Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi justin,
when you were down in central america what was the landscape like. i know it wasn't moss everywhere you look like everyone puts in there tanks. how was the soil, hard packed or loose like humus or both.
i when i make up a tank would like to get it as close to thier native soil as possible.
thanks to anyone who answers.
walt

hey
i was in costa rica during the dry season in febuary
it depends in what forest you happen to be in,
in the cloud forrest the trees where covered with moss and there was dense plant cover, the soil i would say is pretty compacted but some areas it wa loose. the closest thing in the states we have to monteverde is the mur wods where all the red woods are. in the lowlands (or at least in la salva (spelling?) there are lots of trees and bushes but under the canope it seamed more open or at least way more open then the cloudforest, there where leaves covering the forest floor. in all the other places like mountarninal it look kinda rainforest like but not. when we where driving through between places id say costa rica looks alot like costa rica. if you want email me, i could send you pictures.

hopethis helps

ashley
-----
Just A Thought
Ashley
;P

doh correction (@_@)
in the places between where i was in costa rica it looked a lot like california

ashley
-----
Just A Thought
Ashley
;P

I have been to Costa Rica, in February as well, twice though. Monte Verde is a lot more compacted soil with really dense foliage, but I didn't see any frogs up there. In Tortuguero which is made up of river canals the ground it very runny and clay like, with leaf litter. Arenal area was more solid and clay as well. La Selve Biological Reserve varied, there were some runny places and some solid, but most was shaded with lots of mushrooms and leaf litter. Go to my pictures link at the bottom of my signature to see some pictures
Mark
-----
[url=http://www.frognet.org/gallery/Markjemison]Click here to See my frogs and Terrariums!
0.0.7 Green and Black Costa Rican D. Auratus
0.0.4 D. Azureus
0.0.2 Golden Mantellas

As several people have stated, it really varies with where you are. I was all over most of the country in Costa Rica, and several Northern parts of Panama. Since there are really no amphibians left (bar a salamander or two) from Monteverde, that soil won't be a great model-- unless someone here has some Bufo periglenis hiding in their house and need to let them bury for the majority of the year. Most of the Caribean (D. pumilio, P. lugubris, and D. auratus) soil is fairly loose, and has a good deal of leaf litter on top. The Pacific is much drier for part of the year, so tended to be more rocky in the soil. This isn't true for all cases, but for several. The Pacific was where the D. granuliferus, P. vittatus, and D. auratus are found (anyone else see the trend of D. auratus being everywhere...). I would just stick to the soil mix I've always used. Mine is a mix of Michigan Peat moss, milled sphagnum, orchid bark, and play sand. I still think this is one of the better mixes. With a little 'tweaking' I use it for my geckos now as well. The main key is leaf litter in some parts for most frogs, and tons especially for D. pumilio.
Best,
Justin

mark we where in the same areas in i think the same time
did you go with the ppl from ses (school of environmental studies)?

ashley

>>I have been to Costa Rica, in February as well, twice though. Monte Verde is a lot more compacted soil with really dense foliage, but I didn't see any frogs up there. In Tortuguero which is made up of river canals the ground it very runny and clay like, with leaf litter. Arenal area was more solid and clay as well. La Selve Biological Reserve varied, there were some runny places and some solid, but most was shaded with lots of mushrooms and leaf litter. Go to my pictures link at the bottom of my signature to see some pictures
>>Mark
>>-----
>>[url=http://www.frognet.org/gallery/Markjemison]Click here to See my frogs and Terrariums!
>>0.0.7 Green and Black Costa Rican D. Auratus
>>0.0.4 D. Azureus
>>0.0.2 Golden Mantellas
-----
Just A Thought
Ashley
;P

No, I didn't go with them. I went on a seperate tour through that reserve. If and when I go back I would like to go with them. That reserve is one of my favourites in the country that I have been to!
Mark Jemison
-----
[url=http://www.frognet.org/gallery/Markjemison]Click here to See my frogs and Terrariums!
0.0.7 Green and Black Costa Rican D. Auratus
0.0.4 D. Azureus
0.0.2 Golden Mantellas