Tree Frog Newbie

[cherabin]

Hi all shifus

With the recent influx of tree frogs, I bought a trio of them and have set up a tank in double quick time. Sharing picture as below -



For substrate, I am using a layer of peat moss topped with a layer of sphagnum moss with bogwoood for the cute froggies to climb around. Background is natural cork bark with artificial plants for decorations. Watering is provided via a large exo terra water dish.

I feed the frogs a diet of crickets currently and have read that the crickets should be fed carrots (as supplement to the frogs) and also dusted with calcium powder. I have no problem doing the former but would like to seek advice on where this calcium or any other supplements can be bought readily in Singapore?

Contemplating to add a misting system set in timer and with just the exo water dish, will this be viable and if so, where can the misting system be purchased?

Many thanks for taking time to read this and thank you for all advice

[xjiahua]

Nice and simple decoration there ! Mind sharing where can i purchase the peat moss and sphagnum moss and the cost of it ?

[eddy planer]

Hi Cherabin

Wow, you 're gift in paludarium setting up!

You may purchase calcium powder(reptile) from a number of IFS like Pet's Mart , C328 ,Havelock and Yishun. However you may even buy a better brand called Repashy Calcium Plus and even misting system with timer from Dez.

Hope this will help you.

[delhezi]

Calcium, vitamin powders are essential. The frogs will suffer from MBD (google it), or various ailments if you do not provide these.

Feed the frogs out of the tank. Spaghnum moss has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, but it can also cause fatal impaction if accidentally ingested. Be warned.

Your tank appears to be a little small. What are the dimensions on it?

[David Moses Heng]

Nice. For misting set, you can try mist king set from US.

here is the web link: http://www.mistking.com/faq.php

Their systems are time tested and proven and for the price they charge is reasonable. You may also want to know that their systems are being deployed in our zoo and bird park. This alone is a testimony to the efficiency of their service and product.

Cheers!!

[cherabin]

Wow! Didn't figure that a misting system would cost that much. I think I have seen more affordable ones at Seaview, are those worth the effort? Or is it the case of paying peanuts for monkeys?

The tank I have is a 45cm cube. Upgrading to an Exo Terra tank might be in the pipeline though

Thank you to all for all the advice!

[David Moses Heng]

Wow! Didn't figure that a misting system would cost that much. I think I have seen more affordable ones at Seaview, are those worth the effort? Or is it the case of paying peanuts for monkeys?

The tank I have is a 45cm cube. Upgrading to an Exo Terra tank might be in the pipeline though

Thank you to all for all the advice!

Hi bro, I believe if we are in the hobby and we really love our critters, no amount is deemed too expensive right? However having said that, you are quite correct about " paying peanuts for monkey". Mist King is charging SGD $240 for their basic set is actually quite reasonable given their reputation in the market. Alternatively you can visit Dr Malick for his range of nozzles and accessories. The only set back is that their nozzles do not produce the fine mist kind of spray. Good side is that their nozzle cost only $2 max and it fits most underwater pump in the market.

here is the link.

http://www.singaporehydroponics.com/

Hope this helps.

[cherabin]

Fully agree with giving our pets the best, truth is, I'll most probably just grab a mister if I happen to see one

Will have a look at the nozzles too.

With regards to the sphagnum moss, I found literature in the net with regards to using a feeding dish to prevent the moss from being ingested by the frogs and going to practise that.

Cheers and happy frog keeping!

[eddy planer]

Hi cherabin,

If you find the mist king pricey, I suggest you try source the misting nozzles and the pump from ebay which I had been doing that. My misting system works like mist king however,my misting nozzles do not have the twist-able type. If I buy eight twist-able nozzles from Mist kings which will cost me another SGD240, I rather spend on modification and upgraded of my current misting system and even camouflage all the misting nozzles for a minimal cost. I'm planning for another mega project a total revamps of my 6ft tank hence I will share with all my works that include the modify misting system, filtering, new DIY background and many more...this month end.

[delhezi]

I recommend you feed out of the cage entirely, or use a large food dish, perhaps, even suspend it above the air. White's are very voracious, and they miss easily.

[cherabin]

Oh dear, it sounds like I should completely avoid sphagnum moss. Would coco fibre be a good swap?

[delhezi]

Get a fine mix of the cocofiber if you would like to. That would be fine.

[cherabin]

Thank for all the advice waiting for an exo terra I've placed an order for and will be revamping from current setup.

I'm considering to reuse the Sera super peat for substrate, good or bad idea? If it's a bad idea, I'll most likely use coco fibre.

For maintaining humidity, I'm comtemplating bringing in a Zoo med repti fogger from Hong Kong. Either that or manual misting once per day.

Edit: I did consider the exo terra monsoon misting system but worried that it might make the substrate too wet.

Please share your thoughts

[cherabin]

Got my exo terra any advice on the above post? Will most likely decorate the new tank and transfer the froggies on Sunday.

[limz_777]

sphagnum moss has very good water retention , good for keeping the humility high in your setup

[eddy planer]

hi cherabin,

If you are too concerns about the substrate get too wet or even flood the whole base if you purchase the med repti fogger. I suggest you two options to reduce it.

1. Install a false base( by 5 cm). You may use egg crate, fine black net and cable tiers to create a false base. Create another hole on the false base for tubing/ pump for drainage if this got flood. Then you may use either artificial grass or aquatic soil if you are intended to keep strong stem flora.

2. Drill the terra glass sidewall or if drilling not possible, then use top of the terra tank to make way for the canisters piping system pipe through the tank.Use T-connector. With the T connector, you can jolly link to med repti fogger, canister and false base (option1) Hence you may either mist the tank and at the same time filtering the water that below the false base. And your tank will be a remain flood-free while misting if you switch on and filtering with canister at the same time. After you have done it, camouflage the ugly piping with background.

Hope this will help you..

[cherabin]

Thank you for the advice Eddy did consider constructing a false bottom but with the added canister filter where the terrarium is to be placed, I might not be able to find room for it.

Hence, will opt for a substrate base and have bought the exo terra coco husk. Does this maintain humidity well in the preferred 50-60% range by the whites? Misting will be done once a day at night. After having read reviews on accidental ingestion of sphagnum moss by whites, I have decided to leave the moss out.

[eddy planer]

Hi cherabin

The canister filter is supposed to be locate outside or place beside your terrarium, all you need to one inlet pipe down to the false bottom from the top part of your terrarium. Camouflage the piping with your background or either silicon the piping, black and mixed with sphagnum moss and coco- husks to make the piping more natural. And the other outlet pipe to be fit with T connector link to the mist fogger and to rain-bar to create background waterfall or pipe the outlet down to false bottom( if you don't like the waterfall idea)

Like what I share in eiontay 's thread earlier...This set up should be cycled like a fish tank to allow the filter to develop a good population of poos processing bacteria to keep your terrarium healthy for your Whites. You may use either exo-terra coco husk only or placing clay peat as the bottom base and the coco husk to be place on top of the clay peat for proper water irrigation and proper way to break down the poos.

Hope this will help you.

[cherabin]

The exo terra arrived some time back and here's a picture of the habitat -

[cherabin]

Did an 'overhaul' of my White's tank.



Removed the egg crate false bottom and used LECA instead. Looks more natural now also 'modified' the original piece of wood by sawing some bits and pieces off to allow more space for the frogs to jump around and be merry.