How to Make a Terrarium for Frogs
Terrariums provide a natural environment for captive frogs, while enabling you to observe the frogs and monitor their behavior without disturbing them. While many pet supply stores sell terrarium kits, you can save money by making your own terrarium. Your terrarium can be adapted to meet the specific needs and requirements of your frog species. Learn how to make a terrarium for your frogs that will provide healthy, natural surroundings in which they can thrive.
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Things You'll Need
- 20-gallon aquarium
- Mild liquid dish soap
- Water
- Gravel or sand
- Rocks
- Low-profile aquarium filter set
- Airstone
- Ceramic water dish
- Black paper
- Tape
- Cork panels
- Aquarium-safe silicone sealant
- Plastic aquarium plants
- Live terrarium plants in 2-inch pots
- Climbing branch
- Aquarium screen top
- Aquarium tank lid with fluorescent bulbs
Instructions
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Research your particular frog species to learn what environment they require. Plan your terrarium so that it best imitates the frog's natural habitat.
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Select the proper style enclosure for your frogs. Climbing frogs prefer tanks that are tall and narrow, while other frogs prefer wide tanks. Glass aquariums are a good choice for the terrarium as they are waterproof, readily available and easy to clean. A 20-gallon tank will suit most frogs, unless you have a large frog population.
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Wash the aquarium with mild liquid dish soap before using. Rinse the tank well with clean water until all soap residues are gone.
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Spread a base on the bottom of the tank. Use clean gravel or sand for dry-environment and tree-climbing frogs. For frogs that require a wet environment, fill the tank with 3 inches of water (de-chlorinated or left out for 24 hours) and stack rocks on one side of the tank until they are above the water level.
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Install a filter system for wet-environment terrariums. Choose a low-profile water filter that rests on the bottom of the tank, and place it in the water on the wet side of the tank. If you live in an area with low humidity, install an air stone in the water to help raise the terrarium's humidity level.
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Place ceramic water dishes in terrariums for dry-environment and tree-climbing frogs. Fill the dish will clean water. Use either non-chlorinated bottled water or water that has been left out for 24 hours to naturally de-chlorinate.
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Attach a background to the terrarium. For a simple background, you can tape black paper to the outside of the tank on the back and side walls. For a more natural background, use aquarium-safe silicone sealant to glue cork panels on the inside back and side walls.
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Furnish the terrarium with plants. Use either plastic plants or live plants. For live plants, use small 2-inch pots of terrarium plants such as bomeliads, philodendrons or Wandering Jews. Bury the pots slightly in the base gravel or sand, and remove and replace them when necessary. For tree-climbing frogs, place a tall, clean branch (natural or artificial) in the terrarium.
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Provide visual interest and hiding places by placing cork bark slabs on floor of the terrarium. You can also stack small rocks, pottery pieces or other items to create a hiding space for the frogs.
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Place a screen top on the terrarium to provide ventilation and prevent the accidental escape of the frogs. Household temperatures are sufficient for frogs, and no additional heat is necessary. Frogs do not require artificial light, but if you choose to use artificial light use only fluorescent bulbs and place the lights above the screen so that the frogs cannot come in contact with the light bulbs.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit frog image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
