[ghostpilot]

Hey everybody, my name is Brad and I'm from the Northeastern part of Arkansas. I've been very interested in PDF's for a very long time. I've been looking and watching what you guys have done for quiet some time and I must say I am very very impressed with everything I see here. I converted a 55 gallon freshwater aquarium into a terrarium. It has been planted for some time and everything is looking healthy and growing very well. The temp. and humidity are keeping right on par for its future residents and it should need nothing more than adding more leaf litter to make a great habitat.

Feel free to give me any feedback.

 

[swampfoxjjr]

Welcome!

Your viv looks really well done. It makes me almost dread asking this question. Above your gravel layer, is that potting soil? If so, my experience has been that the constant humidity of the enclosure that darts enjoy will cause some fairly rapid breakdown and rotting of traditional potting soil mixes.

If not, cheers! The setup looks ideal for any of the terrestrial forms of PDF.

Hope this helps rather than hurts...

 

[ghostpilot]

It does look alot like potting soil. This is actually soil from my property. We have about 10 acres of woods and the soil is super rich and very dark for the most part on the ridge I live on. I wanted to use this soil 1: due to is richness and 2: I know it is virgin soil. I mixed it up with some lichen and a few small rocks. I plan on building a pretty large terrarium from scratch in the next few months and plan on using this one for something else.

 

[ghostpilot]

I forgot to say thanks.

Thanks =)

 

[JimO]

Hello and welcome. That is a fine looking viv. Just keep in mind that using native materials (such as soil) can be risky with respect to introduction of potential diseases and parasites or unwanted pests (such as millipedes). In a worst-case scenario, you could have chytrid in your local area and the soil could contain spores. If you put frogs in this viv, be sure to keep a close eye on them for the first few months.

 

[Freeradical53]

It's about time!!! Finally another NE Arkie with an interest in frog habitats, even if he/she does live on the ridge. Your tank looks awesome! The soil in your viv is fine for plants and such. I especially like the little micro garden on the tree stump. The use of coco fiber is suggested because it is very slow to decompose with the constant humidity that darts require. It also doesn't "sour". In a perfect viv, there would be a constant replacement of the upper layer with all the microorganisms and the elements keeping it fresh as they do wherever you took it from.

The St. Louis reptile show is held on the 8th of January. I encourage you to attend one of these. There are also ones in Memphis and Dallas/Fort Worth during the year. Always a fascinating diversion.

 

[ghostpilot]

Thanks for the tips everybody. I'll be going to St. Louis next Sunday to get some things and also Memphis in April.

What part of the state are you from? I live just North of Paragould.

 

[frogparty]

The Sanseviera you planted are going to get way way to big and will need to be removed soon.

 

[EvilLost]

It does look alot like potting soil. This is actually soil from my property. We have about 10 acres of woods and the soil is super rich and very dark for the most part on the ridge I live on. I wanted to use this soil 1: due to is richness and 2: I know it is virgin soil. I mixed it up with some lichen and a few small rocks. I plan on building a pretty large terrarium from scratch in the next few months and plan on using this one for something else.

fantastic (first?) build! A few comments

1) I would *highly* recommend against using anything you aren't certain of, especially things from outside. Most of us will bleach, bake, freeze, and then some on things merely taken from other tanks, let alone outside....and I assure you we don't go through the trouble because we are just having crazy fun

These tanks are (generally) sealed off. This means what you put IN the tank will stay in the tank, and if the soil you took from outside had any live bacteria/bugs/etc (which I assure you it did), they are now trapped in the WONDERFUL conditions of your viv....to multiple and infest...

2) along those lines...they may potentially be harmful to your future residents

3) I don't know what your soil is composed of, but most standard soils don't last too long in viv conditions....do a search for ABG mix or substrate recipe and you will find some much more suitable recipes

3) that plant on the far left (and i think i see one on the far right too) looks like a Coleus? If so, you might want to check the toxicity on that...not too positive tho (on the toxicity nor the id )

Excellent job on the layout and plant placement, it is very aesthetically pleasing. Normally I'd say you might consider getting some orchids or other epiphytes to fill out your back wall, but I really like the look of your wall...what is that thing on the mid-right side wall (to the left of your purple bromeliad)? in the brom closeup it looks like some type of wood I don't recognize, but from the full tank shot it looks like a really good stone wall