Will this work?

[jessiej83]

In my 55gal I have 4 WCMM, 10 glo-lite tetra, and 3 danios. I have two FBT's in a 10gal. I want to move the FBT's over to the 55gal. Would this be ok? The only fish small enough in the tank that the FBT's could eat would be the WCMM. So I may move them over to the 10 gal if I see that it could be a problem. I am planning on taking about half of the water out, adding a bunch of plants, and getting a floating island for the FBT's in the 55. Any advice or suggestions?

Oh and I don't think my HOB filters will work once I take out over half of the water so do you guys have any suggestions for a good filter? I already posted this in general freshwater but I was wondering what kind of responses I would get here too.

Thanks in advance!:)

[DAVIDFBT]

Drain the whole tank, put a piece of glass in the middle of the tank that reaches up towards the center, and then silicone it in place. Then replace one side with water, then on the other side, put sphagnum moss in the other. Now you have a half land, half water aquarium with 13 gallons on the water side. Or you can make it 70% water and 30% land. As for the filter, use an internal filter. The tetra internal filters seem to work, use a 20i or 40i filter.

[jessiej83]

Drain the whole tank, put a piece of glass in the middle of the tank that reaches up towards the center, and then silicone it in place. Then replace one side with water, then on the other side, put sphagnum moss in the other. Now you have a half land, half water aquarium with 13 gallons on the water side. Or you can make it 70% water and 30% land. As for the filter, use an internal filter. The tetra internal filters seem to work, use a 20i or 40i filter.

13gal is a little small (I think) for all my fish in the 55gal. I want them to be able to swim around and have plenty of room. I would like to do the setup you are talking about in the future once the fish have lived out their happy little lives. My toads hang out on the plants in the water about 70% of the time in their tank now so I want to give them more room also. Do you have any experience with the floating islands? Any you can reccomend? Or something I could make a sturdy island out of and be able to put a cave on top of it so the toads will have a place to hang out when they are not in the water? Do you have any experience with your toads eating fish or if they are fed well do you think they will leave them alone? Thanks for the filter suggestion, have you have any experience with the reptile filters that look like rocks or waterfalls? If you have, do they work good?

Thanks for all your help and sorry about all the questions!:)

[Notophthalmus]

I don't think it's a good idea. Bombina are very toxic and are poor swimmers. They may also attack fish even if the fish are too large to ingest. There is also no way to set the tank up properly for frogs without losing most of your water volume. I would keep them as they are.

[jessiej83]

I don't think it's a good idea. Bombina are very toxic and are poor swimmers. They may also attack fish even if the fish are too large to ingest. There is also no way to set the tank up properly for frogs without losing most of your water volume. I would keep them as they are.

Thanks for the input!:)

Do you think the floating island is a bad idea?

[Notophthalmus]

Floating islands are fine for more strongly aquatic herps, like newts, turtles, bullfrogs, etc., but I don't see how they would be helpful for firebellies. An island in the shallow water that firebellies prefer would be a hassle.

[jessiej83]

Floating islands are fine for more strongly aquatic herps, like newts, turtles, bullfrogs, etc., but I don't see how they would be helpful for firebellies. An island in the shallow water that firebellies prefer would be a hassle.

ok. Thanks!:)

[DAVIDFBT]

I use an internal filter, but I also use it as a waterfall because about 5 inches of it are sticking out of the surface. It is a Whisper 10i.

[jessiej83]

I use an internal filter, but I also use it as a waterfall because about 5 inches of it are sticking out of the surface. It is a Whisper 10i.

Thank you! I'm still thinking about trying to do this in a way that both the toads and fish will be happy and safe.:)

[Easydoesit]

maybe somehow you could screen the top 3-4(however shallow the frogs like the water) inches of water off from the fishes water with some mesh screen. you could even put moss covering a lot of the bottom of the screen, though it would be expensive so that the frogs had some sense of boundary for swimming, then use the floating islands
not sure if this would work, but it sounds good to me. might be finny looking though, who knows?

[Easydoesit]

finny looking lol!.. i meant funny looking. im tired and posting on an aquaria forum:)

[jessiej83]

maybe somehow you could screen the top 3-4(however shallow the frogs like the water) inches of water off from the fishes water with some mesh screen. you could even put moss covering a lot of the bottom of the screen, though it would be expensive so that the frogs had some sense of boundary for swimming, then use the floating islands
not sure if this would work, but it sounds good to me. might be finny looking though, who knows?

Thanks for the suggestion! Sounds like a good idea!:headbang2:

[Easydoesit]

you are quite welcome:)
let us know what you decide to do!

[jessiej83]

Update:

Well, I went and bought a turtle dock and a big bridge with suction cups on it to stick to the side of the tank and I took out half of the water. I bought 4 plastic lilly pads and put them in. I also bought two 30 gal reptile filters and they keep the whole tank pretty clean. I use my gravel vac about every three weeks for about 10 min.

Toads and fish seem to love it! I bought another toad and all three of them sit on the end of the dock together. Then they sit on the bridge and sometimes they spread their arms and legs out and float under the lilly pads.


The only problem I have had so far is when one of the toads was sitting on the edge of a lilly pad and one of my tetras came up behind him and nipped him on the booty!:22_yikes:

Anyway, I have taken pictures but I haven't gotten them developed yet and as soon as I do I will post some. :grinyes:

[calivivarium1]

sounds quite interesting, would love to see it

[jessiej83]

Here are the pictures of the new setup.
What do you think?

Full view:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=178666991&albumID=1570500&imageID=24350605


Left side (with their cave and dock):
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=178666991&albumID=1570500&imageID=24350606


Right side (Bridge and two lilly pads):
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=178666991&albumID=1570500&imageID=24350608


Toads enjoying the dock:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=178666991&albumID=1570500&imageID=24350610

[Darkness9876]

Your page is set to private no one can see it.

[jessiej83]

Your page is set to private no one can see it.

Thanks. Sorry, brain fart.:duh:

You should be able to view it now.:)

[cam191919]

looks like a nice setup

[kingearwig]

I don't think it's a good idea. Bombina are very toxic
Is this true? Are the fish in this tank being poisoned?

and are poor swimmers.
Is this true? Might they get stuck and drown under the structures that are in this tank?
I was thinking about FBTs myself but I don't want species only and I read they are toxic.

[DAVIDFBT]

Is this true? Might they get stuck and drown under the structures that are in this tank?
I was thinking about FBTs myself but I don't want species only and I read they are toxic.

Most people who keep FBTs keep them in all water setups with a little floating island in a corner or in the middle. And IME, FBTs are strong swimmers, mine even dart under a rock in the water if they get scared.

[jessiej83]

looks like a nice setup

Thanks!:)

[jessiej83]

Is this true? Are the fish in this tank being poisoned?

Is this true? Might they get stuck and drown under the structures that are in this tank?
I was thinking about FBTs myself but I don't want species only and I read they are toxic.

Well, I don't know if it's true or not but IME, My FBT's are really strong swimmers and they enjoy water much more than land.
So far, all of my fish are fine. It's up to each individual to decide what to do but this setup is working for toads and fish quite nicely.:)

[jessiej83]

Most people who keep FBTs keep them in all water setups with a little floating island in a corner or in the middle. And IME, FBTs are strong swimmers, mine even dart under a rock in the water if they get scared.

:hi: Hey fellow FBT owner! What do you think of my new setup?

[kingearwig]

have you done any water testing? I wonder if the toxins affect the beneficial bacteria. Anyone else have experience with FBTs kept with fish?

[jessiej83]

have you done any water testing? I wonder if the toxins affect the beneficial bacteria. Anyone else have experience with FBTs kept with fish?

Yes, water params are the same as before the toads went in.:)