Water-bottom tree frog tank?

[Lamb]

Hello all,

I've had two male green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) for almost a year now. I'm in the mood to redesign their 20 gallon tall tank, and am wondering if I should try to recreate the design of a multi-species tank I saw in the aquarium in Chattanooga, TN. In the Chattanooga aquarium, the tree frog tank had 4 or so inches of water in it with plenty of branches emerging from the water on which the frogs hung out.

Here is the biggest issue I see with this design - drowned crickets. Does anyone have a set up like this? Or has anyone set up a tank like this? I suppose I could have a small island that the crickets could climb out on. Thoughts?

(I also posted this on FrogForum).

 

[Cliff]

I look forward to seeing what you come up with as I am planning something similar for a group of semi aquatic tree frogs in a 6 foot tank!

I will be having about 7 inches of water and making my own 3D background that will incorporate lots of ledges, branches and cave areas.

I have seen people incorporate feeding bowls into their tank designs to put crickets and roaches in so they don't escape and foul the water.

Here is a picture of ViperJr's semi aquatic tree frog tank;
Picture 37 of 38 from Theloderma corticale

 

[Brian M]

I think the main issue you need to think about is filtration. Everything your frogs eat is gonna end up in the water below. You'll nead to position your branches in a way that will allow for easy cleanup without the need to empty the tank for filter changes, drowned crickets etc. Also any crickets that have been dusted with calcium and vitamins will die the second they hit the water so that is another issue to figure out. The crickets are just as likely to climb the branches as they are to find the island so I don't think that is a necessary part unless you want it. You may also want to make the water a few inches deeper to aid in water quality in case you decide to add fish for algea cleanup.

 

[smashtoad]

Just get a duetto filter and fill it with bio max for aquaclear filters...you'll only need a small package. I'd go at least five inches of water. That will keep your water quality good for two green treefrogs...no problem. Try to fish out dead crickets, but your nitrifiers need to eat too!

 

[Lamb]

Thanks for the replies!

I was planning on having 4 or more inches of water, and on installing a small filter. I haven't seen duetto filters in our local pet stores, but we have other brands that make small filters. The thought of including an algae eater did occur to me, but I hadn't decided whether to do it or not. It would need to be a larger fish, as the frogs will attempt to eat just about everything.

A friend made a suggestion on how to achieve my island idea - use tupperware. Get a tupperware container tall enough so that its lip sits at or just above the water. My idea was to then fill the tupperware with hydro-balls (those clay balls), poke holes in it, and plant something like Pothos in it, or perhaps a fern? If I wanted the water to be deeper, I could always have the tupperware floating, or perched on rocks.

I think that with a filter, and with the hand-pump I use in my aquarium, I can keep the water fairly clean.