The Dart Frog Vivarium - Day 1,138
Hey friends,
Welcome to this week’s edition of Wednesday updates!
The Dart Frog Vivarium - Day 1,138
It’s hard to believe that this dart frog vivarium has been thriving for 1,138 days (over 3 years!) This setup has become a stunning, almost self-sustaining ecosystem that continues to amaze me with its lush plant growth. The plants have created a dense jungle, and the frogs are thriving inside it.
Creating this vivarium was quite the task; it was the first big build I ever made, and I decided to jump in the deep end and construct the tank from scratch. Unfortunately, I wasn’t making YouTube videos at the time, so I didn’t document the build process, but here’s a basic rundown of how I created this thriving ecosystem. I started with some second-hand sheets of glass that were originally meant for a greenhouse. After carefully cutting the glass down to size, I assembled the tank with aquarium silicone. The next step was crafting the background and hardscape; I used the expanding foam method and embedded various pieces of driftwood as I went. After carving the foam down, I covered it with silicone followed by coco fiber to give it a realistic, earthy appearance. Once the background was complete, I added a variety of moss and plants to bring the tank to life.
Over the years, I’ve added many plant species to the ecosystem, with there currently being over 15 different species inside. In my opinion, the more variety in planting, the better, as it helps provide numerous hiding spots and microhabitats for the dart frogs. That being said, I may have gone slightly overboard, as some of the plants have started to take over the tank!
The real stars of this vivarium are the dart frogs; inside live two Dendrobates tinctorius 'Tumucumaque.' Their striking colours are absolutely beautiful! In the wild, these frogs are poisonous, but interestingly, they are not poisonous in captivity because their toxicity comes from their diet of certain insects, which are not available in a controlled environment. These little amphibians can live up to 10 years or more and have become quite the characters, often coming to the front of the glass at feeding time, much like puppies begging for treats.
As with any thriving ecosystem, maintenance is key to keeping things balanced. Currently, the plants are in desperate need of a trim as they’ve started to overgrow the space. Beyond this occasional trimming, the vivarium requires surprisingly little attention. The plants and frogs have created a stable ecosystem that largely takes care of itself, making it a joy to maintain (when I get around to it!).
Tips For This Ecosystem
Set Up an Auto Mister: This vivarium is hooked up to an automatic misting system that sprays the tank twice a day.
Good Ventilation: This tank has a vent along the top and another along the bottom, which creates good airflow that the frogs and plants are definitely grateful for.
Use a Wide Array of Plant Species: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—the more diverse the planting, the more natural the ecosystem will look!
Upcoming Project Spotlight
This is a nano aquarium that will soon be home to a beautiful betta fish. It’s filled with plants and looking super healthy. Look out for the video next month! :)
Additional Resources
Check out my terrarium making ebook, it’s packed full of useful information that will help you make a terrarium! https://terrariumdesigns.co.uk/products/ebook
I think I've watched like 3 dozen of your videos in the last week, and I got your ebook to try my first terrarium! Nervous but excited! 😊