Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Lately I've been kicking around the idea of building a tank with only plants that darts would encounter in their natural habitat. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what plants (reasonably available, please) come from the Amazon?

Just some thoughts for you... The Amazon is a huge area, so pin-pointing a specfic locality would important in this endevor. Do a search on google for biological research stations and pick the one closest to your chosen area (say La Selva for Costa Rica or Barro Colorado Island for Panama). Someone working at the station will have published a list of species (I am sure one exsist for BCI). This may either be in a list of publications on the sation's web page (assuming one exsists) or you may have to search the litrature for it.

Another option would be to see if some sort of natural history has been published for the area. I know some stuff exist for Belize, but what I am aware of doesn't cover rainforest. Plus most of this type of litrature is only specific down to the family level.

I think what you will find is a list of generaly unimpresive plants, mostly trees and lianas, to big for use in the terrarium and for the most part not comercialy cultivated.

I wanted to do this also, but relaized it was going to be more trouble than it is worth. A lot of the plants that are native to your frogs area are too big for a tank, and the small ones are not commercially available. I contented myself with using only central and soutg american species...same ball park. I stay away from asian species now, and that sux because it weeds out a lot of pretty plants.
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Matt

Hi,

I have done this with many of my tanks. Jon Werner should be most able to help you if you are interested in different orchids. To simulate a habitat in costa rica or peru is fairly easy because many people have gone plant collecting in these places. Try black jungle or Jom Werner.

Alexander Stubbs