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Hey all, I'm new to the board, though I've been lurking for the past few weeks absorbing as much info as I can.
For about 6 months, I've been researching frogs and reptiles, and I've finally decided I'm ready to start building my first PDF viv. I actually bought some hermit crabs to get myself acquainted with some "easy" viv issues and built some simple tropical, humid planted environments for them to live in, so I have a rudimentary understanding of what it entails to keep a living environment healthy and productive. Of course hermit crabs have different issues than frogs, but I'm hoping I can put some of what I've learned to good use!
Now, of course, I have a few questions before I go further.
I've noticed that some folks here do talk about maintaining 10G tanks, but on other sites I've visited, the recommendation has been to start with a 20G (10G per frog). I want to keep things small to begin with, and I'm wondering whether 10G will be large enough for a starter. I have 2 10Gs here, one of which I've already begun working on . . . but am I making a mistake by starting out with that size? Should I keep going with that one or should I scrap it and go with a 20?
I also am wondering about substrates and water issues . . . I see the benefit of using the false-bottoms under the substrate, but I have also read a lot about using the clay pebbles (Terra Lite) on BlackJungle.com . . . if I use that without a FB will I be setting myself up for water-quality problems at all, or will the plants really manage to help filter the water back into the substrate and keep things relatively healthy in between any water changes/exchanges? Is it possible to use a small water feature in a small environment w/o a FB and still keep the tank from getting waterlogged or is it better to go with the FB and a larger tank if I wanted to go that route?
And finally, when I do get a viv set up and functioning: The frogs I get will be my first, so is there any benefit to keeping them in the recommended plastic shoebox before adding them to the enclosure? It seems that quarantine is the reason the plastic shoebox is recommended, but since these will be my first, I won't be quarantining them from any other frogs--should I still plan to prepare the simple shoebox for them?
Sorry if my questions have been asked a billion times--I did search for answers on these things, but my searches were so general, I didn't quite get specific enough answers!
I look forward to hanging out here more and getting started!
--Erin
For about 6 months, I've been researching frogs and reptiles, and I've finally decided I'm ready to start building my first PDF viv. I actually bought some hermit crabs to get myself acquainted with some "easy" viv issues and built some simple tropical, humid planted environments for them to live in, so I have a rudimentary understanding of what it entails to keep a living environment healthy and productive. Of course hermit crabs have different issues than frogs, but I'm hoping I can put some of what I've learned to good use!
Now, of course, I have a few questions before I go further.
I've noticed that some folks here do talk about maintaining 10G tanks, but on other sites I've visited, the recommendation has been to start with a 20G (10G per frog). I want to keep things small to begin with, and I'm wondering whether 10G will be large enough for a starter. I have 2 10Gs here, one of which I've already begun working on . . . but am I making a mistake by starting out with that size? Should I keep going with that one or should I scrap it and go with a 20?
I also am wondering about substrates and water issues . . . I see the benefit of using the false-bottoms under the substrate, but I have also read a lot about using the clay pebbles (Terra Lite) on BlackJungle.com . . . if I use that without a FB will I be setting myself up for water-quality problems at all, or will the plants really manage to help filter the water back into the substrate and keep things relatively healthy in between any water changes/exchanges? Is it possible to use a small water feature in a small environment w/o a FB and still keep the tank from getting waterlogged or is it better to go with the FB and a larger tank if I wanted to go that route?
And finally, when I do get a viv set up and functioning: The frogs I get will be my first, so is there any benefit to keeping them in the recommended plastic shoebox before adding them to the enclosure? It seems that quarantine is the reason the plastic shoebox is recommended, but since these will be my first, I won't be quarantining them from any other frogs--should I still plan to prepare the simple shoebox for them?
Sorry if my questions have been asked a billion times--I did search for answers on these things, but my searches were so general, I didn't quite get specific enough answers!
I look forward to hanging out here more and getting started!
--Erin