Michigan Bog Build - Almost Done

[bugsike]

OK - I won the Exo-Terra at Pruess Pets in Lansing MI (go there if you never have), and I finally decided to just do a MI bog ecotype tank. Let's see - I won the tank, I collected the mosses, other plants, and critters, I had just about everything else laying around; so I spent - ah - zippo.

I'll post pictures of the build later if anyone wants to see how some of the stuff was made. I'm especially proud of my fake log supports.

[MartinM]

You have an interesting-looking set up. Could you give some details about the species you included, and how they are adapting to the paludarium? I have a paludarium that replicates the geology of the deep shale gorges of central New York, but I have not confined myself to populating it with native species.

Martin

[bugsike]

I'm still doing identification on a lot of what I have. I cut small hunks of bog mat out, so mostly sphagnum mosses, (Sphagnum magellanicum, S. angustifolium, and S. fuscum are most common in MI - it appears I have 3 species in my mix, but could be life stage diffs - I needs a key). I've added in 2 of my "Purple" pitcher plants (Sarrcina puperia), I also have a sundew (Drosera spp?) that's going to find its way in. I also added in alot of wire-grass sedge (Carex lasiocarpa i think). Wild strawberries and wintergreen are both in the mix, I haven't looked up there scientific names yet.
I have two creeping vine plants I have no clue on, as well as a few other plants I'm not sure of. I'll be posting those soon.
We've already put in my 2 red backed salamanders, and I'll be moving the 2 spring peepers in as well.

I'm open for ideas for the aquatic section, in fact I just looked at the clock and it's about time to go pull the minnow trap and see what we have there...

[MartinM]

I bet some of those plants have pretty high light requirements (like the sedge) since it grows in an environment which usually isn't shaded by trees. However, my locally acquired mosses, ferns, and liverworts are showing good growth under my four 4-foot fluorescent tubes above the paludarium canopy.

With regard to wild-caught fish, I have always had good results with dace, and I'm going to try sticklebacks this year, which I know others have had success with.

Martin