How to Build a Vivarium for Dart Frogs

Dart frogs belong to a colorful group of frogs in the genus Dendrobates and are native to Central and South America. The frogs have conspicuous colors that warn potential predators of their toxicity. Though several species are deadly in their native habitat due to rainforest insects they consume, captive dart frogs are harmless and make interesting pets. Designing and constructing a vivarium that resembles the dart frogs native habitat is part of the fun of keeping the small amphibians and is a simple process.

Things You'll Need

  • 20 to 30 gallon aquarium
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Water dish
  • Tree fern bark
  • Peat moss
  • Charcoal
  • Sphagnum moss
  • Large rocks
  • Driftwood
  • Tropical plants
  • Florescent light
  • Thermometer
  • Hydrometer
  • Heat pad
  • Water bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Inspect a large aquarium carefully for signs of cracks and ensure that the enclosure has a tight-fitting lid. A 20 to 30 gallon aquarium can support several dart frogs, as long as it has a secure lid. Glass lids work best for dart frog vivariums, but fiberglass lids also work. Dart frogs are excellent climbers and can easily escape from small cracks in the enclosure.

    • 2

      Locate the aquarium to a quiet area in your home, away from windows and air conditioning vents.

    • 3

      Place a 2 to 3 inch layer of aquarium gravel in the base of the aquarium. The aquarium gravel provides a solid drainage layer for plants and allows you to easily sculpt the terrain of the vivarium to fit your preference.

    • 4

      Excavate an area in the gravel large enough to accommodate a shallow water dish. Place the water dish in the gravel, flush with the surface. Dart frogs are terrestrial frogs and cannot swim well, so the water dish should not be more than 1 to 2 inches deep.

    • 5

      Mix 1 part tree fern bark with 1 part active charcoal, 1 part peat soil and 1 part sphagnum moss to create a sterile, attractive substrate for your dart frog vivarium. Soak the substrate in warm water and rinse thoroughly before placing a thin layer over the aquarium gravel.

    • 6

      Landscape the vivarium with driftwood and large rocks to create depth and texture in the enclosure, and to give the environment a natural appearance. Experiment with multiple arrangements, shifting the bulk of the arrangement from the center of the vivarium to the sides; or create a gentle slope in the landscape from one side of the vivarium to the other.

    • 7

      Fill the spaces in your vivarium with small tropical plants. Plant tropical plants such as bromeliads, java moss, resurrection ferns and many others directly into the substrate. Tie epiphytes -- air plants -- onto rocks and driftwood using fishing line. You can also dig out small spaces in the gravel to place small potted plants directly into the vivarium, without transplanting.

    • 8

      Install a florescent lighting system with a UVB amphibian bulb to provide the proper light to support healthy dart frog and plant growth in the vivarium.

    • 9

      Place a thermometer and hydrometer in the enclosure and monitor the temperature and humidity for several days before adding dart frogs, to ensure that the environmental conditions are stable. Dart frogs require temperatures between 72 to 80 degrees and humidity levels as close to 100 percent as possible.