Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I have decided to grow dart frogs. my goal is to make the vivarium for under 150 dollars (not including tank) This will be my little journal of what i use, where i get it, and how much it costs... my budget is 150 dollars. I am using one of those square oceanic tanks, 18"x24"x18"

Supplies:
Rep-Cal -$5.00 Pet-Co
Herptivite -$6.50 Saurian Enterprises

[2]Fruit Fly Cultures -$12.00 Fruitflies.net
Media for fruit fly cultures: Food Store lol

1 cup water -$0.05
1 tablespoon cornmeal -(bag costs $3.00)
1 teaspoon powdered agar -(available at health food stores, i tbs Aprox. $1.00)
1 tablespoon molasses -(Bottle costs $3.00)
1/8 teaspoon calcium proprionate (an optional mold inhibitor used in bread.) -$?.??
1 package bakers yeast -$?.??

SubTotal = $18.55

Supplies for Vivarium::

Gravel (10 lbs) -$10.00* PetsMart
Fiber Screen -$3.00 Orchard Supply Hardware
Peat (bushel) -$4.00* Orchard Supply Hardware
Coconut Bedding (3 bed-a-beast compact packages) -$9.00 Pet-Co
Pressed Cork Bark Panel (3' x 3') -$10.00 PetFlytrap
Water Pump (from fountain bought at Ross) -$9.50 Ross
Ceramic Heater Lamp (Bought 2 years ago, but here's the price anyways) -$25.00* Pet-Co
[2] Compact Florecent Lights -$14.00 (1* came with tank Petsmart) Orchard Supply Hardware
[2] Hoods -$10.00 (1* came with tank)
Thermistat- $4.00* Pets&Ponds
(whats the word for a humidity level tester thingy?) -$4.00* Pets&Ponds

SubTotal: $121.05
My Real subtotal would be about $76.00, because most of the things are from leftover projects from years ago...

NOTE: * = bought several months/years ago for other projects

Now, What else do I need? Oh yes, Plants... So far I have:
Philidendron
Unknown plant that looks like Bromeliad, only its not one

Any other suggestions?

Also, what do i do for ventilation?

Ok some money saving ideas:

1. pea gravel from homedepot $2.90 50lbs bag, can't beat it, and I like the look of it.

2. Try this mix for FF's, doubt it could get much cheaper.
1 cup of powdered sugar
4 teaspoons Methyl paraben (can be replaced with 1:1 water
Vinegar)
8 cups potato flakes
1/2 - 1 cup of brewers yeast.
Then use active yeast on top, if you need more info on this just e-mail me.

3. NOT NEEDED, unless your house is kept very cold. Lower 70's is fine. (Ceramic Heater Lamp (Bought 2 years ago, but here's the price anyways) -$25.00* Pet-Co)

4. Pass on these and get a nice digital one for $31-35, that has both. A little more, but the analog ones do not read mych over 80% humidity.(Thermistat- $4.00* Pets&Ponds (whats the word for a humidity level tester thingy?) -$4.00* Pets&Ponds)

5. One hood will be fine, and if it is a compact even better. ([2] Compact Florecent Lights -$14.00 (1* came with tank Petsmart) Orchard Supply Hardware
[2] Hoods -$10.00 (1* came with tank))

Should leave you a little for plants. So far sounds good. Might want to add a $4 timer to all that also. You might want to check out lows and home depot for plants also, just make sure to clean them off. If you are not getting thumbs save your money on the broms, as they are not required.
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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 don't mean to be pessimistic, but if you can outfit your tank from scratch for $150, I will be very impressed. Towards the end, things you forgot start coming out of the woodwork....literally. Good luck though and please ask any questions you have.
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Matt

My first one was less than $150. Now everything getting started was a bit more than that. Now my second tank was WAY too much, but I think I have learned to cut it back since then. After you have the basics its not too bad. I could build about 4 more tanks with the supplies I have right now. Other than plants, and maybe a couple other things.
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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 have about 225 invested in my 15H so far, and I haven't picked out an orchid yet....don't know if I will have room though
-----
Matt

What did you put in it... I only have about $100 in mine, but had a lot of the supplies on hand. Only really had to buy plants, moss, and parts for the light.
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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

hmm....

CF 2x13 - $50.00
cork bark, acrylic hinge, latch - $32.00
micro jet, ebo jader heater - $34
fan, 3v power supply - $9
broms, moss, sphagnum, substrate(T&C), crptanthus, shamrock - $77
misc. - $20
give or take a few bucks
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Matt