How to Build a Natural Amphibian Terrarium: New Hida Salamander Setup

Подписаться 17 тыс.

Просмотров 74 тыс.

50% 1

Time to set up a new tank for my hida salamanders. Basically, this type of setup is suitable for many salamanders and also other terrestrial (and mainly ground-dwelling) amphibians.
Information on the setup:
Tank size: 80 cm x 35 cm x 40 cm.
Base layer: styrofoam, to prevent waterlogging.
Soil: mixture of coco ground and forest soil (/top soil),
"Clean-up-Crew": earthworms, isopods, springtails and more invertebrates (not specifically shown in the video).
Plants: mainly different ferns and mosses.
Other hidings: (cork) bark pieces, halved clay pots.
Lighting: Aquarium LED Light.
I'll keep my five Hida salamanders (Hynobius kimurae) in this tank. Adiitionally, an adult male Japanese black salamander (H. nigrescens) will live in this tank for some time.
If you have any questions to this setup, feel free to ask! :)
___
General Information on Hynobius kimurae:
"The Hida salamander (Hynobius kimurae) is a species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae, the Asiatic salamanders. It is endemic to Japan. It lives in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, where it breeds in streams."
Site "Hida salamander". (2017, October 23). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 09:13, November 25, 2017, from en.wikipedia.o...
Filmed with an Olympus TG-2 Tough Edition
Song:

Опубликовано:

16 окт 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 114

@andrewtogold6348 5 лет назад

I am endlessly jealous of your ability to build such magnificent enclosures

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Thank you so much! 😊

@renegaderebel2223 4 года назад

Same

@suzannahmathers2955 Год назад

this is awesosme! what an underrated video

@トモイモリウム 5 лет назад

It is very beautiful with scenery like Japan!Great!

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Thank you very much!

@xaviermahele03 5 лет назад

This has quickly become one of my favourite channels. Keep up the good work :)

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Thank you very much! :)

@lucabucci5464 4 года назад

That is the coolest habitat I've ever seen

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Thanks! :)

@danielmraz3450 5 лет назад

Excellent video !!!

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Thank you!

@emmasofia3165 3 года назад

Hi, I'm just wondering how you would clean a tank like this. How often would you have to take it all out and scrub it down, if ever?

@ajangawolowo2295 2 года назад

by adding springtails and isopods the setup requires virtually no cleaning

@lifeoflex2568 4 года назад

Did anyone else notice she is a death eater??? (Left arm tattoo) btw thanks for the video!

@omega-tarantula 5 лет назад

Wunderschön eingerichtet

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Danke!

@DoorsToHideBehind156 Год назад

This looks fantastic though

@Sderrybugs 5 лет назад

miss you videos 😊

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Thanks! :) I'll have some free time in February, so I hope I can work on some more videos in the next time.

@Dumpsterfire961 3 года назад

This is so beautiful but the first thing I thought when I saw it was that this must be a bitch to clean 😂

@kylefelger8099 3 года назад

How was you keeping the soil moist since the water level is so low. Was you just spraying it with spray bottle ?

@allclades 5 лет назад

Thank you for this. I will be setting up a terrarium for some Ambystoma sp. this spring.

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Nice, make sure to put in enough loose soil, most Ambystoma species love to dig burrows. :)

@marc6016 4 года назад

Wow, love this. Are you taking a break from posting more videos?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Thanks! I was super busy in the last months, but I'm working on some videos at the moment. :)

@isabellasweat6367 4 года назад

does styrofoam work well for salamanders long term? like will it mold over or release toxins into the water? i'm wanting to make a bioactive salamander enclosure and i love and want to do a similar design as yours!

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

I think the normal styrofoam absorbs water, not sure if this could become a problem on the long term. However, the very compressed styrodur I'm using does not absorb any water so I'd recommend to use something similar. I'm glad you like the setup. :)

@antoniowyckoff2 10 месяцев назад

🎉🎉

@ozarkescapades154 2 года назад

Beautiful. My question is water filtration. It won’t get stagnant without proper flow and filtration?

@AquaTerra-Life 2 года назад

I change the water every second week or so, so that's no problem. But yes, to reduce the requency of water changes I'd need a small filter.

@Ryan.g05 3 года назад

What tube did you use for the water bubbles in the tank like the small tiny tube that creates the bubbles ????

@sayurikitamura7109 3 года назад

Wooow! Amazing 💚 and beautiful

@johns5263 4 года назад

Just caught a baby salamander. Got a Tupperware bin for him. One day I will upgrade to your set up lol. Waiting till it gets alittle bigger

@justyouraverageidiotofficial 2 года назад

I have a small enclosure with 2 salamanders inside I’m planning on saving money for a bigger enclosure

@joey2765 5 лет назад

Lol that beat is nice tho 🔥

@vanessamerarygutierrez4946 3 года назад

Hi is that an air pump? If so where can I find one like it

@PunksGambit 5 лет назад

omg its so gorgeous

@DoorsToHideBehind156 Год назад

I'm surprised you were able to hide it wihh out putty or dirt and only used pebbles and slate to hide it

@DoorsToHideBehind156 Год назад

Does the salamandar try to dig under the slate to reveal the styrophome?

@AquaTerra-Life Год назад

No, as far as I know they didn't. But of course they had enough hiding alternatives in this tank anyways. :)

@corina0081 5 лет назад

hi!!! love the video!! i would like to ask you what do you recommend for the spanish ribbed newt? thank you!!!

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Thank you very much! For spanich ribbed newts I'd recommend a 100% aquatic setup, maybe with a piece of cork or so as small island. But usually they stay aquatic all the time.

@smorc65 5 лет назад

Would this setup work for fire salamanders? Would they use the water area?

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

I'd recommend a smaller water area or only a water bowl (especially for juveniles) for fire salamanders, they usually don't use the water area at all. Also it should be a bit less humid for fire salamanders.

@joepilbeam3600 4 года назад

Hi, beautiful looking viv, can I ask what filtration/pump you use for your water section? Looking at doing something similar and trying to avoid the need for continual water changes! Thanks

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Hi, thank you very much! To be honest I don't use any filtration in this tank. It's a very small amount of water in this tank and those salamanders do nearly never use it. Only "filtratrion" is natural, by snails and plants. Usually I only need to refill the water, it need to be exchanged less than once per month.

@michaelmccarthy666 2 года назад

Would this setup work for a spotted salamander? I want to do something similar but don’t know if the water is really necessary for them.

@AquaTerra-Life 2 года назад

I think the water wouldn't be necessary, but besides that it shoudl be totally fine.

@liltopp95 4 года назад

Love it

@jessikaadams2109 2 года назад

how do you clean the water for something like this? I think I'll do springtails and spot cleaning to keep the substrate and terrestrial portions clean but I'm worried the water will get gross

@AquaTerra-Life 2 года назад

Just change it once a week or every second week and it's fine. Or just add a small filter.

@HerrWade 5 лет назад

Why didn't you just silicone the styrofoam in place and have enough so there wasn't gaps?

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

I wanted to build a setup that could easily be disassembled again, as I need to redo this tank twice per year because I also use it as breeding tank. But of course that would be an easy solution, too.

@cooperniess2158 2 года назад

Won’t the styrofoam pollute the water?

@AquaTerra-Life 2 года назад

Normally it shouldn't, it should take really long for it to desintegrate.

@kenziegrace7433 4 года назад

This is awesome! What setup do you think would be best for a tiger salamander?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Thanks! :) For tiger salamanders I'd recommend a lot of lose substrate, as they love to burrow in the ground.

@kenziegrace7433 4 года назад

AquaTerra-Life I use the eco-earth and a little bit of moss and wood chips. Is that hood?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

@@kenziegrace7433 I don't know what eco-earth is, but it sounds good. Moss is also good, but I wouldn't use wood chips, they tend to become moldy. You could add some leaf litter, like dry beech or oak leaves.

@kenziegrace7433 4 года назад

AquaTerra-Life Oops I am using wood chips right now, but next time I change out his substrate I will add leaf litter and some more moss! ◡̈ speaking of moss, where do you get yours? Also, what size is you tank?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

@@kenziegrace7433 This tank measures 80x40x50 cm. I usually collect the moss for my tanks in my garden or in a nearby forest. Of course, it might be possible to introduce pathogens to your tank by doing this, but as long as their are no amphibian diseases in the locality you collect, chances are very low.

@donteague614 3 года назад

Beautiful tank! How is the Styrofoam holding up? It does seem to rot in water.

@loganborn_ZL1 3 года назад

Do you ever have to clean the cage

@AquaTerra-Life 3 года назад

Actually the tiny invertebrates like springtails and isopods do most of the cleaning work. I had this tank running for about 10 months, then I changed it to an aquatic setup (for breeding), but in this time I never had to clean anything (besides the glass).

@austenhoward9545 4 года назад

What kind of filter set up did you use? I can’t sleep to find any like yours

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

I don't use a filter in this setup, only a small air stone. These salamanders don't use the water section very much, so the water is mainly for keeping the ground and air humidity at a high and stable level and keeping the plants alive. :)

@solarwolf857 3 года назад

Name of song that starts at the 3:01 mark?

@xanderholland6086 3 года назад

Doesn't styrofoam poison water?

@AquaTerra-Life 3 года назад

As far as I know, no.

@lukecable2031 3 года назад

How did you acquire this species?

@guanxiangchen3178 5 лет назад

I just bought a couple of H. Kimureas and prepared them a tank of peat soil covered by a layer of leaves and two pieces of tiles.However, they soon dogged holes deep into the soil and seldom come out. It’s quite difficult to feed them since I have to scoop them out every times. What should I do?

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Your setup sounds good. It is totally normal that they burrow into the substrate and don't come out often. I just throw some earthworms into their tank and let them hunt by themselves. Works very good for me.

@snackz4589 3 года назад

I would like to ask what is the tube in the water is it for, getting air in the water or cleaning it? (Also the name)

@AquaTerra-Life 3 года назад

It is just a bubble stone, which keeps the water a little moving to prevent it from getting bad too fast.

@hmongsage00 5 лет назад

Is a filter needed for the water or do you just siphon a portion of it and add new water?

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

For those salamanders and such a small amount of water I don't use a filter. As the salamanders don't use the water anyways, it is just for keeping up the humidity (and for aesthetics).

@bryantc1701 5 лет назад

Nice

@bryantc1701 4 года назад

I have a 55 gallon tank with 2 salamanders... I want to add a diff animal...maybe a tree frog or a pacman frog.. I know it's not suggested to house different species together but if I did wat would u reccomend?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

You shouldn't add a pacman, t would try to eat the salamanders and, also if the salamanders might be too big, it could really hurt them (and itself). Treefrogs would be a good choice, as they use different parts of the tank most of the time (than the salamanders). (Though mixing species is always risky...)

@bryantc1701 4 года назад

@@AquaTerra-Life thanks for the reply! Have u ever housed anything with salamanders successfully?

@matthewotremba9230 5 лет назад

I WATCHED IT TWICE

@chadkotta9739 5 лет назад

What are the insects that I se moving in the soil. is it food for the frogs

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

I guess you mean the "Clean-up-Crew": earthworms, isopods, springtails and more tiny invertebrates. I keep those in all of my tanks, they help to keep it clean. And additionally, isopods and earthworms are great feeders for salamanders, frogs and other amphibians and reptiles.

@bonsaiocean 4 года назад

Would this be ideal for spotted salamanders?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

For spotted salamanders I'd recommend to use a terrestrial-only setup with a lot of substrate, about 20-30 cm high, as they like to burrow in the substrate. Just add a shallow water bowl, that's sufficient for them. For the mating season after hibernation you can put them in an aquatic setup.

@ZimmFor3 4 года назад

Where do u get the salamander from?

@fhirdvnk7327 4 года назад

L Zimm. I got him from a breeder in Michigan

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Usually from private breeders.

@SacaSkeetLecheSkeet 4 года назад

What water filter/pump did you use?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Only a small airstone in this setup, as they don't really use the water part anyways.

@allisoncordeiro726 4 года назад

Is the styrofoam safe ?

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Not sure about normal styrofoam, but the styrodur I used is safe as far as I know.

@KingRoosa 5 лет назад

Quick question, what about filtration?

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

I don't use any "real" filtration in this tank, only plants and snails, as these salamanders don't use the water part frequently (actually nearly not at all). You could however just use a very small hamburger mat filter, that would be sufficient for such a small water part.

@antoniowyckoff2 5 лет назад

Where'd you get all the stones? And are the ferns in any pots?

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

@@antoniowyckoff2 I've collected the stones outside and the ferns are planted directly into the substrate.

@antoniowyckoff2 5 лет назад

@@AquaTerra-Life Nice 👍🏾

@michaelfrischauf 5 лет назад

Sehr schön, von wo bekommst du eigentlich die ganzen Arten ich hätte auch gern mehr derzeit habe ich nur 3 spanische rippenmolche

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Vielen Dank! Ich bekomme meine Tiere in der Regel von privaten Züchtern. Es gibt zum Beispiel auf Facebook Gruppen, in denen man sich austauschen und Kontakte knüpfen kann (z.B. Newts and Salamanders Europe).

@michaelfrischauf 5 лет назад

@@AquaTerra-Life oh schade hab leider kein Facebook

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Eine europaweite Anzeigen-Plattform für Terraristik findest du auch auf terraristik.com Da werden auch immer mal interessante Salamander angeboten. Und Gesuche kannst du dort auch schalten. Hast du denn Interesse an bestimmten Arten? Eventuell kenne ich ja Züchter.

@michaelfrischauf 5 лет назад

@@AquaTerra-Life noch nicht Aber hast du auch spanische rippenmolche

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

Nein, die halte ich nicht.

@노란딱지-q2z 4 года назад

Fucking great

@Tracor3k99 2 года назад

Beautiful but cleaning that every month or so yikes

@AquaTerra-Life 2 года назад

Thanks to the invertebrate waste control, there normally is not much to clean. Plus I can "rinse" the dirt into the water which I change frequently. :)

@graffiti9145 2 года назад

An amphibarium

@legendecobra4778 5 лет назад

I like you

@Sderrybugs 5 лет назад

same 😊

@AquaTerra-Life 5 лет назад

😊

@jakegwen2393 4 года назад

Dude where the hell are the animals. There is not a single video on youtube that shows a paludarium with the actual animals inside of them. Just a bunch of build videos. WE WANT TO SEE THE ANIMALS.

@AquaTerra-Life 4 года назад

Well, then you should check out the video in which the salamanders move in: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eY3M8gIKIao.html :D