Interesting Amphibian Displays

[Fudge Gecko]

Hi there,

Was just wondering what sort of species of amphibians people would be impressed to see in a display capacity (i.e. in an aquarium). I just want your personal opinions on what would make the most interesting or best looking or most active display animals! Frogs, toads, salamanders, caecilians....any amphibians! Size or difficulty of keeping doesn't matter in this make-believe (for now!) scenario!

Thanks!

[Art_Gecko101]

Waxy monkeys and darts are going to be one of the only frogs you;ll actually see in the day, its in frogs nature to hide during the day so wouldnt make great 'display' animals

[rob-stl-07]

darts and waxies as art said are defo top of the list for display.

[tortoisechap]

I'd love to see a budgetts frog those guys look well gool with there little teeth things.

[dmrich]

I beg to differ Art_Gecko101 my American Green Tree frogs do like to bask under a low output uv! - but do accept that they are more active after dark.

Only my Whites are nowhere to be seen during the day - my other frogs can be seen as they don't hide away - although they are not so active.

[Art_Gecko101]

Thats interesting, what temp is your lamp statted to? seems to go against the nature of frogs doesnt it! as they should really stay away from light and heat sources to stop them drying out! cool that yours does! what are your nighttime temps?

[dmrich]

It is the Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 13W. I read somewhere that these frogs do like to bask during the day and it seems to be true - as they have plenty of places in the tank to hide (cork bark and plants) but they choose not to and sit high in the tank under the light.

I therefore leave the light on during the day, and the best thing is that these bulbs create a minimal amount of heat - so it does not get hot directly underneath them (and cause injury). As it is generating minimal heat it therefore does not need a thermostat and I achieve about 22-26c (without any further heating in a warm room in the house) during the day. This may fall to 18-22c overnight.

The only frustrating thing that I find with the Exo Terras is there a slight gap between the top of the background and the lid where a small frog can get trapped (it did happen once) and I would advise anyone to seal this gap in some way. It will also stop livefood escaping behind the background.

[Art_Gecko101]

Really interesting! I love the minimal heat given by UV only bulbs too! i have the Arcadia compact D3 7% bulbs over all my vivs and theyre brilliant!


As for the gaps! so annoying arnt they?! i customise all my backgrounds now so its not so much of a problem but i still have to use a little ball of kitchen roll to stop crickets getting out!

[dmrich]

Ah so I don't have to try and convert you to UV bulbs

I use insulation tape to seal the top of the background and the back of the tank (where the holes for the wires are) from the crickets, and the back of the lid where the sliders for the wires are.

Thinking of coating the backgrounds in PVA and then sprinkling with terrarium sand to preserve them a bit (crickets chew on them and they get damaged easily) and give the animals more grip as they get slippery when misting the tanks. When I do this might drop a line of silicone at the top so that it does not allow small frogs between the top of the background and the lid again. This also could be dusted with sand.

Just a few ideas anyway ........

[Art_Gecko101]

If you go on my website, TreasureCrest- High quality Crested Geckos and go to the viv design bit, i did a construction diary of my backgrounds so you can see exactly how i make them. The good old expansion foam and silicone method, with a few alterations, and i use the exoterra foam thing as a base for it so i know it'll fit! had no problems of crickets chewing on them either!