Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My retfs have outgrown the fake plastic plants in my tank and no longer sleep on them, so Ive decided to go to live plants. I know that they like large broad leafed plants. I was wondering which plants would work well in their environment (80% humidity 75F temp). Im gona use a false bottom and bed-a-beast substrate. I plan on purchasing from blackjungle.com, so if you could give me a list of suitable plants that they have that would work well i would appreciate it.

I will get you some more later, when I have to actually figure out the scientific names.. But I use a lot of pothos (lots of different varieties.. and very very hardy plant.. ) Bromeliads (find the wider leaf versions - usually homedepot, lowes and wall mart will have them - but be sure not to get one to big for your vivarium), prayer plants, peperomia, fittonia etc.. You can go to lowes or homedepot.. they usually have a good selection of tropicals..
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from black jungle
Exotics and tropicals:
Alocasia guttata 'bullatta'- TP-AGB
Aluminum Plant- TP-AL
Calathea 'Cynthia'- TP-CCYN
Calathea concinna- TP-CC
Calathea Corona- TP-CCOR

Other Epiphytic Bromeliads:
any

you may want to add some cork, ghost, or cypress wood to the tank as well for climbing if you don't have any, though any of the wood black jungle has will work in the tank.

if you do go to homedepot/lowes/gardencenters, look for pothos, philodendren, diffinbachia, peppermonia, arum, and zebra plant.

Thanks alot.. a couple more questions.. i plan on putting these plants into a exo terra terrarium 12 x 12 x 18 tank. What combination would you recommend for this size (I'll probably have to trim them from time to time but i dont want them taking up too much room.) I'm pretty sure I read somewhere.. i think Tim said it on talktothefrog.. that all i need for the plants to grow and be healthy is a grow light from walmart.. what brand and wattage do you recommend? Thanks

I will give you a few options..
You can get the grow lights (walmart, lowes etc.. ) they are 24" and about 10 or 12$ each.. I have found that the original bulb will only last a few months.. but you can replace it with a ge aquarium/plant bulb and it will work just fine.

You can also take an 18" aquarium hood (or 2) and put a 18" aquarium/plant bulb in there..

And last but not least, I have an exo-terra like yours with a pair of coralife 9watt compact flourescent (CF) fixtures on it.. and the plants are thriving.. (great color and fantastic growth).

So, There are a few options from cheapest to most expensive.. the CF fixtures do have a lot higher quality of light.. but it is overkill if you just growing pothos.. as it will grow just about anywhere if you keep it watered..

Other than the light, you need soil, and moisture.. Now, seeing that you have RETF's, I am assuming your misting regularly.. this should be adequate to water most of the plants listed in the previous post.. and soil can be a simple coco-coir base such as bed-a-beast or dendrobedding.. I mix a few other things in mind.. but again, it depends on the plants..

The best part of having live plants in there.. frog poo becomes fertilizer.. so you can just leave it in there and let it break down naturally and help to nurish the plants instead of having to remove it..

btw.. I still miss thefrog..
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I think that im going to go with the coralife 9w fixture.. where did you get yours at tim? i looked at petsmart and they had a 50/50 bulb with actin.. i dont think that is what your talking about though.. Also, how much heat does the 9w bulb generate? thanks

I found a fixture that would fit nicely on the top of my viv.. its only about 8inches long.. do you think this will work?

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/living-vivarium-products/-/compact-fluorscent-fixture-with-ultra-sun-bulb/

I personally don't have any experience with the brand your listed, but that is similar to the ones I use. I would put 2 on top of the tank, I use a pair..

Mine are coralife fixtures, each have 2 9watt bulbs in them, I have 3 6700K bulbs and a 10,000K bulb in them. You can find them a lot of places, I have bought them off ebay, from www.drsfosterandsmith.com and bigalsonline.com.

If you get the "Coralife Freshwater 9" Mini Aqualight-2 x 9W" it should be everything you need..

Good luck with it!

Here is a quick link.. if you don't want to search for em..
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=29559;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=
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Thanks for all the help.. Im now in the process of ordering everything, and I plan on building the viv over my spring break.. I have one more question tho.. Ive had the frogs for about 2 months now, but i have yet to handle them.. What is the best way to transfer them to the new viv? They usually sleep on the glass.. should I wait untill night when they are awake, or should I just wake them up? Thanks

Hey..
I rinse my hands off and dry them.. don't use soaps or anything.. just warm water. Then I will scoop them up with a firm, but gentle grasp and put them in a fruit fly cup or a critter carrier. Then, I mist them..

If you will have it out for very long, be sure to keep it moist.. and clean.. If you will have it out for a few days, I would seriously consider buying a small tank with a glass lid.

You can also put a cup (I use fruit fly cups) in front of the frog and nudge it into the cup..
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probaly use two small bromeliads, and three-four of the other species listed in the other post under tropicals. i would pick the ones you like the most since they are all similarin leaf size and sturdiness, so go with what combo you think will look the best. the quanity is just a guess, it will be based on the size of the plants you get. if you don't to have extra, i would order 4 plants, and get more locally if necessary, remember to leave room for a water bowl and any other extras, like wood or vines when planting.