Cleaning a viv?

[TheReptilePrincess]

I was wondering how often you guys clean? And if you do partials or completes? Also how does cleaning a living viv work since you have plants in there? Sorry for the dumb question.

[fieldsmith]

The only routine cleaning I do is using a sprayer to get frog poo off of plants and down into the substrate. Other than that its just siphoning out the false-bottoms about once a month or so. If the tank isn't overpopulated and you have a good microfauna population going on you shouldn't have to worry too much about cleaning.

[RanaVenenosa]

I tear a paper towel in half and use that the wipe the poo off the sides and front glass (after a few spray downs). If your gonna spray the poo into the leaf litter, do it while its fresh... Frog poo is like cement once it dries - I think the ancient Mayans mixed it with straw to build their pyramids...

[Philsuma]

Algae and hard water on the front enclosure glass - use a fresh razorblade scraper then papertowel. VERY easy.

Frog poop -Only really noticable with large frogs like Tincs ect. Smaller thumbnails sometimes like to go on the glass -see above.

[Judy S]

what about vinegar...or freshly squeezed lemon??? I just worry about the escape artists during the process...

[Philsuma]

If a fresh razor blade won't restore the glass...I get rid of the viv.

escapes ? That's why front opening enclosures are so much better than glass top fish tanks.

[frogface]

Judy, I worried about escapees too. Then I discovered that when I'm messing around in the tank, the frogs tend to get as far away from me as possible

I do keep an eye out, at any rate, but, no escapees yet.

[TheReptilePrincess]

Im completely confused with the false bottoms. How do you clean the standing water down there? Should i make a drain in the bottom of the tank? I feel so dumb right now but i am really confused as to how I clean that.

[Philsuma]

Some people never remove / touch / "Clean" the false bottom water. It really doesn't smell at all. The tannins in the substrate keep it slightly acidic and brown. For those that do remove water - a built in bulkhead, hand squeeze turkey baster or small aquarium siphon poked into a corner works. On 90% of my vivs, I never touched the false bottom water.

[Judy S]

do you usually have a false bottom, or a substrate just separated with the screening material on top of hydroton or some other material??

[TheReptilePrincess]

do you usually have a false bottom, or a substrate just separated with the screening material on top of hydroton or some other material??

I have never had a living viv before in my life, thats why I have all these stupid questions haha! I am getting an exo-terra tank next week and will slowly be setting it up for a trio of red eyed tree frogs. And by may or june I am hoping to have 40-55 gallon viv set-up for some P. terribilis. I am just in the research stage as of now. Haha I've got a note book half full already of viv notes and care sheets lol!

[Judy S]

How about Philsuma...??

[Philsuma]

I've used both Leca and traditional eggcrate false bottoms. There is no - one is better than the other. They are 2 different animals that achieve "kinda" the same thing. Leca works better with some live plantings. Eggcrate is a little lighter.

Tank size
Substrate

chiefly...then some other minor consids - possibly aesthetics. It's a personal choice thing.

I had 60% eggcrate, 40% leca for my @30 some vivs.