H
henry
Guest
Hi there,
I'm new to the forums but not that new to keeping amphibians.
I am in the process of setting up a new greenhouse that is built around housing amphibians. It will, obviously be used mainly for my plant collections but the structure itself is to be completely sealed and any necessary openings covered with fly mesh. Anyway, The structure is 12' x 12' and there will be a small pond in the centre. It wont be particularly large and will be raised slightly. There will be a very small current from one end but that is only to provide filtration (by very small, i mean water running down a small ridge and entering the pool. The greenhouse itself is heated but the pond is not so it should stay quite cool. I will put a trellis over the pond with a lot of climbers to shade it. Also large banana, alocasia and amorphophallus leaves should provide ample shade (as well as a greenhouse glass shade on the roof).
I am negotiating releasing some treefrogs inside but i would like some aquatic animals in the pond. I've always liked newts and axolotls but it seems that axies are not only easier to look after, they wont attempt to run away (even though the structure is sealed, i would rather keep them safely inside the pool). Xenopus frogs were an option but i understand they aren't as temperature tolerant as axies so all signs point to axolotls
Am i under a misconception that they are so tolerant and easy to keep? Do they require more care than i have time for (going out to the greenhouse every other day, sometimes only 2/3 times a week in winter). I'm fine about feeding live foods, they don't bother me and i should be getting some sort of insect with aquatic larvae to establish in the greenhouse so there will be a good stream of food coming in.
Does anyone have a pond like this already? any pointers? It will be partially raised and partially sunk but as naturalistic and well planted as i can make it.
Thanks for your help,
Hen
I'm new to the forums but not that new to keeping amphibians.
I am in the process of setting up a new greenhouse that is built around housing amphibians. It will, obviously be used mainly for my plant collections but the structure itself is to be completely sealed and any necessary openings covered with fly mesh. Anyway, The structure is 12' x 12' and there will be a small pond in the centre. It wont be particularly large and will be raised slightly. There will be a very small current from one end but that is only to provide filtration (by very small, i mean water running down a small ridge and entering the pool. The greenhouse itself is heated but the pond is not so it should stay quite cool. I will put a trellis over the pond with a lot of climbers to shade it. Also large banana, alocasia and amorphophallus leaves should provide ample shade (as well as a greenhouse glass shade on the roof).
I am negotiating releasing some treefrogs inside but i would like some aquatic animals in the pond. I've always liked newts and axolotls but it seems that axies are not only easier to look after, they wont attempt to run away (even though the structure is sealed, i would rather keep them safely inside the pool). Xenopus frogs were an option but i understand they aren't as temperature tolerant as axies so all signs point to axolotls
Am i under a misconception that they are so tolerant and easy to keep? Do they require more care than i have time for (going out to the greenhouse every other day, sometimes only 2/3 times a week in winter). I'm fine about feeding live foods, they don't bother me and i should be getting some sort of insect with aquatic larvae to establish in the greenhouse so there will be a good stream of food coming in.
Does anyone have a pond like this already? any pointers? It will be partially raised and partially sunk but as naturalistic and well planted as i can make it.
Thanks for your help,
Hen