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Setting up a Terrarium for Dart Frogs
By Janet Ashby
We’ve put together some guidelines to help you set up a terrarium for dart frogs. Designs and set ups can range from the very simple to the more complex and extravagant!
Substrate The best substrate we have found is aquarium gravel. Soil based substrates tend to become rotten and foul the tank. Soil is only necessary if you plan to grow plants in the terrarium but they can always be planted in a small pot and sunk into the substrate. This will not only keep the soil in one place but prevent the plants growing too big and taking over the tank. A Simple Design Fill the bottom of the tank with gravel and shape it into a landscape. A pond can be formed by making a shallow recession in the gravel then cover with sheet moss, obtainable from a garden store. Sheet moss is dried moss and will not rot while kept dry. However in a high humidity environment with bright lights it may start to grow and may need replacing every six months or so. You could also use live moss which can be obtained from terrarium supply shops. Another alternative is to use no substrate but spread large, dried leaves on the floor of the tank. Incorporate a misting system to increase the humidity and to provide daily showers. Excess water will accumulate in the recession to form a pond, otherwise syphon off excess water periodically. More Complex Designs The basic design above can be used with the addition of a waterfall and a pump. Use the bottom of the tank as a reservoir and use a container or a false bottom for the pump. Water is lifted from the reservoir into the waterfall in the body of the tank. One disadvantage of this system is that the pump and components are visible from the outside of the tank. Another method is to place the pump in a container and bury it in a thick gravel layer. A margarine tub is ideal as a container. Make holes in the base of the tub and cover with wire mesh which can be attached using aquarium silicone sealant. make two holes on the lid for the hose and power cord and place the pump in the tub. The back corner is a good place to position the pump. Make waterfalls and streams using cork tubes or flats. Add the gravel layer and the pump then add about two inches of water to the base of the terrarium and position the outlet hose from the pump to give streams of water where required. Lighting Good lighting for your terrarium is essential. many plants need a high level of light to thrive especially orchids and bromeliads. Aquarium lighting is not sufficient and we have found compact fluorescent lighting to be a good light source of sufficient brightness for the plants. Easy to install kits can be bought from terrarium suppliers.
This intel first appeared on: http://www.terrariumsforsale.com/2008/12/25/dart-frog-terrarium/
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The copyright for this content entitled "Setting up a Terrarium for Dart Frogs" has been specified by the contributor as:
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This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
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This intel was contributed by janetra
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May, 2012
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