Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I really want to set up a cool vivarium with live plants, waterfall,... but how do you clean it without taking everything appart every week? do you have to clean it all the time or does it work kind of like a natural eco-system? I would like to get a few arrow frogs in a 15 gallon. Can you mix the different species? Thanks for any replies,

Lisa

THERE IS VERY LITTLE CLEEN UP IN NATURALISTIC VIVS, AS YOU THOUGHT THE MICRO ORGANIZUMS BREAK DOWN ANIMAL WAST, UNLESS ITS SUMETHING BIG LITE AN IGUANA OF CHAM, YOU CULD PROBUBLY HAVE 3-4 DART FROGS IN A 15 GALLON TANK, YES, YOU CAN MIX SPECIES BUT WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE 4 IT MIGHT BE NICER TO HAVE A GROUP OF THE SAME, YOU WILL HAVE TO BE CARFULL THOUGH, SOME SPECIES WILL HYBRIDIZE WITH OTHERS AND THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE GEEN POOL, THE BEST BEGINNER SPEICES ARE: D.AURATUS, D. AZUREUS, D.LEUCOMELAS AND D.TINCTORIUS (TINCTORIUS AND AZUREUS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HIBRIDIZE AND MAYBE AURATUS ALSO)
GOOD LUCK!!

A good rule of thumb to follow is 5 gallons per frog (more if you can spare). The more space the less stressed they will be and the longer they will live.

I'm not much into the breeding anyways, are they easily sexed once they reach a certain age?

If you plan out and use the proper materials to make your natural vivarium only 'once in a blue moon' maintinance is needed. First make sure you have a good substrate. Dont use just the normal planting soil like at lowes. It will break down into a soggy mess in no time. I have not used eco-earth before but i think quit a few people here use it. The only maintinance that i have to do with mine is remove a plant if it dies. (which now that my tank is established i havent done in months) and empty the false bottom.

As for mixing, you can but its HIGHLY frowned uponed. Cross breeding is a big concern, the stress the different frogs can evoke on each other can cause early death. Yes some people do it and do it successfully but most every whom is successfull is a 'experianced' herper. If you search the forums here that are many more neagative aspects to it then positives. Searching the forum is a great way to get a lot of questions answered that you have. And answer some that you havent thought of yet.

aj
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Thanks for the info, very nice set-up,

Lisa