Terrarium Kits

Terrarium Kits for Exo-Terra and Zoo Med Glass Tanks

Keeping dart frogs in fish tanks is pretty much the standard for most hobbyists, particularly beginners. Fish aquariums are easily available, reasonably priced, and come in a variety of sizes. However there are numerous features of these tanks that make them less than ideal for use with dart frogs. Over the years of using these tanks myself, and helping others get set up to keep dart frogs, I know all to well the issues involved in making a fish tank into a dart frog tank.

However recently a line of glass terrariums have become available, one made by Exo-Terra and the other by Zoo-Med, which have front doors, a variety of features which are well suited for dart frogs, as well as many other small reptiles and amphibians, and are assembled and ready for you to use. These tanks run around $100, depending on size, and best of all can be bought at your local pet store.

However there are some issues with these tanks, in particular the top is made of screen, which will allow far too much ventilation for a dart frog, and one model of tanks, those made by Zoo-Med, do not have a background, while the Exo-Terra tanks offer a background made of lightweight Styrofoam, which is easily damaged and not particularly useful in supporting plant growth or offering spots for dart frogs to hang out.

So, to make it easy for you to turn these tanks into ideal dart frog terrariums, we are offering a terrarium kit which will allow you to easily modify these terrariums to better suit your dart frogs. The centerpiece of the kit is a cast rigid foam background, with realistic stone features, and a water fall. This piece is made to fit into any of these glass tanks that are at least 18 inches wide, and 18 tall. The insert is 17.5 inches wide, and will fit neatly into any eighteen inch wide tank. The piece also can be used in wider tanks, just select the wider tank kit, and specify the total width of the tank when you order, and we will supply you with two pieces of tree fern to go on either side of the insert.

There are some issues with fruit flies escaping these tanks, unfortunately. I have been working to try to find a solution to this problem, but haven't hit on just the right thing yet. The problem is relatively minor, the flies can get out around the doors, but if you will feed in several small batches, the frogs will get most of the flies. I have some suggestions for you if you wish to avoid this problem completely, just drop me a note and I can tell you where I am with my efforts to fruit fly proof the tank!

One note, the term foam is used to describe the material that the insert is made from, but the product is a more like a plastic. The product is much like the “Great Stuff” foam material, but it dries much harder, denser and heavier, and is painted with high tech paints which duplicate the look of rock. On top of the paints is a clear coat which is very long lasting and animal safe. This product combination has been tested for its safety and durability at my facility and at zoos and aquariums.

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