Quick and Easy Dart Frog Vivarium

[@nineleafclover1477]

Great to see another video! Your setups are beautiful. It's cool to see a more simple build turn out really well since so many other videos are the fancy custom glass, foam, carve, waterfall, etc. that are still a little out of my league as a beginner.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Thanks! That's exactly why I made this video, for people that just want to get into keeping darts but may not be able to commit the time, effort and expense to a fully custom background. I remember as a beginner, the prospect of building a custom background was a little bit intimidating as well, so I wanted to show it's not really required to go that fancy to start keeping dart frogs.

[@exploringwithdanielrivas2802]

That’s a great idea, I’m planning on building my on terrarium this year (2023) and out of all the videos I have watched you’re the first one who shows how to put a drain tube, that’s been one of my concern I been thinking about! Thank you

[@clarysagequartz9535]

Most to the point, pleasant, and informative video for a natural vivarium found so far!

[@skipw8459]

Thank you for the simplistic explanation. I'm just getting into dart Frog Vivariums and I was making my own container with a limited amount of glass and I've been watching numerous videos but no one talks about drainage or the top. I was over thinking and drilled a hole for drainage, ( I broke it which is why I have no top, LOL) I didn't even think about the method you demonstrated regarding drainage and temporary plastic wrap on top. Sometimes its the simple things that are the hardest to see. Thank You.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sirsever3234]

That light, unless led will output a lot of heat esp. for such a short viv. Get top glass cut in two, run a bead of silicon down the middle and add a handle for easy access. You dont want one sheet that will restrict airflow..

[@NorthernFrogger]

It is an LED light, so heat is not an issue. I will add a screen section when I do the glass top, but honestly I find the vents in the front provide enough ventilation even with a sealed top.

[@nickbenedict1739]

Northern Frogger what if I have a solid glass tank with a screen top. I’m unsure how to cover that while making sure not to suffocate the frogs. Also what sort of plants can I put in there? Does it just grow in the substrate?

[@GratefulEd907]

I just got a tank with three dart frogs the screen top had plastic wrap like that too. Tonight I grabbed some window shrink wrap for $5 to go over the screen. Looks much better now.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Nice, that's a good idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@GratefulEd907]

@@NorthernFrogger thank you for sharing. I have 2 days experience with dart frogs and I’m seeing I’ll have to separate one of the males from the other male and female. So tonight I picked up another enclosure and wanted to make sure I’m going to set it up right so he’s happy and healthy.

[@ravingcyclist624]

Excellent video. This format would even make a good terrarium. Plants only.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Definitely!

[@vivetuvidaliveyourlife794]

I like it really good job

[@katiewestman7894]

I like the part about making a vivarium.

[@brysonburton8743]

Same

[@randyraharja5860]

is that save for the animals when you wrap the top vent with that? nice viv!

[@NorthernFrogger]

Yep! The top still doesn't seal perfectly, and the vents at the front allow some airflow. The plants in the vivarium provide oxygen as well, and dart frogs don't require a ton of ventilation. I wouldn't recommend this method for most other herps though. Even many other amphibians require more ventilation/air circulation, but darts seem to be ok with very little.

[@MasterJiraiya996]

Cool vivarium you got there. Is that bioactive?

[@NorthernFrogger]

Yes it is! I forgot to show adding them while I was filming, but there are tropical springtails and dwarf purple isopods in there as well.

[@chloecan8867]

Awesome vid thank you. Do the plants do well when put in like that? What are ways to ensure they have everything they need as to not have to replace them all the time? Thanks.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Yeah most of the time they are fine, I just mist extra heavy for about a week after transplanting until they get established. Give them extra time to get established if they are delicate plants and/or larger frogs

[@turquoisejungle3504]

Im also doing dart frog videos and would appreciate some tips on how to grow and I also love your content been here for a while 😃

[@NorthernFrogger]

Thanks! Your vivarium looks great! I don't really have any great tips on how to grow, I'm still just kind of winging it myself lol. I do watch a lot of other pet and aquarium KZbinrs and kind of try to emulate the things I like about their channels and avoid the things I don't. I also watch a lot of "filmmaker" type channels for tips and techniques to improve the production value on my videos. Hope that helps!

[@turquoisejungle3504]

Northern Frogger thanks

[@ratrod67]

Those hydro balls are quite a bit bigger than the ones I was able to purchase locally. Size make a difference?

[@NorthernFrogger]

No, I don't think size really makes a difference... I just bought a big bulk bag of them and this was the only size they came in. Some of my tanks have the smaller size as well, and some of them have a mix of both. I tend to just go with whatever ones are cheapest at the time lol

[@LoneWolf_RO]

What fertilisation do you use for the plants? And what type of soil?

[@NorthernFrogger]

I don't actively fertilize the soil, I just let the frogs do it for me ;) The soil is a mixture of coconut husk, coconut fibre, fir/orchid bark, peat moss, sand, sphagnum moss, and organic potting soil.

[@Wulfgeist]

This is nearly perfect for me. I have that exact same tank that my baby BRB is outgrowing. I'm moving him up to a bigger tank so am going to use this tank as my first bioactive for my first dart frogs. You mentioned misting before adding the frogs. Is that all you do? Just mist down the top layer? I assume with the top sealed the humidity will just more or less build up on it's own that way? I was assuming some water had to be added to the bottom but I guess not? Thanks!

[@NorthernFrogger]

Well the soil gets quite a bit of water added while mixing it up, so it's already pretty moist when I put it in there. I don't really add water directly to the bottom, but I will mist the tank heavily for the first few days until a bit of water starts to collect in the drainage layer.

[@jem5108]

Great thanks. I'm getting a 24 by 18 by 18 Exoterra. What size is your Viv? Thanks.

[@NorthernFrogger]

This one is 18x18x12

[@zacsdiyreptiles7146]

Arizona? Thought Atlanta.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Yeah it's Atlanta... Just had a brain fart while recording that bit lol

[@AZTECAN702]

What plants did u use

[@Cuh007]

What types of dart frogs could work well in that tank? I might get some cause I got the same tank.

[@wafflenuggets5736]

A lot but I would go with the yellow banded dart frogs.

[@NorthernFrogger]

I would avoid any of the thumbnails, as they appreciate more vertical space, but leucomelas or any of the auratus would work well in here. It's borderline too small for tinctorius, imo, but it could work for a pair, especially a smaller variety like oyapok.

[@wafflenuggets5736]

@@NorthernFrogger would a pair of azureus work if planted and given slightly ledges using a custom backgroundv

[@walnutgynneenderson4043]

@@wafflenuggets5736 No, you'd need to go much larger, especially for a pair.

[@nicoley.7429]

How do you monitor humidity and temperature levels for your dart frogs?

[@NorthernFrogger]

I have digital thermometer/hygrometers on a few of the tanks, but most of them are hooked up to the automated mister and I've kind of just developed a feel over the years of how much they need to be misted to keep the humidity up without necessarily monitoring it too closely.

[@stevenwalker6481]

Will lights not burn the wrap ?

[@NorthernFrogger]

Nah they are LED lights so they don't get that warm.

[@lisfrankrosario3132]

I have a quick question, I'm going away for like 7 to 8 days. What steps did u take when, u took your trip to make sure your frogs were, ok when u came back?

[@NorthernFrogger]

For a trip like that I would make sure they are fed really well in the week or two before leaving, and then try and get a friend or family member who can come in and give them an additional feeding about halfway through the trip. If they are healthy and well fed to start they can go 4 or 5 days without much issue, especially if there are good populations of springtails in the tank. The other thing I've done is to just poke a small hole in the top of a fly culture and leave it in the tank. The flies will slowly crawl out over the course of the week and keep the frogs fed. They won't be getting any supplements this way but it shouldn't matter for just a week. I try to select a culture that is just past it's initial boom phase so the flies won't overwhelm the tank, or get overpopulated in the container and crash. I recommend testing this method beforehand to get an idea of what size hole to make to regulate the fruit flies. I would also highly recommend an automatic mister so you don't have to worry about humidity getting too low while you're gone. Otherwise you might have to get a friend to come mist them every couple days while your gone. Hope that helps!

[@aarongonzalez4458]

For the drainage layer can I use gravel?

[@NorthernFrogger]

You can, the main problem is that it is much heavier...

[@sevnll2715]

Hey josh, will you ever get into oophaga Histrionica or any large obligates

[@NorthernFrogger]

Yes, I would really like to... Unfortunately they are still very rare and extremely expensive in Canada, but I have been looking into them.

[@sevnll2715]

Northern Frogger nice, I would recommend getting oophaga Histrionica redhead if you do get large obligates my favorite frogs by far super bold and awesome

[@NorthernFrogger]

@@sevnll2715 Yes, I love those frogs, they are definitely high on the list!

[@fresnocascabel7571]

Atlanta* Botanical Gardens, they're well known for breeding endangered frog species.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Thanks for the correction! That's just a total brain fart on my part lol

[@steveplays5408]

Do u have a list of exactly what makes up your substrate

[@NorthernFrogger]

Not really, because it's usually a little different every time. But I always use coco husk, eco earth, some kind of fir bark, and some sphagnum moss. I will sometimes use tree fern fiber if I can find it, and I'll often use a bit of sand and some charcoal as well.

[@michaelhaxan3196]

Hey Josh, Just curious if you have any good Canadian vendors you use for supplies? I'm in Ottawa myself and the shipping charges in the states are pretty insane. I'm building a vivarium this winter and will be in need of dragon root and cork tubes/flats. Hope you're doing well!

[@NorthernFrogger]

Hi! I don't know where to get dragon root, but I usually get my cork bark from Amazon. I just keep an eye on the price of the ZooMed bulk box and buy it when the price dips. Mostly Just Geckos in B.C. has great prices on cork bark and lots of other supplies as well. I have Jungle Jewel Exotics and Pisces Pet Emporium in Calgary here that I get supplies from as well. Hope that helps!

[@michaelhaxan3196]

@@NorthernFrogger much appreciated!

[@dtruman123]

How many frogs in this tank

[@NorthernFrogger]

I have two frogs in this tank; a breeding pair of D. auratus 'Super Blue'

[@steveplays5408]

Where are u located do u sell dart frogs 🐸

[@NorthernFrogger]

Yes I sell them! I'm located in Calgary, Alberta, but I can ship within Canada.

[@steveplays5408]

@@NorthernFrogger I'm in mississauga ontario how much is shipping. Love your luces

[@NorthernFrogger]

Shipping will probably be about $120-$130

[@ey8648]

Boring

[@Stillsense]

How??

[@rigobertocontreras3337]

ABG is Atlanta Botanical Garden, not Arizona. That's funny 😁.

[@NorthernFrogger]

Lol yeah total brain fart on that one....