Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 50 gallon terrarium that will soon be vacated that I hope to use for frogs. However, it has a screen top which won't do, too much ventilation. It's not an aquarium that I bought a top for, but one of the ones where the front piece of top trim is attached to the frame of the screen and the whole piece slides forwards. What's the best way to make this terrarium suitable for frogs?

Sounds like a snake tank, or a reptile tank. Does it have water in it now? Some of those tanks say to not fill with water, which should not be a problem if you do not want a water feature.

You could have a piece of glass cut to cover 90-95% of the screen topa and then leave the rest as a vent. You may also be better off redoing the whole top also. If you have a picture some people might have some ideas.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

>>Sounds like a snake tank, or a reptile tank. Does it have water in it now? Some of those tanks say to not fill with water, which should not be a problem if you do not want a water feature.
>>
>>You could have a piece of glass cut to cover 90-95% of the screen topa and then leave the rest as a vent. You may also be better off redoing the whole top also. If you have a picture some people might have some ideas.

Yes, I have an ackie in it right now. Looking to sell him to use it as a frog tank.

If it is anything like my screened tanks you can get a tool from home depot that will both remove and replace the splining. Take the screen out and replace with a soft plastic (note if you use lights make sure they do not get hot enough to melt the plastic. Also be careful which plastic you use. A plyable acrylic is good but ive seen a PVC based plastic and it would leech toxins at higher temps)

Darryl
Dart-Frogs.com

I have been using full screen tops for my frogs for years now with no problems. The only problem is keeping the flies in with screen tops, because melanogaster can usually wander right through the screen. All I have done to fix this is to superglue a sheer fabric on the inside of the screen and attache the screen to the tank with velcro. This makes it impossible for the flies to get out.

As long as you have a water feature in your tank (small pond, waterfall, or even a mister/fogger) the humidity will stay high enough for the frogs, and the extra ventilation is good for them. This method was given to me by Ian Hiller, who has over 20 experience with frogs, and I have never had any problems. I also have the added benefit of being able to see my frogs because the tanks are not all fogged up.

As was stated earlier however, the terrarium in question sounds like a critter cage. These are made of thin glass not designed for the weight of water. If you decide to use it for frogs be very careful with what you put in it, and do not consider moving it with anything still inside.
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1.1.3 D. azureus
0.0.8 P. bicolor
0.0.7 D. auratus (polka-dot)
0.0.3 D. auratus (blue)
0.0.3 D. auratus (kahlua and cream)

Shannon

One thing to note on this also is the humidity of the air outside the tank. I can tell you that even with a water feature my tanks drop humidity just opening the lid for a little bit. Not trying to say it can not work, but every case will be different, and the humidity is all that matters.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I am in New Orleans. Humidity is always high here, if anyone needs to see for themselves, just come on down next summer. I didn't even think about places that were not a damn sweltering jungle most of the year. Sorry I moved here from Michigan and I miss some of the small things like seasons, intelligent people, and hard workers. I have found of few of the latter two, but they were always transplants.

Y'all should come on down to New Orleans and visit, here we say it's not the heat, it's the Stupidity.
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1.1.3 D. azureus
0.0.8 P. bicolor
0.0.7 D. auratus (polka-dot)
0.0.3 D. auratus (blue)
0.0.3 D. auratus (kahlua and cream)

Shannon

done it before, tacky but effective
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2.2.3 Orange Leucs
1.0 ventrimactulatus Blue leg
0.0.4 Orange galact

Always looking for female vents and plants