Vivarium

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sheajared

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jul 26, 2011
564
1
16
Stillwater, MN
Finally ready to start on my vivarium. Still deciding between a 75 gallon, 100 gallon, or 125 gallon. It will be about half full (give or take) and home to various reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Maybe a turtle too. So i was looking for suggestions and help:

1. Any ideas on what I should stock it with?

2. How should I go about doing the land section of it? I was thinking of 3 ways. The first would be to have it split lengthwise in the tank:
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Second would be to buy a custom 3d background where I would have an overhang coming out from the background at the water level, so 100% of the water would be accessible. (The same set up as ENERGY's 1700 gallon stingray river on here)

Third would be to have the water portion 100% accessible, but with no land mass and various vines and plants for the lizards or frogs to be on.
vivarium003.jpg

3. Any other tips for me?

Thanks.

vivarium003.jpg
 
Wiggles92 said:
A "land mass" is a must, so I would eliminate Option #3. Did you have any fishes, reptiles, and/or amphibians in mind?
Click to expand...

Well I defintely want a stingray in there (Probably a reticulated) and at least while its some what small, an arowana. Some newts or salamanders for sure. I dont have much experience with frogs but I was thinking some tree frogs or dart frogs. Then maybe firebelly toads or pacman frogs. and last a patriot crabor some fiddler crabs or something.
 
sheajared said:
Well I defintely want a stingray in there (Probably a reticulated) and at least while its some what small, an arowana. Some newts or salamanders for sure. I dont have much experience with frogs but I was thinking some tree frogs or dart frogs. Then maybe firebelly toads or pacman frogs. and last a patriot crabor some fiddler crabs or something.
Click to expand...

A stingray is out for any of those aquariums as far as keeping it in there for life; all of them have too small of a footprint (need at least 72" x 30" for an adult reticulated stingray). Another problem you're going to have with these fishes that you mentioned is that they'll most likely eat anything that comes in the water, so the amphibians and crabs are out if you want those fishes.

Think more along the lines of community fishes for the water area; you're going to want ones that aren't going to eat your herps or get eaten by the herps.
 
Dart frogs need a land area and should not be kept with most other species. Also they need a a top that is closed completely to keep in humidity and to keep them from escaping because they are very good climbers. Treefrogs also need a closed to to prevent escape. The same is goes for lizards and Patriot crabs will eat your fish. A stingray would eat them but I explained in this post why you couldn't have amphibians. Newts can surprisingly climb pretty good if they want. Salamanders need land unless your getting a siren which would need plenty of water.
 
you would be best to go with either one larger animal or multiple small ones... think anoles... green tree frogs.... molly's and platy's... small things.
Mixed vivariums do not work well with larger animals unless they are HUGE.
Try to get things that will not be in each others way... like if you have tree frogs... don't get crested geckos as well..both are nocturnal and occupying the same area of the viv. try to go with say, a diurnal terrestrial species and a nocturnal arboreal species.
 
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