frog beginner
Kristen
my 20 gallon high or a 50 gallon long aquarium. I'd like to have a set
up similar to (or by purchasing) the Water's Edge Viquarium kit. What
kind of frogs are active, good for a beginner, will do well in that type
of set up, and stay relatively small (small enough for more than one if
I should use the 20 gallon tank.) I would like a set up that (if
possible) I could keep other animals in the habitat. I am an
experienced aquarist, so I know enough about water conditions, etc., but
this is my venture into the amphibian world. The only frogs I've ever
had were aquatic African Dwarf frogs. I have read quite a bit about
Firebellied toads (Bombina orientalis), any other suggestions? Thanks,
Nicole
Nathan Tenny
Kristen <kham...@isbe.accessus.net> wrote:
>Hi, I'd like to set up a tank for some frogs. I have the option of using
>my 20 gallon high or a 50 gallon long aquarium. I'd like to have a set
>up similar to (or by purchasing) the Water's Edge Viquarium kit. What
>kind of frogs are active, good for a beginner, will do well in that type
>of set up, and stay relatively small (small enough for more than one if
>I should use the 20 gallon tank.)
I'd go for leopard frogs, but with the 50L rather than the 20H. You
*could* keep a couple of leopard frogs in a 20H, but I don't think it's
really enough floor space for them to get all the activity they rightly
deserve. They're cute, relatively easy keepers (the hard part, for
herpers, is dealing with water-quality issues and so on, so it should
be a cakewalk for an experienced aquarist), and fun to watch swimming.
I'm not familiar with the kit you're looking at, but here's what I did
for leopard frogs: 1/3 land, 2/3 water, with the land consisting of
rocks (soil would have eroded into the water) with a layer of sphagnum
moss on top and the pump concealed under the rocks. Out in the water
we built a small island---just a couple of rocks and a plant---so the
frogs would have someplace to swim back and forth to. The sphagnum
turned out to be important; they *really* like to stay under cover when
on land. The water needed fairly regular changes, because the frogs
defecated in it with almost 100% reliability.
The biggest problem was that the crickets we fed them would get into
the water and drown in great numbers. We ended up maintaining a
separate feeding container and transferring the frogs into it to dine,
but I don't think that was the greatest solution; if I had it to do
over again, I'd concentrate on providing lots of opportunities for the
crickets to climb back out of the water once in, and perhaps on sloping
the land side so they were less inclined to go in in the first place.
>I would like a set up that (if
>possible) I could keep other animals in the habitat.
You're going to have some trouble here with any frog species; just about
all of them will eat anything small enough to cram in their mouths. Non-
aggressive fish that are way too large to be eaten are probably the best
bet. Pl*cos are right out; they tend to plow right over amphibians,
abrading their skin and stressing them out. If you find you need an algae
eater, a ram's-horn snail might work well; I've kept them with Surinam
toads with no apparent ill effects.
Beware of fire-bellied toads with other creatures; their skin secretions
are extremely toxic.
NT
--
Nathan Tenny | Words I carry in my pocket, where they
Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA | breed like white mice.
<nten...@qualcomm.com> | - Lawrence Durrell
ccs
to care for. In a 20 gallon you could easily keep four fire bellies. Fire
bellies also dont jump as high as true frogs and therefore won't damage
their snouts by crashing into the tank. Alot of people will probably suggest
tree frogs such as White's dumpy, but these are relatively inactive and I
find them a bit boring. The horned frogs (called pac-man frogs at stores)
are even more inactive. Poison arrow and mantellas are nice but a bit more
effort goes into their care. Any of the true frogs (Rana) will need a very
large tank as they are prone to jump. Go to
www.teleport.com/~dstroy/info/species/index.html for care sheets on several
different species.
Barb
Kristen wrote:
> Hi, I'd like to set up a tank for some frogs. I have the option of using
> my 20 gallon high or a 50 gallon long aquarium. I'd like to have a set
> up similar to (or by purchasing) the Water's Edge Viquarium kit. What
> kind of frogs are active, good for a beginner, will do well in that type
> of set up, and stay relatively small (small enough for more than one if
Elaine Gallegos
I'm really very fond of my pac-man frog. Recently got a new one. We are
interacting very well. He is eating well, and has a pert, interested
expression.
Pac-mans are easy keepers. Little special equipment needed. Mine is happy
in a medium sized clear plastic pet carrier. He stays active with just a
small heat lamp overhead during the day. Small anphibian heater at night.
He is living just fine on damp moss and soil simply dug up from outside.
It's fun to find worms, and other prey for him.
I would recommend Pac-mans for anyone. At least anyone who could be
satisfied with a relatively sedentary pet.
ccs wrote in message <364C82B1...@webzone.net>...
Occupant
the Water's Edge Viquarium kit.>>>>
Do it yourself! Use a Fluval 4 internal filter ($35 from Pet Warehouse
or That Pet Place). The Water's Edge product will not keep the water in
the good condition you are accustomed to.
Only fill the tank up with around six inches of water. Use a screened
top to allow for good ventalation.
Don't use dirt in the tank (too messy). You can use a gravel substrate
although it isn't necessary. Use slate rocks and those cool "Feller
Stone" rocks with the holes in them. Put sheets of live moss on the
"slate islands" you build.
Get cork bark from a plant nursery (cheaper than at the petstore). Let
it soak in declorinated water for a week before you use it to let some
of the tannic acid leach out--it would make your water tan colored.
Make some cork islands.
Plant some sturdy plants in pots (I like anubias nana that I got from
Arizona Aquatic Gardens). Makes it easy to do water changes--just lift
the plants out of the tank! You can also simply let the anubias grow on
a rock (fasten with a rubber band to get them started). The anubias can
be submersed or emersed.
<<<<What kind of frogs are active, good for a beginner [snip] if
possible I could keep other animals in the habitat.>>>>>
Spotted Floating Frogs (aka Rice Paddy Frogs), Dwarf African Clawed
Frogs, Firebelly Newts, and Red Spotted Eastern Newts could be tankmates
(although the DACFs would prefer warmer water).
OR
Just Firebelly Toads (no other amphibians can live with them do to their
toxic excretions). But what a joy a 50 long tank filled with 6 to 8
Firebelly Toads would be! I just got my first 2 and I love them. They
are the most active, most responsive amphibians I have (in addition to
critters listed above I also have another tank with Caecilians in it).
My male Firebelly Toad will look at me and call just like a little puppy
dog wanting to play! (females don't call but still look at you with
great intelligence).
Dart Frogs drown easily as do some other tree frogs. They should not be
kept in a tank with water deeper than they can stand in. Dart frogs are
also very expensive and require more specialized care. Mantella Frogs
are cheaper and easier to care for but still need a terrarium setup, not
the paludarium setup you seem to want.
Those are my opinions, good luck!
Tom.