Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi i was wondering if it was safe to use buttermilk and moss in a new viv. where you mix like 1/2 moss and 1/2 moss (maybe3/4 buttermilk and 1/4 moss) in a blender until its a milkshake consistancy then spread it where you want moss to grow. i know people who use this in thier gardens and bonsia trees but i wasnt sure if it was safe in a smaller enclosure like 10 or 20 gal that will be used for darts thanks for looking

I've never used this method of spreading moss myself, but have seen it recommended on different frog forums by experienced people who say it works. I've never read of any bad experiences from doing this, so it shouldn't do any harm to your vivarium to try it--then let it get established before introducing the frogs, of course.

Then let us know how it worked.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
6 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
6 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

ok thanks for the advice i may have the chance to use this method fairly soon if i do i will be sure to make a post on how it works

Joey,
I never post in the frog forums, I was just looking for something for the kids when I came across this!! Funny! This is a great was to get moss to grow and spread quickly! It's kind of like a jump start for it, the buttermilk is a fertilizer of sorts. There are some things you are going to need to concider before you put your frogs in the tank though. One, it's going to take a month or so to see real results. Two, in a 10 or 20 gal tank, it's going to smell....bad!.... If you have a garage I would make some room in there...trust me.. Three, get a good grow light (not an animal UV light a real grow light) and keep it on over the tank for about 12 hours a day. This will give the plants a super push. Watch for mold...white mold is ok, it will go away in a few days. Watch for fruit flys. If they get bad cover the tank top with saran wrap and "burp" it in the morning and at night... this adds to the smaell factor and may add a week or so to the growing process. And lastly, do not do this with pillow moss. all you get is real foul smelling dead pillow moss. That's whats worked for me so far.... but I've only been doing it for about 20 years or so, so it's not a science yet.....( mom ran a nursury).
Rock on, Blue

hey man! actually, this isn't a good idea for frog tanks... it molds VERY quickly, and as someone said earlier, it smells really bad! LOL

try java moss- that stuff, once it settles in, spreads pretty quickly!