Your First Frog

Home
Schedule
Archive
Contact Information
Vendor Info
Hotel and Travel Info
Midwest Frog Fest
Your First Frog

New Sponsor!

Buying your first frog can be very stressful. You will acquire a mountain of knowledge and helpful hints from many knowledgeable people. This page is designed for the beginner who is planning on getting a frog or learning more about them. PLEASE keep in mind there are many ways to keep and breed frogs. This is just ONE! We do recommend you check out other websites with vivarium set ups and helpful hints including:

General rules to keep in mind:

• One species of frog per tank. There are many reasons for this including inter-breeding (bad), food competition and territory competition.
• Two frogs per 10 gallon tank. Some people use a 20 gallon for a pair and that is actually better. Too many frogs and they can fight or compete for food.
• ALWAYS have food available! You can use fruit flies, pinhead crickets, rice flour beetles, springtails, aphids and termites. For daily feeders you should primarily use fruit flies or pinhead crickets.
• Always use Vitamins: Check with your breeder to see what they use. We use a combination of rep-cal and herptivite.
• Have a light on 12 hours a day. Any fluorescent light at home depot will do. Be careful of the reptile lights as they can get too hot!
• Always know who you bought your frog from. Get their business card, phone number, email address etc. so you can contact them with any questions. Always find out how they keep the species of frog you are planning to buy. Ask them what they are feeding the frog so you can provide your new animal the same diet.
• Do not use sand as a substrate! The frogs can ingest this when feeding and become impacted.

Our vivarium set ups are simple. Your Home Depot shopping list is:

1. window screen (NOT aluminum)
2. egg crate (the plastic square stuff you get in the lighting department_
3. plastic pipe fittings
4. orchid bark, moss (NOT sphagnum, I personally have had bad luck with that), or supersoil
5. plants, bromeliads, pothos, etc
6. live moss
7. Aquarium (petco, walmart etc.)
8. cut lid (I use plexi glass because I like it better)
9. electrical tape (optional)
10. rocks (aquarium or back yard, either way rinse them really good)
11. gauze
12. light
13. Hand mister (sprayer)
14. cork bark (optional)
15. Silicone (optional)
16. door handles (optional)

General False Bottom Tank Set Up

First, rinse out the tank with plain water to get the dust out.

Then I cut the plastic egg crate out to fit the inside of the tank snuggly. I than put the window screen over the egg crate as show in pic 2.

Pic 1 - 10 gallon tank with plastic pipe         Pic 2 - The egg crate and window screen over

fittings inside. Be sure to put one in the      the pipe fittings.

middle. These can be siliconed in or not.

Pic 3 - close up of the tank up to now.         Pic 4 - I then put gauze over the window

                                                                screen to prevent anything from going into

                                                                the water below.

Pic 5 - I then poke holes in the gauze and    Pic 6 - Pothos cuttings are also put in.

screen to put plant cuttings through.

Shown is a begonia.

Pic 7 - Then I cover the gauze with moss.    Pic 8 - I then cover it with live moss 

You can also use orchid bark and some         (already rinsed with water really well). This

people like "Supersoil" as well. Be sure to     is when I also add the bromeliads.

rinse all plants, moss, rock etc.

with water.

Pic 9 - Always have plenty of hiding spots      Pic 10 - ADD enough water to the bottom of tank so it

for the frogs. We keep a plastic lid or           not touch the egg under the hut.crate or screen.

petri dish under the hut.

Pic 11 - I then cover the top with a plexi         Pic 12 - Happy, happy frogs! We spray and feed them

glass lid that I put electrical tape around          daily. With babies or juveniles you will need to feed

the edges. We get the piece of plexi glass       them everyday where as an adult you can feed 4-5 times

cut in the middle so it is easier to lift up          a week.

and feed. You can use extra tape to make

handles or store bought cabinet door knobs

which you can silicone on.

Our Pumilio bastimentos tank (above left) and frogs loving their new tank!

Our Kitchen with our Dwarf Cobalts.