Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some suggestions on a type of bug or fly that I could place in my tank, which would culture itself and provide supplemental food for my frogs. I know that springtails have been known to populate tanks, but I’m not sure how to start them and feed them. My tank is completely covered with moss on the bottom and has tree fern panels on the back; I also don’t want anything that will eat eggs or tads. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

The spring tails don't seem to take off in the tank without a thick layer of leaf litter, without it the frogs just pick the springtails off quickly. The easiest way I found to get other insects in the tank is to put in a handfull of leaves from the woods every once in a while. there are usualy tons of small insects mixed in. Another welcome guest i've introduced to my tanks are ants. If you go out and dig up a colony and free them in the viv, the ones the frogs don't eat can usually start a colony in the tank. They do very well if you have cork bark. I found that rather than making tunnels in the damp substrate they cut tunnels through the bark. I even found them carying pupae from one hole in the bark to another. The frogs LOVE the ants. This time of the year it will be hard to start anything that would have to come from outside.
If you are still in philly when it warms up i can get you an ant colony or even some termites. That way you wont have to wory about them having chemicals or pesticides on them.

-Adam

Here's another suggestion for in-tank food sources. I keep very large pieces of grapewood in my larger vivariums which tend to grow many different molds and fungi periodically (say, every month or so). During those times, my wood is nearly crawling with small fungus gnats, which ALL of my frogs relish throughout the day. I've never introduced the gnats, they just came about naturally, I suppose. Either way, my frog will literally sit for hours picking off little fungus gnats from the wood crevices. I've also never experience any gnats outside of the cage, they've always just stayed in the viv. Hope this helps.
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Randy