Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to start a 20 or 30 gallon pdf tank
and I need some help

first off-if anyone has any links for housing and making vivariums
I bought jewels if the rainforest and thats helping me out with care and selections
but I need a lot of help with the creations of the tank
I plan on doing a very realistic set up something in comparison to this- http://www.balinka.com/pdfsetup.htm
I am going to do the water in the middle thing and a waterfall

so instead of posting the 300 questions I have about construction-humidity control-plant care-plant type-fruit fly cultureing-ect a good link whould be very much appreciated

however I do want to ask you guys what types are best for beginers?
how many can I put in a 20 gallon? 30 gallon?-(I will probley go with the 30)
can I mix differnet posion darts? if so which ones?
what is this I hear about keeping a small gecko in do help prevent fruit fly escape? I'd love to add one but I have heard so much about NOT mixing speices-althogh I did hear it on http://www.doylesdartden.com/
and he seems to know what he is talking about

also pictures of your set ups will help
thanks
-Matt

Hi,
I have a pretty big part of my site devoted to everything you ask here. www.yeagersfrogs.com

As for mixing, I think I talk about it on the site, but if not, here goes. You can mix with some success tiny frogs (Quinquevittatus group: ones for you to start would be D. imitator and D. ventrimaculatus) with D. auratus group (D. auratus, D. leucomelas, D. tinctorius, D. azureus, D. galactonotus-- avoid D. truncatus as a beginner even though they are part of this family). You can mix one from each of these groups with some relative success provided that the tank is large enough, I never mix in tanks smaller than 50 gallons. Also, you generally want to avoid mixing of the same genus as they can hybridize (though what I listed above can not). My most successful mix was in a 100 gallon (the pic is on the site) with E. tricolor, D. auratus 'kahlua and creme'(when they were cool), and D. imitator. All bred, and I counted the mix as a success.
Best,
Justin