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Amphibians - Terrestrial amphibian terrarium or terrestrial tank

These suggestions are designed to help you creating a terrarium suitable for terrestrial amphibians. The information provided is to help you emulate the natural environment favoured by land dwelling frogs, toads, salamanders and the like.

If you are creating or building a terrarium it should have areas of good 'natural' lighting and dark. There should be sufficient humidity that can be maintained along with some damp areas.

The environment can be constructed with a damp substrate with logs, fallen leaves or sphagnum moss, with cork bark shelters or 'caves' made form rocks. Sphagnum moss will retain enough water to provide the moisture and humidity needed for dwellers of this type of terrestrial terrarium. Standing water should also be available providing the inhabitants with a shallow water source but deep enough for emersion. This will also help maintain the air humidity required. Terrestrial species are not necessarily strong swimmers so the water must be fairly shallow. The depth can be varied by placing smooth rocks or cork bark in the water will help the creatures stay out of trouble.

The substrate can be a sterilised soil and moss combination, like a potting compost or simply horticultural peat with green sphagnum moss. A simple layer of gravel can be used to line the bottom of the tank, this will allow some drainage. Some terrestrial amphibian species may use a 'soil' area for burrowing, mixing horticultural peat into the soil will help prevent compaction of the soil and increase moisture retention. Bearing in mind that you will have to break down the terrarium environment occasionally as it becomes soiled. For aesthetic reasons it is worth the effort but the more elaborate your set up the more trouble the cleaning becomes. For larger species or groups you will need to have the ability to keep their environment clean.

The dark area shelters that you create for your damp friend to hide in can be arranged against the glass sides of the terrarium and blanked off on the outside with removable themed screening; this will enable you to view the occupants while they are in the privacy of their haven.

When you make your terrarium, the set up needs a secure cover that should be in place at all times, this should not be made of solid glass or metal; A sliding section with fine netting cover will help with ventilation and may control the necessary humidity levels.

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