the colours are very washed out in the photos,that characteristic darker orange around the ...over the eye is very presant,on the female less so on the male,the photos just don't show it .I'm waitng to here from the guy that got them for me as to contact detail of the breeder,so i can investigete more, i do know his name though.i might have to get help as his english is poor,but i have a good friend over there whom will help with translation i'm sure
Stu