I Built A Poison Dart Frog Habitat (With Water Fall!)

I Built A Poison Dart Frog Vivarium Out of This Empty Terrarium.
#poisondartfrog #bioactive #vivarium
Here is all the materials I used and where I got them
The plants at the bottom of the water feature:
amzn.to/3V52JLL
Josh’s frogs lighting -
amzn.to/431tFy3
Oak leaf litter -
amzn.to/3V2c7Qg
Josh's Frogs ABG Mix Tropical Plant Soil & Terrarium Vivarium Substrate (4 Quart/1 Gallon
amzn.to/3T6NEXk
Great stuff expanding foam pond safe -
amzn.to/3uMqi1m
Black Aquarium Silicone Sealant - amzn.to/48IxNnQ
ALEGI Plastic Grid Divider Tray Egg Crate Louvre Aquarium Fish Tank Bottom Isolation with Bracket (8pcs Black) - amzn.to/49Qenyi
REPTI ZOO Large 34 Gallon Reptile Glass Tank,Front Opening Double Hinge Door 24" x 18" x 18", - amzn.to/49WNUPF
Creation Cultivated - 10ct Orange Springtails Live -
amzn.to/49zfjY2
amzn.to/48HnKzn - amzn.to/48HnKzn
Dragon Stone - amzn.to/4bWpho5
Seiryu Rock Stone
amzn.to/4bZ0oYJ
Ada Amazonia aquarium fertilizer
amzn.to/3wOdp7g

[@borisliverten6052]

i love the waterfall slow drip effect!

[@alternateaquatics]

Glad you like it!

[@leaf16nut]

Need more footage of them jumping around and being happy in that awesome home they have!

[@alternateaquatics]

I’m going to be posting some update videos soon! The whole moss wall in the back has grown in and so have the plants so I want to document the growth etc…I’ll Be sure to get lots of good footage of the froggies. Thanks for checking this out 🙏🏻

[@ManOnaMissionAZ]

@@alternateaquatics yes please do! I looove moss

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Great build! I love dart frogs! When I get a bigger space they'll be top of my list!

[@alternateaquatics]

Can’t wait to see it!!

[@harrytatum28]

this is my favorite poison dart frog vivarium build!

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you! I had a ton of fun building this dart frog set up. I had a few ideas that I didn’t get a chance to do on my previous bio active builds which I utilized in this one

[@darrenwhitehead3406]

What a perfect mini ecosystem poison dart frogs are amazing

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks so much! They’re my favorite for sure!

[@ManOnaMissionAZ]

I did have to chuckle at the Josh’s substrate layer… as it is just common low grade weed fabric cut into strips, bagged, and sold again for more.

[@alternateaquatics]

Oh I didn’t know that!!!

[@REOROOFS]

The waterfall is an awesome feature, when are we going to get to see some frog eggs and tadpoles!

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks a lot! I’m not sure… maybe when they’re grown up the waterfall will help set the mood for them 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@carolinepaige217]

Thank you

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you 🙏🏻 😊

[@SwissFrogGuy]

Building water features are so fun! Easiest to do in an enclosed aquarium!

[@alternateaquatics]

I agree! They really set an enclosure apart when done right in my opinion!

[@petescare13]

Overall very cool, and impressive results. I went with a similar style of false bottom (just with dropped ceiling egg crate) but my next one will be more traditional because I found the springtails can't get through the weed block fabric and even if I had used window screen there's no gravel or hydroton for them to colonize. I did use the exact same mini egg crate aquarium divider for the back panel I built the foam and bark structure on, so it's possible to change it when I redo the tank in a couple of years or whatever. Not trying to sound hypercritical, I understand you did the false bottom that way to accommodate the water feature with the minimal amount of grit getting down to the pump level.

[@alternateaquatics]

Hey thanks really glad you enjoyed it! I had thought about that, but since I had to cut into the divider fabric and added the black lava rock around the water feature….they have access to water and even all the way to the false bottom. I’ve seen them down there through the glass 👀

[@dystopianfuture1165]

You’ve earned a new subscriber. I enjoy this content.

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you so much and welcome aboard. I’ll be sure to do my best to emulate this work. Thanks again

[@TyfyufyufFguvghvghjv-gp3mx]

Looks amazing hope to see more amazing content

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks so much! I’m brainstorming the next project!

[@DCOutdoors]

Welcome back, bro! Looks awesome! Nice work.

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you! Cheers! I rlly appreciate that

[@chazer237]

Thanks for this, I enjoyed watching it :)

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your comment more than you know! 😁

[@auriannamartin8600]

This just made me so calm but also so inspired. I want to do thisssss

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks for enjoying it so much! I would 100% recommend building a vivarium it is so rewarding! I included a lot of the building supplies in the description so you can reference that in case you decide to build your own poison dart frog vivarium!

[@MrHillbilly]

This tank came out EPIC! Love the planted moss. I’ve been trying this for years and can never get it to grow….

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks I really appreciate it…this is my first try with the frog daddy moss so I guess I just got lucky

[@seedling345]

Really cool. I’ve been looking into getting some dart frogs, I’ve been keeping boa constrictors for almost 20 years.

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks! Definitely do it. I absolutely love dart frogs!

[@lappleton7151]

ive always wanted to get a boa! on a scale of 1-10 how much maintenance is there?

[@seedling345]

@@lappleton7151 little to no maintenance. Feed it once a week keep its water clean and spot clean when it poops.

[@alternateaquatics]

And even if you don’t clean spot for a while as long as you have a good clean up crew they will take care of business for ya!

[@boubiesVR]

Looks amazing! Looking forward to the update 😊

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks so much! I’m actually working on one right now

[@Adralect]

Love it, big inspiration! Thank you for the video!

[@alternateaquatics]

My pleasure! Really glad you enjoyed it thanks again!

[@Ghost-zz7bf]

Brother, I watched this video and thought this had to be made by a guy with at least 500k subscribers, keep grinding man this channel is going to pop off soon with content like this!

[@alternateaquatics]

Wow, thanks! I’m definitely motivated to keep going when I get a comment like that! Cheers 🍻

[@NotecardLine]

very nice!

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you! 🙏🏻 😊

[@brian_atc]

Incredible, i think i found a new hobby!

[@alternateaquatics]

Oh it’s by far the best hobby I’ve ever stumbled on..I mean who doesn’t want their own little rainforest in their living room?

[@rajatjha5934]

Gave U a sub buddy such an effort

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you so much! It is very appreciated!

[@Taylorray-uk5xd]

12:31 lmao Iove it

[@alternateaquatics]

Haha thanks 😊

[@k-kron]

Love the plant variety and all the space available for your new friends! I do wonder how you're gaining access to the pump for service and cleaning. Probably from above? Have you encountered any issues like algae build-up? I've built two fully bioactive enclosures with misting systems. I've wanted to build a vivarium with a water feature for a long time but I worry about the amount of time that could go into maintenance. Some months, my freshwater aquarium requires a good deal of maintenance. It depends on the shrimp population. When their numbers naturally dip, I have to take the pump apart for regular cleaning so it continues to function properly. Rather than just maintaining the water and external filter system. I'd like to know the realistic maintenance time so I don't take on more than what is practical. Working full-time and and caring for 10 enclosures, plus my cricket, dubia, isopod, and springtail colonies is currently manageable. I do worry about taking on something that requires more time than I planned for, leaving less time to give the rest of my critters the proper care they deserve.

[@alternateaquatics]

Hey thanks for stopping by! I haven’t had to do any maintenance on it yet. I’ve had the one for a year. I think the small snails I have in the water keeps the algae down. Also I’m not adding any food to the water so there’s less nutrients for algae growth

[@dennisschuler-lu6im]

absolutely love this build! i really want to create my own poison dart frog vivarium with a water fall but im so scared to mess it up lol

[@alternateaquatics]

You should 110% do it. It’s so rewarding!

[@warrioroflight6872]

Is there a viable thing to feed them aside from fruit flies? I tried those little monsters once and they had escapees and some even developed the ability to fly. I really want poison dart frogs again, but I don't think it's possible unless there's something else that they can reliably eat. (Pinhead crickets are also out of the question. Their parents die way too fast and the development cycle is too long.)

[@alternateaquatics]

Yeah they’re unfortunately a staple to their diet. I also feed them springtails and mini purple isopods. If you cycle your fruit fly cultures you can avoid them growing wings. However there will always be escapes lolb

[@tomtabone7949]

Very nice!

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you! 😊

[@OwlDago.]

Cool frogs bro.

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks so much! They’re def my favorite

[@ManOnaMissionAZ]

Overall, very cool!! Can’t wait to do my build

[@alternateaquatics]

Awesome! Thank you! Are you going to make a video? If so you should post a link under this comment!

[@ManOnaMissionAZ]

@@alternateaquatics will do

[@anizato]

FOLLOWING!

[@alternateaquatics]

🙆🏼‍♂️🙏🏻

[@SwissFrogGuy]

Great work!

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you I appreciate it! 🙏🏻

[@ballistic350]

Awesome bro, ur channels so underrated

[@alternateaquatics]

That really means a lot thank you!

[@lappleton7151]

I agree!

[@Ethan.F]

C'est magnifique 😍

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you so much! I

[@lucasminerrotc1414]

This tank is awesome! Just wondering where to get that moss starter from? 😅

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks that’s means a lot! I got the wet moss mix from frogdaddy.com same as the plants and the frogs

[@joshatchley2145]

Dude, where’d you get those legs for the false bottom?

[@alternateaquatics]

It’s the aquarium plastic grid divider, I added a link for it in the description 👍🏻

[@lappleton7151]

I ordered and used them in mine and i gotta say this is the best false bottom solution ever! the most lightweight and easy to work with anyway!

[@fallenart1520]

Me to myself this whole video: "Just wait you saw the thumbnail" Also Me: "That can't be right"

[@alternateaquatics]

Watcha mean?

[@fallenart1520]

@@alternateaquatics it was just so cool to watch but after every step I'd see a mess of silicone and foam and think to myself "there's no way they can make that look good" and then you add some moss and plants around it and I'm left thinking "Holy smokes this person is actually a genius and that looks amazing" 😅

[@alternateaquatics]

Hahaha thanks so much! You just gotta trust the process 😉😁

[@fallenart1520]

@@alternateaquatics I'm definitely going to be trying this soon, what plants do you recommend?

[@alternateaquatics]

You absolutely gotta get the wet moss mix from frogdaddy.com as far as plants goes it all depends on the size of your set up. I would get them from the same website. The trimmings I got always survived. Also they have them categorized with photos and descriptions so you’ll be able to find the perfect fit for yours! Good luck keep me posted I’d love to hear how it goes for ya! Thanks for checking out the video :)

[@mizwarren6180]

I love your work!! How many frogs max would one put in a space that size. Also, do all poisonous dart frogs have to be the same variety or can you have multiple breeds in a space like that? I am not sure breed is the correct term, please correct me if I am mistaken. Thank you

[@alternateaquatics]

Hey thanks a lot!! The amount of frogs you can keep together really depends on the species. There’s a lot of different ones with different needs for size and tank mates. I would not recommend mixing different locals/species. A big risk is they will bully each other or inbreed.

[@r.e.m2676]

As a plant guy, how do you make sure your plants have drainage after foaming around the plant pots?

[@alternateaquatics]

The foam doesn’t rlly stay soaked that long

[@valeriehudson8564]

I love this build. Can you tell me how many tubes of silicone you went through? And how many cans of foam?

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks so much! It was about 4 tubes of silicone and 1 can of foam!

[@alternateaquatics]

And one can of clear silicone also

[@actionfilmist]

Hey, to get the water to drain back into the pump, do you just have the entire bottom layer of foam filled with enough water? Or do you have it flow back towards the pump from the pond somehow? This has been my dilemma.

[@alternateaquatics]

I’ve got just enough water on the bottom to cover the top of the pump

[@actionfilmist]

@@alternateaquatics Great, thank you.

[@alternateaquatics]

No worries!!

[@davidmartin4041]

Where do you think i beef get the moss kit from in Canada

[@alternateaquatics]

I would check to see if frogdaddy.com ships to Canada…if not…I’m not really sure

[@scarlettlynx6733]

Where did you get the moss sludge?

[@alternateaquatics]

It’s the wet moss mix from Frogdaddy.com the owner is Alex menke you can add him on Facebook. He’s a dart frog expert and super chill! He can answer anything you might want to know :)

[@RizzyKake]

Does the moss stuff smell bad?

[@alternateaquatics]

The set sphagnum moss I used for the back drop? Or the wet moss mix I added to it?

[@RizzyKake]

@@alternateaquatics wet moss

[@alternateaquatics]

No

[@Adralect]

What kind of Aqua Foam did you use?

[@alternateaquatics]

The expanding foam? “Great stuff expanding foam -pond safe”

[@alternateaquatics]

I also linked it in the description

[@Adralect]

Sorry, the foam mats as the flooring, atop the grates.

[@alternateaquatics]

Oh it’s aquarium filter foam, I don’t remember which one I got tbh but it came condensed and cost maybe $15

[@Adralect]

Sweet, I’ll check them out!

[@kovenant7]

Those plants are dynomite!

[@alternateaquatics]

Thanks! Frogdaddy.com never disappoints!

[@Spyxfamily_fan11]

Be careful of the dart frogs very deadly 👍✨💅

[@alternateaquatics]

Thank you, I will 😉

[@joshatchley2145]

They get the alkaloids to produce their poison from the various insects they eat in the wild. Captive darts are completely safe.

[@ego_death_]

in nature yes, in captivity no. their toxins are derived from their diet, so unless youre feeding them poisonous insects itll be fine. they still should not be handed bare handed preferably because of how our skin oils interact with the frogs

[@user-wb1qr6vh3y]

In the wild, sure. They are poisonous so in captivity they are completely harmless

[@c.b.kansan1700]

As the other guy said, captive bred are harmless. It's their diet in the wild that make then dangerous.

[@BigStevesGlassBoxCreations]

I really wanted to name this project the "silicone monster." But i cant help but lean towards, "im so desperate to talk about how much i work out, im going to say pre-workout 82 times in 24 minute video." I know, its kind of a long title, but it works.

[@alternateaquatics]

It’s creative for sure!

[@alternateaquatics]

My turn, If your comment had a title it would be “how to say I’m triggered without saying I’m triggered” I like this game! :D

[@MrHillbilly]

@@alternateaquatics😂😂 I hate keyboard warriors.. but he watched your whole video counting how many times you said something 😂 so..win for you!

[@alternateaquatics]

Lmao too true! I just checked out your videos btw they’re straight 🔥

[@MrHillbilly]

@@alternateaquatics thanks!

[@bigonnano5865]

I personally wouldn't listen to anything this guy says. He just gets all his info from reddit

[@alternateaquatics]

I avoid Reddit like the plague 😅