Soil for first vivarium

[Khabi&Bulinda]

Making my first tropical forest vivarium for my two whites tree frogs, after reading my Reptiles USA magazines, I'm concerned about the type/ mix of soil to use. I plan on having ferns, ivy, and bromiliads. Do I go to a nursrey and mix my own soil or a premixed (where to purchase) TIA

[Marty]

What I typically do is use coco based bedding that does not break down so easily, then any plants I put, I take out of pots and will leave a clump of soil. This way the plant still has some soil but the terrarium substrate is not all soil. I also use clay pebbles as a substrate to allow good drainage. I separate the pebbles and dirt with landscaping fabric. It works like a charm. If you look on my dart frog setup up close you can see the substrate in a cross section.. pebbles on the bottom, landscaping fabric, coco bedding, some soil around plants and mosses scattered on top to cover bare spots

[Tindomul1of9]

Remember, drainage is key to a healthy vivarium. Be sure to have a good layer of gravel, pebbles, or clay balls(LECA), under whatever soil or other type of substrate you plan on using.
I bought jungle mix by exoterra at my local petshop and I think its fine. It stays moist, gets lost of drainage, and doesn't stick tooo much to the frogs. I have 5 ferns growing in this stuff,and they are all doing well.

[Khabi&Bulinda]

thanks for the info I really like your ground cover moss. What is it and where did you get it?

[Mrnicolai]

That is a nice VIV Marty. What are those "clam" looking things in the center of the viv?? Do the darts like to hang out in them??

[Marty]

Those are seed pods I got from superior ent My frogs love to sleep in'em

[Khabi&Bulinda]

Marty,

Thanks for the info and picture. I really like your ground cover moss. What is it and where did you get it?

[Marty]

It is aquatic java moss. Once you take it out of the water, it grows like regular moss. You just need to keep it moist

[MayorNewton]

I know this post is a bit old, but I'm 'assuming' that Marty is still around and checks in now and then. I took your advice, Marty, and put about an inch and a half of aquarium gravel on the bottom of a 75 gallon, then put a layer of weed block down, then about the same depth of coconut husk substrate. It looks great, and should work super.

I was thinking ahead to when the gravel gets full of water from drainage, and figure I can suck it out with a hose or a small submersible pump I may install. This way, much of the waste should be carried out that way and I can use the substrate longer (?) and everyone should be happy. I'll be 'overstocking' this tank, unfortunately, with a 'mix,' and I do read that it's not a great thing to do...but on a Vietnam pension I can't afford a lot of tanks and there are just too many 'great' frogs out there.

Now I have two red-legged running frogs, a chubby and a Solomon Island eyelash frog. Tomorrow I have being delivered two red-eyed tree frogs, three White's and two Vietnamese blue tree frogs (damn, coulda caught a bunch when I was over there!). They should all be close in size, and again, it's a 75 gallon tank...and if I'm reading right on the 'net, they 'all' have pretty much the same requirements as far as housing. If there's a problem, I do have a 20h I can use, though I'm saving that if possible for a pair of Vietnamese mossies when I can afford them. Great looking frogs.

Oh, somewhere I read that coconut husks made the tank a little too 'acid,' or did I read that wrong? Anyway, it works good, so I hope it's been doing well for you, too.

Marty, great setup...though you've probably changed it by now. I'll probably pick your brains on how to do a misting system one day soon, if you don't mind.

Thanks for listening to me ramble. I'd like to see more activity on this forum...it's a nice one!

Mayor Newton
MayorNewton@newtcity.com

Originally Posted by Marty

What I typically do is use coco based bedding that does not break down so easily, then any plants I put, I take out of pots and will leave a clump of soil. This way the plant still has some soil but the terrarium substrate is not all soil. I also use clay pebbles as a substrate to allow good drainage. I separate the pebbles and dirt with landscaping fabric. It works like a charm. If you look on my dart frog setup up close you can see the substrate in a cross section.. pebbles on the bottom, landscaping fabric, coco bedding, some soil around plants and mosses scattered on top to cover bare spots

[Marty]

no problems, pick away