Dart Frog Vivarium

I have been enjoying my little Dart Frogs very much. The pair we have is Dendrobates tinctorius 'Patricia'. They are very easy to keep and fun to watch. They eat flightless fruitflies which I am raising. They need misting a few times a day and temps in the mid-70s in the day and cooler at night.

The most difficult part of keeping Dart Frogs is getting their tank just right for their needs.  They need high humidity and like live plants and plenty of places to hide.

For me, the tank set up is half the fun. I have been reading on forums and watching on YouTube about a technique using Great Stuff insulating foam to build up a background. I finally decided to give it a try.

I started with a 18"x18"x24" Exo-terra Terrarium. I had wanted the 18"x18"x18" size, but could not find one local. Dart Frogs are mostly terrestrial, so they do not need the extra height like many reptiles. Other equipment needed, Great Stuff foam, black 100% Silicone sealant, protective gloves and Eco-earth substrate.

The first step was to clean the tank with rubbing alcohol and allow to dry. Then I covered the back and a little bit of each side with a layer of the silicone. This step is probably not essential, but I didn't like the idea of the cream colored foam showing and the silicone allows for better adhesion of the foam. I allowed this to dry overnight. This step was very smelly and I would highly recommend doing outside or in a well ventilated area.

I then arranged some cork bark flats and a few rounds I had left over from the last tank set up. Then comes the fun part...the foam. It comes out very fast. I secured the cork pieces and then made little shelves and humps here and there. I also stuck a small plastic pot in the middle and covered this with foam.  This will make is easier to plant something higher on the back. This step did not take too long. Again, I let it set over night.

The last step was messy. The temp was nice today, so I moved it outside and I'm glad I did. I cut away any areas that didn't look natural or that I thought just seemed out of place. The foam cuts easily with a serrated steak knife. I then began applying the silicone to all areas of the foam. I would apply a small area with silicone and then use a gloved hand to spread it in and around all the little grooves. Gabe helped me with this step by applying the Eco-earth to the silicone. I did not allow this step to set overnight as the silicone dries quite quickly. A few hours later, I dumped out all the extra Exo-earth and used a small paint brush to clear away any extra. I missed a few spots and touched up where needed.

This is the finished product after adding all the substrate material and planting some bromiliads, vines, ferns and other plants. I added a larger piece of wood and some rocks. Right now it looks a bit sparse, but soon the plants will fill in and look much better. I also will be added some moss.

I am happy how it came out and am already planning for another. The new frogs are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I hope they like their new digs.

For a more detailed tutorial on this technique, check out this YouTube video.

Nature Walk - The Island

Today was a cold (36 degrees,) breezy day. The sun came out this afternoon and we headed out for our weekly (we try) nature walk. We have had very little rain this last summer and fall and with not much in the way of snow runoff this spring, the reservoir near our home is much lower than usual. Because of this, there are areas at the reservoir that are now accessible. One is a little island that is usually, well, an island. Right now there is a land bridge between the shore and the island
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It was fun to explore the little island.  There are a lot of pine, oak, birch and beech trees. We spotted a couple of campfires that I'm sure are from local fisherman that frequent the reservoir.  It is a lovely spot.

Rachel is my most dedicated nature study student.  She will explore, collect and sketch in her nature journal. I do not force the children to draw, but try and encourage them to notice things and make some observations.  We often come home with pockets full of rocks, cones, acorns, feathers, leaves and plants. Our nature studies are a work in progress.

Most of the trees along the shore look like this one.  Most of the time, these roots are dangling in the water, but this year they are high and dry.

Gabe found all sorts of obstacles to practice his Parkour moves on.

Gabe is my most reluctant nature study student, in the traditional sense.  He doesn't like to sketch but he does take some incredible photos. He has a great eye for detail, motion and light and is quite diligent; taking picture after picture until he gets the shot he likes. As always, he takes what we are doing and makes it his own. The above shot is an example of several photos he took today.

Surprisingly, with our recent cold weather, there were still a few flowers blossoming.

The reservoir was so beautiful today.  Soon the lake will be frozen and dotted with ice fishermen, but until then, we will enjoy our nature walks there.

This is my nature journal entry.  I am not good at sketching, but have been trying to let go of my need to have it look just so. I've read in several places this week about fear being a major stumbling block to creativity, so...no more fear, just enjoyment in doing the best I can.