|
Post by Flytrap on Oct 8, 2007 4:35:29 GMT -5
OK... so Darts aren't CPS, but they're just as much fun! It was just only a matter of time before a thread on DART frogs popped up I know that Sib has a few darts... and I hope you all don't mind my posting pics of frogs and other wonderful creatures here on the CP board. I really enjoy the community that has developed here on OCPS, and I enjoy reading and learning about other hobbies and passions the rest of you CPaholics have. In my quest for Red eye treefrogs, I bumped into Craig, over in Richmond , B.C. During this thanksgiving weekend, I made a visit to him to see his plants and frogs. I was not disappointed, and I came out ahead... with a new friend and a greater love for Dart frogs ;D I met Craig and his lovely girlfriend, and their friendly cat. I also spent a couple of hours learning so much about Craig and his frogs. He used to be a breeder of chameleons ( he must have had over 1,000 chameleons, based on all his photos and stuff... really rare ones too. But that's another story). I received my first dart frog (tadpoles)... and am on my way to becoming an addict for frogs. I will be fixing up some enclosures for these soon to become frogs, along with the existing clutch of tiger leg monkey tree frogs I have. (I just got to wait a bit for my aches and pain from my cold to dissipate). Here are some pics from my visit at Craig's place:
|
|
|
Post by Syble on Oct 8, 2007 12:33:18 GMT -5
lol it's more then ok to post about these terrarium companions, thats half the reason I made a terrarium section, although I suppose it should be viv! What kind are your tads? Thanks, Sib
|
|
|
Post by Flytrap on Oct 10, 2007 22:34:20 GMT -5
I've got D auratus copper and blacks. I can't wait to see these guys morph out!
I'll be fixing up a nice vivarium for these guys... and if you've any tips, I'm all ears. I saw your great sequence of photos showing the construction of your dart tank. Awesome!
I'm waiting for this weekend to head out and buy some styrofoam boards, spray stuff, mortar, paint, peat moss, silicone, glue etc etc.
I'm gonna figure out which CPs I can keep with my frogs.
Did I tell you about the firebelly toads I picked up this past weekend?
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Oct 10, 2007 22:56:42 GMT -5
You can probably have some nep cuttings and small neps like one of your talangs with them. It would look ripping.
|
|
|
Post by Syble on Oct 12, 2007 14:21:51 GMT -5
my talagensis hates it in there! depending on what your spary stuff is it will NOT get along with stryafoam! Great stuff and the like will actually eat through styrafoam. Firebelly toads are a great frog, make a nice cooing trill sound, and quiet! Sib
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Oct 12, 2007 14:33:26 GMT -5
hmm.....well....u could have a special division for a nepenthes...I mean have a seperately drained "side" where you can BASE all your nep pots...so their water gets drained and you can clear without contaminating the remaining terrarium water. Its work...but its possible. But hey, its only in theory. I understand how hard it is to get the raw materials...make class cuttings and changes in a tank and so on. But, Designing tanks is one of the most thrilling things...and being unable to find the stuff you want is the most annoying thing.
|
|
|
Post by boris on Oct 12, 2007 18:18:43 GMT -5
Would any of these frogs like heliamphora temperatures?
|
|
|
Post by Flytrap on Oct 12, 2007 20:10:16 GMT -5
OK ... thanks for the advice. I'll be "decorating" the vivariums this weekend. I'll post pics when I'm finished. Now to figure out which CPs can be neighbours to the frogs... without being invited over for dinner - if you know what I mean
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Oct 12, 2007 20:23:08 GMT -5
you could possibly use a ramispina cutting or any other small size 1 plant. Comeon' D, you are the nep expert on OCPS, you need to have atleast a couple of neps in your terrarium. lol! How about an aristo? its a pretty small nep for the most part. It would also be hard for darts to TARGET themself and jump into the FRONTAL opening on this unique baby.
|
|
|
Post by Rick Hillier on Oct 12, 2007 21:26:45 GMT -5
how about a truncata or rajah
|
|
|
Post by Syble on Oct 13, 2007 10:30:06 GMT -5
Darts are not a friend to helie temps, which i can't remember off hand but it is cool at night right? depending on how cool you might be able to try mantellas? sib
|
|
|
Post by Syble on Oct 14, 2007 14:54:49 GMT -5
David I suppose this is a bit late but heres what I've got to say on plant selection. alot of it has to do with placement. Keep any potentially dangerous plant material up high where the traps are not easily accesable. I have in my biggest tank a small maxima that is high and isolated but a nice centerpeice. Beside it is a nice and scarambleing gymnaphora. Theres enough for cuttings if your interested? I'm thinking about trimming it up anyways, and its pitchering profusely, excellent choice for the viv. Something to keep in mind is that you can swap plants in and out. once i can no longer controle the maxima, or it presents a serious risk, I'll take it out and swap it for another small nepenthes likely. As for other Cps to use. Neps are ideal, VFT are a giant NO NO! Sundews will live, but if your misting they do not seam to be able to keep dew on... I plan to try a few others but thats the case for my adelea so far. Pings are on my to try list but I suspect a simular problem to dews. Utrics are a good plant too. And last plant of mention is cephs, also work well in an upper cranny out of harms ways from getting trampled by hopping frogs! I just finished "making" 2 more back grounds, one for a 12" x "12" x 18" exoterra, the other for a 1'x2'x2' tank. Have to wait till tomorrow and they should be completely cured then I'll get to the fun planting bit, hopefully have somthing to show for it by the middle of the week. I look forward to seeing yours! And let me know if you'd like the gymnaphora cutting (though I suppose you probably already have one hehe) Thanks, Sib
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Oct 14, 2007 16:07:41 GMT -5
wow syb...that looks fantanstic. WOW....do u have more pics? I can almost imagine what it might look like when the sphagnum takes over. You will not see anything but sphagnum.
|
|
|
Post by Syble on Oct 14, 2007 21:02:06 GMT -5
LOL, knowing my care level, the sphagnum will never be happy enough to take over lolha :S I'm re working the tank a bit, but should be able to snap some pics middle of the weekish when the others get finished off too. Re balanceing the tank filling in some failure plant spots (N. talagensis!) ya know, regular stuff! Thanks, Sib
|
|
|
Post by Flytrap on Oct 15, 2007 12:04:50 GMT -5
Thanks Sib and everyone ... Rick, I like your sense of humour I didn't get a chance to start on the actual "decorating" of the vivariums yet. I will have 3 large ones to fill out, with the largest vivarium measuring 50"l x 26"h x 18"w, the other two vivs measure 24"x24"x12". I spent the whole weekend gathering materials. I had sent out a call for plant trades in BC and spent the whole weekend driving all over the place to meet up and catch up with old buds. It was nice to see some private collections ... i'll post some pics later. I must have traded up to 100 lbs of tufa rock ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufa ) - beautiful, lightweight rocks that quickly covers up with moss and stuff, and at least 50 bromeliads and tillandsias, and piles of miniature temperate and subtropical grasses, moss, orchids and other tiny plants. I'll do a photo diary on the birth of one of my vivariums... like so many beautiful ones out there on the web. D
|
|