Wild Sky specialised frogs,exotic plants, vivarium


Stephen E.F's Vivarium


Mar.14th2003

whole

closeup whole

closeup Orchid with red flowers

can you find frogs?

here they are

This is my orchid and Asian fire-bellied toad (Bombina orientalis) vivarium, 80 cm wide x 40 cm deep x 45 cm tall.

It is a false-bottom for the water and garden pump. The pump discharges into a perforated pipe at the top of the tank to simulate rain from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM each morning. It also serves to filter and purify the water through oxidation, filtration and carbon adsorption.

It is near a southwest-facing window so the orchids can get a lot of light. The understory varies from very bright in front to well-shaded in back. The temperature stays within the toads preferred range (21 C to 27 C).

The base is 1" of orchid bark and charcoal mix with live moss on top of that. The log in back provides hiding space for the two toads, is packed with peat moss and planted with ivy that will eventually provide the background.

The orchids (howearas, paphiopedilum, miniature cattleya and dendrobium keikis) are mostly stick-mounted; the keikis rest directly on the moss. I've found I have to secure things with twist ties because fishing line solarizes and breaks. Not pretty, but it works.

One of the toads has darkened and appears to be ready to shed its skin. I've only had them for a few days, but they are feeding on crickets. They have a small water bowl, but seem to prefer resting in the damp moss to being immersed. I'm hoping the crickets establish a breeding colony, but I'll see about that. It would be nice of it became an closed system (except for adding make-up water).

Stephen E. F. Pennsylvania, USA



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