Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First of all are their people out there that use fake plants? If so have you ever had problems or comments/opinions with using them?

Second does anybody use top soil as a substrate? Does anybody have problems or comments/opinions with that?

One of my frogs is sick and I contacted the breeder that I purchased him from and she could not tell what the problem was but she does not use fake plants OR top soil. Any opinions.

Thanks
Christina
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0.0.1 Hatchling Indian Star Tortoise (Sitara)
1.1 Russian Tortoise (Willy & Mikey)
0.1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1.0 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
0.0.2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
0.0.1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
0.0.1 Big Eyed Tree Frog
0.0.2 Bubbling Frog
0.0.2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
0.0.3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Dwarf Megophrys
0.0.2 Rainbow Burrowing Frog/Ornate Hopper
0.0.3 Asian Blue Webbed Gliding Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Albino Pacman Frog
0.1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
0.2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
0.3 mice
0.1 dog (Holly)
2.0 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

Hi Christina, I'm new to frogs so can't be of much help. Sorry to hear about your little guy, hope he gets better. I use fake plants in all my tanks; with my snakes, geckos, and frogs. The silk kind. Have never had any problems with any of my animals in regards to fake plants. I use mostly plants from craft stores, and do have some from the pet stores with the little suction cups to hold them on the glass. As for the top soil, I can't help there, I haven't tried it. Seems natural though, as long as no fertilizer or pearlite. I love your sig, do you have a website or photo page with pics of all your "kids"?
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Lyns Lair
Frogwatch USA
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose Snake (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Slytherin)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Ripley) coming soon!
1.0 Normal Corn Snake (Mystery) coming this summer
0.1 Motley Corn Snake (Autumn) coming this summer
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
2.0 Solomon Island Eyelash Frogs (not named yet)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.9 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess Leo, Twister)

When using top soil you need to make sure that there are no amendments added to it such as fertilizers, manure, or wetting agents as these can negatively affect your frog. Even "organic" topsoil mixes often contain manure so you have to closely read the bag as this is often in small print.

I have used fake plants for years at work in some of the exhibits with different species of amphibians.

Ed

Well thank you.
Unforunately this guy didn't even make it the night. I am taking to get a necropsy done. It would make me feel better and then I wouldn't have to worry about the other 2.
Right now I am trying not to blame myself, I mean part of nature is that not all things especially animals that lay that many eggs are supposed to live and maybe he is just one of them. And maybe he has lived this long BECAUSE I took such good care of him. But we will see.
As for the plants thank you. These were just some of the things that the breeder does NOT do and she was just trying to rule out different things.
Also the top soil. I to read the bag VERY carefully and saw nothing I even went to their website and all it says is all natural Long Island soil. So I called the company today to confirm to make sure that there is not manure, fertilizers anything. She said it is just natural soil sifted and composted over time. So that made me feel better.
My concern with the plants and top soil was that if that is what did this guy in I have a problem b/c I use the SAME plants and top soil for EVERYBODY!!!

Thank you again
Christina
Oh by the way unforunately I do not have a website up yet. I am getting a new digi camera in a few weeks and I might do when I will email you with it if you like.
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0.0.1 Hatchling Indian Star Tortoise (Sitara)
1.1 Russian Tortoise (Willy & Mikey)
0.1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1.0 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
0.0.2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
0.0.1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
0.0.1 Big Eyed Tree Frog
0.0.2 Bubbling Frog
0.0.2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
0.0.3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Dwarf Megophrys
0.0.2 Rainbow Burrowing Frog/Ornate Hopper
0.0.3 Asian Blue Webbed Gliding Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Albino Pacman Frog
0.1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
0.2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
0.3 mice
0.1 dog (Holly)
2.0 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

Well, it will be interesting to see the necropsy results. Sorry about the frog though.

Ed

Hi Ed,

If you don't mind me asking, where do you work? If you don't want the entire board to know you can email me at devin@amphibiancare.com Thanks,
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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
0.0.4 Dendrobates galactonotus 'Red'
4.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
0.1.4 Mantella madagascariensis
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.1 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

Hey Devin,
I'm the Lead Keeper for the Philadelphia Zoo's Reptile House but I'm home recovering with a shoulder injury right now. When I am at work I work primarily with the amphibian collection and over the years I have worked with everything from Andrias davidensis to Atelopus zeteki.

Ed

I was assuming something on the un-professional side of things because that's where the majority of people on the forum come from. You're very knowledgable and it's been a nice addition to have you here, I've learned a lot from your replies. Recently I took trips to two different zoos and had the opportunity to have some great conversations with some of the reptile keepers along with a few unforgetable tours. I often neglect to remember that there is a proffesional side to my obsession too and the conversations I've had with the zoo keepers have really opened my mind. Good luck with the shoulder Ed, don't type with that arm too much.

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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
0.0.4 Dendrobates galactonotus 'Red'
4.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
0.1.4 Mantella madagascariensis
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.1 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

Thanks for the compliment but don't knock the amount you can learn from the "unprofessional" personnel on the forums. The majority of husbandry breakthroughs do not occur at the Zoos or other institutions they happen in the private sector (there are a number of reasons for this).

Thanks Again,
Ed