Rainforest Vivarium setup

[asellers98]

I have a large cage, The Cages by Design Majestic Cage 72"H x 96"L x 36"D. Here is a picture from their website.


I am wanting to make a realistic Rainforest design with live plants, automatic rain misting system, automatic lighting (full spectrum as well as night lighting), 5' tall waterfall, multiple watering holes, branches and perches everywhere, heat bulb, and places for the Finches to breed. I know a multispecies setup is frowned upon

I am curious if I added the following to the setup, if the finches would go for them?

Having the space, I researching the posibility of the following setup:

Family of Spice Finches (3)



1 rough skinned green snake



Family of green anoles (?)



Family of Dendrobate Azureus (3-5)



Family of Red Eyed Tree frogs (3-5)



Freshwater Fish (various types)

Since I will be feeding the animals in the am and the pm, there should be plenty of air introduced when I open the large doors. I was going to come up with a way to have a sheet drape half way down the door to screen their exit access when I go inside.

[Ursula]

The guy on your first picture is a zebra finch not a spice finch.

I personally wouldn't mix the finches with the frogs... My daughter has red eyed tree frogs and they need a LOT of humidity in their enclosure. I'm not sure that birds would like that unless they are truly birds that are from a very humid environment and also used to it in captivity.

I'd go with the setup except the frogs. A vivarium is wonderful, my daughter's is smaller than this but just beautiful. She has a little "pond" with freshwater fish at the bottom and tyhe frogs in lots of plants and branches above. Beautiful!

Birds are also messy, you wouldn't want to mix them in for that reason.

Not sure about the snake and frogs and all of them getting along, I don't know enough to be sure. I know my daughter wants to mix dart frogs with the red-eyes in future, so that should be fine.

[Domenic]

I agree with Ursula, finches would not be a good choice because they are very messy. They would rip the plants in a vivarium to shreds--within days. And they would probably pick on the frogs and anoles, in fact there's a chance they would pick on all the other animals in the setup. If they didn't pick on the others, there's also a chance the others would stress the finches out.

[MadHatter]

This is a really, really bad idea.
The humidity required for the frogs, would be extremely unhealthy to the finches and they would most likely die of aspergillosis or some other fungal or respiratory complaint, or take fright at the nocturnal activities of the snake/frogs/anoles and likely end up in the water where they would become waterlogged and drown. Assuming they did survive, they would likely be very stressed by the presence of the snake, which if it does not eat them directly (remember, snakes are capable of eating things many times bigger than their heads), it will surely take their eggs and chicks (assuming they live long enough to breed). The snake may also eat the frogs and anoles. The birds droppings will foul the water and the humidity required for the frogs might also lead to health issues for the reptiles.
There are probably more reasons why this is a bad idea. The above are just those that immediately spring to mind.
I IMPLORE YOU WITH ALL POSSIBLE EMPHASIS, DO NOT DO THIS!

[annague]

ASellers, You have a compelling vision! It would be wonderful if you could get all those creatures to co-exist peacefully in your enclosement without YOU stressing because the snake decides that finch eggs are tasty or the finches decide that they LOVE all the natural salads you've placed in their enclosure (for them to munch on) and the frogs getting sick from the bird poo in the water, etc...etc... Unfortunately, there is a reason that even Zoos don't mix too many non-native and potentially predatory creatures in the same small environment.

I think you could maybe pick the frogs and the snake (as long as you're sure the snake won't eat the frogs) or you could go with a lower-humidity enclosure and choose just the finches -- but those of us who have finches don't often indulge in live plants because the finches do destroy them very quickly-- so you'd want to go with fake greenery in the end if you choose birds.

I encourage you to pursue your goals for this beautiful vivarium and I would perhaps call the closest zoo and ask to speak to the designer of their enclosures and tell them what you are wanting to do and see if they can advise you creating a viable mini-environment for several different creatures.

[lea]

absolute nonsense

[lovemyfinch]

I find it wonderful that you have thought of giving the most natural environment to all of your friends, feathered and slimey

I tend to agree with the others though, it is going to have to be one or the other in this enclosure.. If you choose finches, instead of the real plants that would get chewed and torn apart, you could put in fake ones. Nowadays they are just as spectacular as the real ones. With the finches you could, I imagine, still incorporate your waterfall, just make sure that they have air circulating so that they don't get too humid, although you will have to be prepared to clean it often. They just don't seem to understand that you shouldn't poop where you drink.

Good luck with you project, I am sure it will be beautiful and would love to see updates on it, and what you decide to do.

[sierranomad]

I applaud you on your beautiful vision. It shows imagination and a love of nature.

As mentioned above, finches won't do well in that environment. I'm not sure about the other species co-existing, but maybe you could find a forum on reptiles and amphibians and they could tell you what kind of rainforest creatures could co-exist peacefully?

If what you want is a bird you could look into birds that naturally live in rainforest. Again, maybe you could find the right "rainforest" bird on another forum. Most birds are "flighty" and scare easily. I doubt that any bird would be happy with those other species.

I too, am fascinated by your idea. Please let us know what you come up with and share pictures!

[JohnBoy]

IMO mixing birds with this setup would be torture to the birds. Not to mention that the snake would eat the birds. Also the birds would have their droppings all over the other crtters in the vivarium. Not a good idea.

[L in Ontario]

absolute nonsense

That's rather harsh in my opinion. I think it would have been a little nicer if you would back up your statement with some constructive and tactful criticism.

[Sally]

That is a beautiful cage, and I applaud your desire to make a natural setting for its inhabitants. But I do have to side with the others and say that I think it would best work as either an aviary or a rainforest habitat for reptiles. Even though that snake is quite small, the last snake that ate three of my birds was pretty small--it is amazing how they can swallow something so much larger. And as the others have said, finches can be quite destructive with real plants, not to mention messy. Whichever you decide, I'm sure it will be wonderful.

[tobyneilson]

I agree with everyone else,i keep lizards myself as well as Zebs, and would never mix the two,i am very wary of mixing reptiles themselve as it can lead to more harm than good sometimes,but keeping birds with reptiles is deffo a big no-no,the two speies require different humiditys and if you get it right for one it will be wrong for the other one,
As for keeping birds in a Viv,even on their own,i personaly do not agree with that,but that is just my personal opinion

[Ursula]

I agree with Liz, that was a harsh response. You have to respect others dreams and I think it's a good thing when somebody has an idea to do research first. That doesn't deserve to be dismissed with 2 words.

But Janine, I'm sure you never touched a snake or a red-eyed treefrog. Neighter one is slimy!!!

[lovemyfinch]

Let me correct my statement Ursula. Cold blooded friends

[L in Ontario]

I agree with Liz, that was a harsh response. You have to respect others dreams and I think it's a good thing when somebody has an idea to do research first. That doesn't deserve to be dismissed with 2 words.

Thank you Ursula but please, I don't want everyone jumping on the 'bandwagon'. What I said was said as a moderator. It's over and done with. I do hope Lea can come on here and give some good advice to Asellers98 in addition to her comment.

Thank you.