Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to add some small orchids to a couple of my tanks, and I am looking for some ideas. I want some that stay small and can be mounted to cork if possible.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle, www.andysorchids.com has a wide selection of orchids. Do a search on miniatures and I'm sure you'll come across something suitable. Good luck!

-Bill J.
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

Kyle,
I have 2 Angraecum Distinchum and 1 harella retrocalla in my bicolors tank.I have had them since the 12th of august and both species have bloomed.They are a couple that I researched on the website www.andysorchids.com.Both species seem to love the high humidity and I an all glass top so there isn't much airflow.
Mark W.

Thanks for the ideas, any others? I have been looking on that site, wow orchids are not cheap. I knew they would be more, but not that much. Anyone else have good luck some other versions?

I have air moving in all my tanks, so I think that should help from what I can tell.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle,

I will have 50 - 75 specie of orchids at frogfest if you are able to go. Orchids can be pricey and it is good to do you research. To me, I try to use ochids from the general area where the frog specie would occur in the wild. I personally don't use phalanopsis or dendrobiums because they are pimarily Asian. Phalanopsis and Dendros can be a good choce though. I will have mainly pleurothallids from Peru, Columbia, Ecuador and Panama plus some others.

Jon Werner

I will not be able to make it frogfest, but I am still planning on going to IAD. Since I am in ohio, it is a bit less travel.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle, http://www.andysorchids.com/pictureframe.asp?pic=images/Species/3550med.jpg&PicId=3550 I have one of these growing in a vivarium for about a year (my azureus grew up and trampled it). It was very easy to care for, bloomed without any organic nutrients and was always in bloom. It would make an awesome orchid for those imitators of yours and coming from Peru makes it all the better. The price is well worth it! Best of luck!

-Bill J.
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

Thanks, I'll have to look into that one, it does look nice. My imitators are not happy with me right now, I had to fill their favorite hiding spot as I think they were gettin in the cork too far. I really need to move them to the living room as in my bedroom they are too skitish. I have a plant that is dieing or just looking bad in my Azureus tank, and I hope to replace that with something flowering.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle...have you tried offering them a diverse food supply? Make sure you have springtails in there and feed ff's and pinheads from a dish or something and you can acclimate them much faster. Once they get the feel for where the food is they may show themselves more. I have gotten my vents to the point that they are almost always out in the open and often on the sides of the tank, out in the open. They aren't as shy as some poeple put them down to being.

-Bill J
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

They have tons of food and are both very fat, the one is getting better, and the other will come arround. To be honest my Azureus are the boldest I have, but they were not like that until I moved them to a active room. My bedroom almost never sees people so it is about as none active as you can get.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Also i'm hoping I luck out again and get a pair. So far only one is calling and I have yet to hear/see both of them call. They stay close together, so I'm crossing my fingers. I'm still on a list for 4 more.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle,
What I did was see the orchid I wanted then ordered them from www.oakhillgardens.com.For example, the haraella retrocalla I bought from oak hill was $12.00 and andy's wanted $19.00 for it so you can save some cash going that route.As for my imitators, I have a 1.2 in my tank and have 3 more maturing froglet so I am hoping for 2 pairs soon also.I watched my pair go about fertilizing some eggs so I plan on taking them out tomorrow so the other female doesn't destroy them like has happened to me recently.Good luck on getting a pair.........Mark W.

Thanks, I will check that out. I can not tell on my imitators, I know one is calling, but not sure about the other. They look about the same, but they are both so fat it is tough to tell.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle,

You might also try custom ecos (http://www.angelfire.com/oh3/customecos/) for orchids. His prices are about as good as I've seen, but I have to admit that his orchid selection is not huge. I'd call him to see if he has some of those that are listed as "out of stock", as he doesn't always update his website regularly. I bought a jewel orchid (Ludisia discolor) from him for $5.00, and I divided it into 2 plants that are doing very well. He also has quite a few nice broms for excellent prices.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

I might have to do that, I've bought a lot of plants off him.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle,
I would have to agree with others who suggested that you go with species in the Pleurothallid alliance for a multitude of reasons.
Firstly they are typically compact growers, they come from moist to wet tropical rain forests(high humidity), they like relatively low light conditions and can be very forgiving. One of their best features is that they will flower thruoghout the year unlike many other types that flower once or twice/ year.
When researching a specific species check firstly for size(a few can grow up to 2feet)and then for inflorescense type and flower color. They can range from a single flower to twenty on an inflorescense(flower spike)and the color ranges from brown through green to yellow/orange.there is probably 1000 different spp. in this genus alone. Pleurothallis niveo-globula is a neat little spp. that comes to mind, it has tiny little white ball shaped flowers that are born singly to three/four per leaf axil. The whole plant is between 3-6cm high and wide in size and when in flower can have 100 plus flowers open at once. A spectacular little plant.
WOW! Im still as passionate about orchids as I used to be.( I was currator of a 25,000 plant orchid collection)
If you need a few more sources for orchids go to the American Orchid Society web page which is orchidweb.org. Also look for Beth Off at Frog Day in Baltimore or contact her before that (there's a link to her on the frog day site) the Off family business is Waldor Orchids in Atlantic City NJ.

If anyone need any more info I'd be glad to ramble on again.Thanks for asking the question.