Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I'm constructing a large tropical vivarium for dart frogs out of wood. Its 42" long, 30" tall and 16" deep. I want to install small fans to allow air circulation and ventilation. Where could I find such fans, how much do they cost, and what would be the best way to go about installing them (both to protect the dart frogs from the fan, and so that it will look asthetically pleasing because the vivarium and its stand are made of furniture quality wood and are made to furniture quality standards. Thanks for your help!

Mike

My tank came with a computer-type fan in it, it snaps into the plastic top, it is inset and the frogs can't squeeze through the bars so they are protected.

I think that somehow doing it from the tank top would work best as the darts won't be up there, but am imagining that you may have to use a screen over it because of the fruit flys. Mine blows down into the tank on one end and there is a ventilation opening on the other end. It does work as if I would turn it off the tank fogs up. It's not real powerful but works well.

You may want to check out dendroboard.com, they are mainly darts and I'm sure someone has already done this as their tanks are spectacular.

Mike.. check out ebay for the fans.. there are many ways to hook them up and provide safe guards.. most people use PVC as a duct system and cover with a fine mesh screening or misquito netting to keep the frogs out.

Alot of people will also make a U shape out of the PVC, so that the air intake and outlets are both in the tank, essentially just circulating the air within the tank and not exchanging it with new air.. this helps with humidity..

You can also pump humid air in via a number of different methods..

So.. to answer your question.. there are 1000's of ways to do it..
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So do you mean hook up a fan outside of the cage and attach that to pvc and then pipe the circulating air into the cage, or mount the fan in an air hole and pipe the air out? Sorry if I sound confused, but this is just all new to me and I want to make sure I get it right. Thanks for your help!

I was too, luckily I had instructions that said that mine was to blow in. Everything in me, I'm in engineering, would tell me the best way would be to suck the air out. Weird. Seriously though, try dendroboard, I'm sure they have the solution for you. Good luck.

Mike.. you can do it either way.. I will try to get some sketches for you in the next few days to help "illustrate" it for you.. it is one of those things that can be sort of hard to explain in words..
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