What tank set up do people have?

[gershon]

We've been keeping four fire bellies for a few months now. We were given another one at the weekend.

We were advised that the easiest setup was bark chippings with a shallowish water bowl which is refilled each day. I feel that a divided tank with land & water would be far more natural, though obviously the water would need filtering and monitoring.

How have you set up your tanks?

[nicole]

I have a half and half tank. Basically it starts deep and then becomes shallow. I use river rock and built it up to make a dry section. I had read that bark could injure their bellies. Anything that they may mistakenly swallow should be a no-no. I have an underwater filter with lots of live plants.

If you keep the water bowl you really need to be adamant about changing the water everyday with dechlorinated water otherwise their own toxins can get them sick.

[madelene]

I keep mine in a 4 foot tank with an 18 inch island in the middle and water either side. The island is a planter filled with coir planted up with pathos and a few rocksand bark for hides, the surface covered with moss. I use rounded off slate to form ramps and small caves for them leading into the water and have a box filter in both pools to keep the water clean. There are various floating water plants and I use smooth large gravel.

Maddie

[gershco]

I've changed my tank setup and the toads seem much happier. Here's a link to my post with photos. What do you think?

http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=48652

[Jumpshot724]

I have a 20 gallon tank that's mostly terrestrial (picture below)

For substrate I used Eco-Earth, and which I then accented with Bearded Moss. The background is T-Rex Terra-Scape which makes the tank look good.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/Chillin-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/LeftSideish-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/RightSideish-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/TheSet-up.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/TheSet-upAgain.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/ToadFloatinAround.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/ToadinWater.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/ToadTakinaSwim.jpg

[killifish]

You can visit my website to see how I set up my tank. This is an older website, I made it in college. Not fancy, but it has lots of pictures (low resolution). I have a little how-to photo section.

http://homepage.mac.com/frogfood/bombina/bombina.html

I also have a more updated web site that has some more FBT pictures in my amphibian section. This is a classroom website. We have pictures of a couple hundred baby FBT's.

http://web.mac.com/frogfood/Mr_Adams_Science_Class/My_Albums/My_Albums.html

Jeremy

[gershco]

You have lots of great photos on your sites. Could you give us a list of plants you tend to use with the firebellies?

[tarita2004]

My cage:
Top View:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/tarita2004/Lucky%20and%20Indy/P1040020.jpg
Side view:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/tarita2004/Lucky%20and%20Indy/P1040019.jpg

[HanP]

Hi

This is not a "set-up" i would have in mind once i decided
to take care of Bombina: they definitely need more light,
water and hidingspots. Forgive me my naivety, but for some reason
i first thought this to be "My First Set-Up" made by a 7 year old.

Han.

PS My first reply suffered a delete by the Moderator (i guess),
an appropriate delete, for it was rude and impolite. Sorry.

[John]

I decided to remove my post after thinking about it.

[Jumpshot724]

The good thing about FBTs is that they're extremely hardy. While that set-up may not be conducive for an "ideal" environment, they should thrive in it with no problems.

For the record FBTs don't really need light. I only use a regular desk lamp above them to maintain the heat in the cage during the day.

Regards
JW

[Jumpshot724]

I also changed my set-up today

From this:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/ToadFloatinAround.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/LeftSideish-1.jpg



To This:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/NewSetup1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/NewSetup2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/NewSetup3.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jumpshot724/NewSetup4.jpg

I chose red aquarium rocks because I am trying to get them to change their color from olive green to the bright "show green" as I call it since the only time you see that is on pamphlets and books about them haha. I also placed a plant in there in hopes of breeding, but I'm not trying too hard for that so if they do great if not that's ok too. There is still a large amount of land because for the most part my toads stay out of the water so, we'll see what happens. I can always increase the water area next month :cool:

[keechoo]

Gravel should be avoided at all costs because of the high chance of impaction. If it is larger than their mouth you are okay.

[Jumpshot724]

Gravel should be avoided at all costs because of the high chance of impaction. If it is larger than their mouth you are okay.

I know, that's why I only used it for the water portion. The land portion is EcoEarth

[Kaysie]

Jumpshot, I was JUST looking at that foam land-area thing today for my turtles. I decided $29 was too steep for me, and bought some of my own to design a DIY one. How do you like it?

[Jumpshot724]

Jumpshot, I was JUST looking at that foam land-area thing today for my turtles. I decided $29 was too steep for me, and bought some of my own to design a DIY one. How do you like it?

$29.00!?!? That is expensive where were you looking haha? Much cheaper here:
http://www.reptiledepot.com/trexfoam.html

As for "turtle beach" itself, I like it a lot. I have the small one since I only have a 10 gallon tank. I just installed it today and I know what I already know what I have to change when I clean the tank.

When I cleaned my tank and redid it I covered the tank in a layer (10lb bag) of aquarium rocks, placed the "turtle island" in where it is, and filled the back of it with EcoEarth to increase the land area. Next time I clean the tank though I'm going to put the "turtle island" flat on the glass bottom and then fill in around it. I put it on top of the rocks in hopes of creating a water table in the EcoEarth, which did happen but the foam is porous enough so there is no need for it to be on top of the gravel. It'll just make it look more "natural" (even though you don't find streams with a red rock substrate anywhere in the world :p )

[HanP]

Hi

You would like to change their colour from olive-green to the bright show-green?
If so than your toads need far more light, believe me, they really do. And more
water at a much higher level. Quite sure the toads won't flourish in this set-up
but you're lucky, all kinds of interesting bacteria and mould will.
Yes, you could call Bombina hardy but instead of experimenting with them:
read before you take care.
You wrote about Tara 's "set-up" :"The good thing about FBTs is that they're extremely hardy. While that set-up may not be conducive for an "ideal" environment, they should thrive in it with no problems.", but the trouble
is, the toad didn't thrive in it but died in it. (see: Sick FBT?)

Han

[Jumpshot724]

Hi

You would like to change their colour from olive-green to the bright show-green?
If so than your toads need far more light, believe me, they really do. And more
water at a much higher level. Quite sure the toads won't flourish in this set-up
but you're lucky, all kinds of interesting bacteria and mould will.
Yes, you could call Bombina hardy but instead of experimenting with them:
read before you take care.
You wrote about Tara 's "set-up" :"The good thing about FBTs is that they're extremely hardy. While that set-up may not be conducive for an "ideal" environment, they should thrive in it with no problems.", but the trouble
is, the toad didn't thrive in it but died in it. (see: Sick FBT?)

Han

Mine do have light on them at least 12 hours a day. I am going to raise the water level I just ran out of toad-safe water when I was filling the tank. I completely strip down and clean the tank about once every 3-4 weeks so mold/bacteria shouldn't be an issue, I didn't see any when I cleaned it today.

They're happy, healthy, and eating well

EDIT: Apparently, more water does do the trick. As of right now they're calling for the first time since I got them!!!! Everyone's right, it does sound like a small dog's "yip!, yip!, yip!"

[Kaysie]

I am shamed to admit it, but it was at PetStupid. I didn't buy it. I usually don't. It's cheaper (and much more fun!) to come home and make it myself.

[tarita2004]

...................
You wrote about Tara 's "set-up" :"The good thing about FBTs is that they're extremely hardy. While that set-up may not be conducive for an "ideal" environment, they should thrive in it with no problems.", but the trouble
is, the toad didn't thrive in it but died in it. (see: Sick FBT?)

Han


I actually have had my toads for 2 years now, they do have a lid and a top light for their cage, you perceive me as stupid which makes me think "wow, what a 'friendly welcome" rather than asking if i had lights and hide spots......... Chomper died after 2 years of living w/me and a former 2 years from the people i bought him from...my other toad is perfectly healthy and happy...
:ha: http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/tarita2004/Dommer%20and%20Chomper/P1040060.jpg

[HanP]

Hi

With a lifespan of an easy 20+, a poor 4 years must be considered
humiliating short, as far as Bombina is concerned.
Get yourself a new one and try again. And again. And again.
Or, a far better option: ask people on this forum how they
manage to keep their toads alive for decades, let them tell
you about their vivariums, food, temps, breeding etc., get
some books on the subject and read and than try again.

Han.

[Jumpshot724]

Hi

With a lifespan of an easy 20+, a poor 4 years must be considered
humiliating short, as far as Bombina is concerned.
Get yourself a new one and try again. And again. And again.
Or, a far better option: ask people on this forum how they
manage to keep their toads alive for decades, let them tell
you about their vivariums, food, temps, breeding etc., get
some books on the subject and read and than try again.

Han.


Yes but how old was it before the people she got it from? The toad was at LEAST 4 years old. It could have been captured at age 10+ for all we know. Or, captive bred and 10+ years old by the time it made it to the pet store. For all we know the pet store bought it off of someone who couldn't keep it anymore after 10+ years of keeping it.

Basically, the fact that it survived 2 years in her set-up should show that it was a good enough set-up. If it only lasted 2 months then yes, there would be reason to worry. But two years is an awfully long time to not die if it was in a poor set-up....

[HanP]

Basically, the fact that it survived 2 years in her set-up should show that it was a good enough set-up. If it only lasted 2 months then yes, there would be reason to worry. But two years is an awfully long time to not die if it was in a poor set-up....


You 've said it yourself, Bombina is very hardy, dying can take an awfull long time...........
Although i find the above quote a crying shame, i rest my case.

Han

[grunsven]

You can put a dog in a cage of 1 by 1 meter and feed it potato peels and scraps. It will live for years but that doesn't make it a good "setup" for that dog.

[Mark]

Folks, It’s easy to criticize - the real skills lie in being constructive, listening, sharing and learning. Without those the “discussion” has little value. There’s enough experience vs inexperience in this thread to make something fruitful, you all just have to put a bit of effort in…;)