First attempt at tree frog vivarium.

[hereces]

This is my first ever attempt at a naturally planted terrarium for tree frogs.
It's not finished yet as I still need to add leaf litter, water bowl, springtail/woodlice custodians and possibly more plants.
The frogs aren't due to go in for at least a month maybe longer to allow time for this set up to mature.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[Viv]

Looks good, what are you planning to keep in there?

[bshmerlie]

Well, you've got a good size tank for a tree frog but you don't mention what kind you are getting. You are also not really utilizing the upper space as well as you could. Remember they like to climb. Tree frogs don't usually walk on the ground unless they are going to sit in a water bowl or go after crickets in a cricket bowl. Try branches and taller or longer vined large leafted plants. Also I try to cover up the soil with a moss just so it doesn't stick all over them.

[poison beauties]

Great Start but you deffinately should consider mounting more plants and vines up higher in the viv as the treefrogs will likely spent much of their time on the walls higher up in the viv. You could mount custom pots of anything to the sides in order to be able to get some plants up there. There are many vines that would do well. Peperomia and Philos do well.

Michael

[hereces]

I'm planning on keeping Amazon milks or Whites in this terrarium (depending on the availability of the milks.)

I've had a bit of a shuffle around since my first post and I think I'm happier now, The water bowl will probably be placed in the back right corner. Also some vines will be added for extra climbing space.
I know I need some Pothos/Philo's/Peperomia higher up in the tank, But how do I go about mounting the pots?

I was also going to put dried oak leaves on top of the substrate to stop the frogs getting mucky, Do you think moss would be a better option? And if yes what types?

Thank you all for your input.

[bshmerlie]

There are a lot of options to use to get plants higher up in a tall tank so Ill just mention some of the techniques I've used in different tanks to give you ideas and start you thinking how it would work for you. Your frogs are going to be big and heavy so keep that in mind when selecting plants. Here we go:
1. Slope the soil -High in the back sloped toward the front. Like a hillside. You can plant plants at the top of the hill.
2. Use wood or stones to make tiered levels. Like you would in your back yard if you had a steep slope. I've used half rounds of bark that I've gotten from PetsMart and broken off chunks turn them sideways and wedge them in to make levels. Rocks will do the same thing. This will also add depth to the tank.
3. Purchase sticks with different branches. Look at my photo album. In my red eye tank the branches on the right actually all come from one stick. Look for pieces that have various off shoot.
4. You can use Great Stuff with silicone to custom mould pots higher up. This would take further explanation if you've never done it before. Let me know if you're interested.
5. Go to Home Depot to the hanging plant section. Buy a Pothos with long thick vines. Trim some off if you don't need all of them to thin it out. Drape it up sticks or branches or down hillside as needed.
These are just some suggestions to get you started. Think of your tank 3 dimensionally instead of just a flat bottom. That will give your frogs more square footage to roam and also create hides for them to make them feel more secure. The safer your frogs feel in their home the more active they will be to entertain you. It should feel like a forest to them. Leaf litter would be a good choice to keep the soil off them. Remember dirty frogs make dirty glass and lots of cleaning for you. The more places you have in the tank for them to climb the less they will use the glass. Hope this helps...good luck.

[poison beauties]

When I have needed to mount pots in the upper part of a viv like on the sides or where there is no background I take a plastic pot and cut it inhalf so it fits flush on the glass wall. Then I gorrilla glue it or epoxy it to the sides and hold it in place with tape until it sets, This manke a great option as they have drainage and if not a few small holes drilled in the bottom work fine. Then I cover the plastic pot in gorrilla glue and cover it in eco earth so it looks like a natural part of the viv.

There are many other plants to consider. Pothos is just one. You can go with bromeliads, hoya's, dischidia, philo's, anthuriums and others. And Milk's are readily availible in a few places at decent prices. I can help you out there if you need it.

Michael

[hereces]

Thanks for the advice, You have definitely given me some great ideas!!!
I'll be sure to keep you all informed on how this terrarium works out.

Thank again.

[hereces]

I've added a corkscrew liana, Leaf litter, Monstera, Pothos, Calathea, Komodo rock water bowl and removed the Syngonium (I thought they might be a bit fragile for large frogs.)
I'm definitely happier now with the overall look of the terrarium, However I want to add a few hiding areas higher up, Any advice on how I could go about this?

Many thanks.

[bshmerlie]

Your tank already looks a lot more inviting. Your plants are going to grow out. If you feel you need more you can mount potted plants on the glass sides in ways that Michael and I suggested. I also cut the pot in have I just use the great stuff over it because I can shape it into a rock outcrop or something like that. Then I use bendable vines to come over to it. Have a vine type plant coming out and hanging down. Get creative. If you don't like it get a razor blade and scrape it off.

[bshmerlie]

Hey I saw this bridge vine thing on Amazon.com. Its made by Pet Tech and its called Magnaturals jungle vine bridge. Its kind of the same idea of what I make myself and its only $15 bucks. Actually looks kind of cool. I think they stole my idea.

[hereces]

Thanks for your help, I really like the magnaturals stuff.

[hereces]

An update just over 4 months on, A few changes have been made and the plants have grown in nicely, I wanted it to be "jungle thick" and it looks like it is nearly getting there.

[Leefrogs]

thanks for the update, I love it when threads come up like that! An ending! It is growing! Did you pick out babies yet?!?

[Grrrit]

Flukers makes these bamboo bars with suction cupid at both ends. I used them in my milks temp home until their viv was finished and they loved them. They're relatively cheap too

[hereces]

Update at 13 months.

[ViperJr]

That's an immensity improvement from the first picture, nicely done!
What kind of frog did you end up with?

I'm also a bit curious on the dimensions of the tank

[hereces]

That's an immensity improvement from the first picture, nicely done!
What kind of frog did you end up with?

I'm also a bit curious on the dimensions of the tank

Thanks for your kind words.

Ended up with Amazon milk frogs.

It's a 45x45x60cm exo terra viv.