Wow am I a very happy person! I picked up my 4 juvenile D. Luecs a couple of days ago and I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face! While I’m not new to amphibians these are my first darts. They are happy little hunters, albeit clumsy and cute, hunters none the less! I will admit I was interested because they are dinural unlike my other phibs, and since day one they have been out and moving around even more than I expected. I was very pleased when I opened the shipping container to see how plump and vibrant they appeared. I was a little concerned about how they would do being shipped from California to Florida but all went as well as I could have wanted.
So, the tank… I researched as much as my patience would allow, then dove in. I believe I constructed at least an adequate, if not aesthetically pleasing playground for them. I kept it as simple as I believed was necessary for long term health of the inhabitants. Starting with some cypress knees with the bark boiled off, and black pond foam…twice…after it dried I let four crickets live in there for a week to find the traps the shrinking foam creates. Then the black silicone and cocoa fiber, I like the variety with the long fibrous mats in it…looks more wild? Then I used porous lava rock for a lightweight cheap base instead of the clay spheres, I’ve used these several times with no ill results-if someone knows something bad about them please let me know. On top of that layer is screen and then a mix of organic soil/moss/cocoa fiber/bark/leaves. Finally the plants! Home depot broms, variegated creeping fig, 3 kinds of fern, and a miniature elephant ear look-a-like and one other moisture loving plant that still remains nameless to me but I noticed others use often here.
I suppose I should mention I am using a Zoo Med 18” cube with a piece of 18”x18”x1/4” glass that I had cut and black siliconed on top instead of the OEM screen.
If I had to do it again…actually I’m hooked so the next time I build a tank I would like to try the foam and then cut to shape method that I have seen here. It looks really nice when all 3 sides are foamed, I did partial coverage on the sides more like a cut bank, but I really think what I will go for next time is the “ ray of sunlight exposes a hole in the jungle look”. Also a taller tank with t-5’s or t-3’s instead of pc’s...I’m going to say its probly 8 degrees warmer in the tank than room temp. The tank was setup for about 2 months before any inhabitants moved in so I had a good idea of the daily temps. (max 82 min 71 at night) Humidity is easy enough to control, it hovers around 90 to 100 percent but I make sure to open the door once a day minimum for some fresh air. Which doesn’t seem to bother them, they tend to ignore me when they are hunting, and only look up when they are not engaged in some other business-which I also believe is a testement to captive breeding! I believe since the tank had some time to age there is plenty of micro fauna for them to snack on in between meals; they are forever eating tiny crawlies that are just barely visible to me.
I hand mist although it doesn’t seem to take much. I might get into misters when I do a paladrium with some sort of sump tank so I can have the pump and a filter easily accessible down below in a later project. Right now I have a semi naturalistic water dish up front that seems more than adequate at this particular juncture.
The whole thing seems pleasingly cheap and simple compared to reef tanks, one of my money sucking pastimes. Some other things I would change…I would lay down the cash for an acrylic dart specific/humidity specific tank with some airflow or fan spots so I can see in the front glass, although I think the condensation gives the luecs a sense of security. I would get a taller tank, and some more…elitist flora…maybe I should say region specific to the inhabitants flora. But for the investment/enjoyment ratio I am happy. There is something to be said about simple.
now if i can figure out the best way to get you folks some pictures! i tried photobucket direct link, all files too large. working on it....i created a photobucket account just for this.....see if this works
well, that worked when i clicked on it and it was too easy...that probly means someone wont like it. let me know if i need to better my attempt. thank you.
On suggestion on your tank, with the zoo med cubes I get a piece of glass cut and just place it on top of the mesh screen, that way if I want a little more ventilation I can take it off or just half cover it. It gives a little more flexibility with your humidity.
Enjoy your frogs!
i keep getting invalid file when i try to post from photobucket. i have resized them by realoading on there and also with office picture manager. any ideas? i dont think thumbnails show up big enough to see. oh and yes i did use the fourth one down [IMG] and i tried some other ways to make it work with photobucket. thank you for the warm welcome!
Your tank is fantanstic! Looks great . To top it off, it looks perfect for your leucs! My only suggestion is to maybe tuck a few small leaves anywhere that there's some floor space. Your frogs and microfauna will appreciate it. Welcome, congratulations, and good luck!
simple tank
Re: simple tank
. To top it off, it looks perfect for your leucs! My only suggestion is to maybe tuck a few small leaves anywhere that there's some floor space. Your frogs and microfauna will appreciate it. Welcome, congratulations, and good luck!
I'm sure those Leucs are lovin' it!
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