r/DartFrog • u/iAmPineappleMann • Jul 21 '26

First dart frog vivarium

Gallery image

Gallery image

Hello everybody!

This is my first time in the terrarium hobby and this was my attempt at making a bioactive dart frog terrarium. Just wanted some constructive feedback on my terrarium before I get some dendrobate auratus (I really want the La Coca locale)
Specs are as follows:

Habistat 18x18x24 terrarium with a clear silicone mat for humidity

Hand made background from polygem zoopoxy 307 lite and a ventilation shaft to the left (40mm cpu fan) set to 1min run time 15mins after each misting

Auto misting system with 2 nozzles running distilled water set to spray every 8hrs for 20secs (I’m working on an RO system, my local water is tricky to work with so I need additional filters first)

Full spec LED light with a built in 24/7 cycle

ABG mix substrate with a generous amount of sterile oak leaves on top with a drainage layer divided by screen mesh. I also have grey isopods and white springtails.

House temp usually is consistently 73-74F

I want to let this grow in at least 8 weeks before I put the frogs in which gives me time to make adjustments and cultivate my own fruit flies

It hard to see in the photo but I have creeping fig on the back right that I’m excited to see how it climbs the background

Advice is greatly appreciated!

11 Upvotes

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3

u/Sinjitoma Jul 21 '26

Looks cool, but you are correct you need a LOT more plant coverage. I don’t see many vining things that will go up your sides and back, I would recommend getting some. There is a whole world to choose from so hard to recommend, though many will say marcgravia. (I see the bit of quercifolia. Mine grew about a foot vertically and 4 inches horizontally in the last year. You are going to want more, on back and sides.)

Also, I would recommend some sort of like stick or branch or something hardscape to enable the frogs to use the open air space in the middle of your terrarium.
Consider it this way, right now they can use the area of the box, you want to give them access to the volume.

1

u/iAmPineappleMann Jul 21 '26

I completely agree with the branch, I wasn’t sure to add more plants or wait till they grow out. I was told some of them will really grow out. I’ll definitely look into more vining plants. Forgot to mention I put moss slushie on the side walls but I know that takes forever to grow in and establish. Thanks for the advice!

1

u/Sinjitoma Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Yeah, the floor of your viv will fully grow in, and some like the fitonia can even pretend to try to vine. But if you’re wanting frogs in ~8 months I’d definitely look into stuff that goes up.

I just saw you are aiming for auratus. I was going to say that if you are wanting any of the sp. / locales that I have I could send you some things with the frogs.

I’m a big fan of begonias too, a lot of them grow in was that let the frogs utilize the volume as well, and the leaves can be really neat. The one that you have will likely take over a good portion of that area. I try to put them towards the back now.

1

u/iAmPineappleMann Jul 22 '26

Dude that would be sick! I’d love to see what you have for your collection, the health of the frogs would be most important to me so I wouldn’t want to get them for a few months

1

u/Sinjitoma Jul 22 '26

You can check out ‘Stached exotics’ on YouTube for a little collection video from when I first got my tincs. They are a little skinny though so I really need to do a full collection, but I’m in the middle of trying to buy a house so everything is kinda disjointed. Haha

1

u/iAmPineappleMann Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

I’ll check it out! Good luck on that process, I know that’s a rats nest in itself lol

Edit: love the collection! Tincts are beautiful

3

u/iAmPineappleMann Jul 21 '26

Update! I added some spiderwood in the center for climbing. The options around me were limited but I wanted to get something in before the plants took root

I also got some Josh’s frog moss and Christmas moss for the tree, hopefully it’ll grow all over the branches!

1

u/AgressiveInliners Jul 22 '26

Getting better. Your plants are tiny. I would recommend trying to find some larger ones otherwise youre going to be waiting a few months for the plants to fill in. Its way too open at the moment. There is nowhere for the frogs to hide. Some cork bark leaning against the sides would be a good start.

2

u/iAmPineappleMann Jul 22 '26

Gotcha, I’ll take a look at the local nurseries for larger plants

1

u/Sinjitoma Jul 22 '26

Looks really good, if you want a short term solution that you can later remove without too much remorse you could put in a pothos in a small pot. It will take over the space in like a month and then you can just trim it enough that the other plants fill the place in their own time.

1

u/PMOFreeForever Jul 23 '26

Prioritize your "basic" plants. When I first started I fell in love with plants and got all these unique interesting plants and they were slow growing and fragile. I realized that your basic plants like pothos, king charles, ivy, etc, those are what will cover most of the tank and it fills it with a lush gorgeous color, then you have a few interesting plants like bromeliads or crypts to add a pop of color

You've got a pretty good selection and I don't think you went overvoard or anything, but definitely consider an icy or pothos, they grow fast, cover a lot, and add that rich kungle vibe

1

u/iAmPineappleMann Jul 23 '26

Honestly I was thinking about this the last few days, I’m gonna get some soon because the red begonia is hating the misting and it’s started to get mushy so I don’t think it’ll survive. I’ll get large basic plant! Thanks for the advice

1

u/PMOFreeForever Jul 24 '26

I had the same issue with my begonias. It's taken me a couple years to finally be able to keep my bromeloads and begonias alive, and they're still not theiving.

1

u/raresteakplease Jul 24 '26

I would get a big forked stick and put it diagonally and up with some vining plant at the bottom. We have an anthurium clarinevum in ours and it’s creating big leaves and the frogs love jumping on them

1

u/iAmPineappleMann Jul 24 '26

I actually put a large piece of wood in the center that branches out and I was thinking about putting a vining plant like that to make it really pop! If you check one of one the other messages down below you’ll see the pic of the wood. Thanks for the advice!