Original post by bugnut — 2011-07-18 21:16:24 GMT
I volunteer at a local Nature Center in the Los Angeles area. Recently, I was asked to help out in improving the habitat for the 2 toads, one tree frog and one rough skinned newt, all native. They live in a 2'x2'x4'tall glass enclosure with sliding doors in the front. There is a 6-8 inch space from the bottom of the cage to the bottom of the doors. It appears to be silicon sealed and watertight. For the past several months, I believe they have been living in substandard conditions with no cleaning or other maintenance. The substrate from bottom to top.....blue plastic bio balls, non-woven fabric, rocks, jungle something bedding. A lone pothos clings to life in the corner.
The substrate has been kep so moist that there is a layer of water, making the front of the habitat swampy. No pool of water was provided and my suggestion of a filter deemed unnecessary due to the bioballs.
The people who set this up are no longer with the park and the existing staff members like how I have set up other animals and insects.
I was thinking of something like one of the following:
http://www.reptiledirect.com/tetra-viquarium.aspx
or
http://www.futurepets.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=TM19524
Knowing next to nothing about amphibian keeping long-term, I would like some input. The park, I'm sure, would like to go with the lower cost setup. How would you set up a vivarium for these three species? Would you use those waterfall filters or something else?
Things to consider:
1. Most of park staff knows less than I do about the toads,frog and newt.
2. Maintenance needs to be minimal. It is likely to fall upon us volunteers on weekends.
3. Setup cost needs to be reasonable
4. Cost of maintenance supplies, like filter media, needs to be low. A great setup is no good if they won't buy filter media as needed.
I appreciate your more experienced input.
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