Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In a planted terrarium do you in time have to take it all apart to clean it? My goal was a well planted tank which the plants would take care of the waste.
Do you than just feed fruitflies to avoid the tiny crickets from escaping the frogs and causing problems?
My plans are for a 30 gallon planted terrarium for golden mantellas.
Thanks.

Pinhead crickets don't escape dart frogs long enough to become a problem, in my experience. I feed them only as a treat and supplement, however. Whether this is true of Mantellas or not, I don't know, because I have no experience with them, but I think the main cricket escape problem is more of a concern with the other anurians that are nocturnal and less active hunters.

Patty
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Since you feed pinheads as a supplements do you prefer fruitflies?
Do you kep your dart frogs in a planted terrarium? I ask because havent set it up yet and not sure if planted is a good idea because of waste accumulation in the soil.
My other option is bury individual plants in small pots and remove them ofcourse when I change the soil.
Any ideas would be great. I am not new to amphibians but new to planted terariums.
Fleck

I feed fruit flies as a mainstay because they are far easier to culture than crickets, last longer and don't get too big for them to eat. I occasionally buy pinhead crickets as a supplement. The frogs eat most of them right up, but I keep a few in a critter keeper with veggies and such to feed to my lizards when they get too big for the frogs.

I just got through posting a message on the drainage, set-ups and such with plants. This entire long harange was totally lost when I clicked on "preview message." I just don't want to repeat it again to have it dumped one more time.

My e-mail is: slaytonp@actnet.net. If I can help you further, I will.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Thank you very much for all the info. Funny I to have lost my post when I have clicked preview message. Thus I just post it now no longer preview it.
Fleck

Fleck,
Pinhead crickets can be a great food source for frogs. You must however be absolutly sure that you do not overfeed them to your frogs. An adult cricket can/will cause horrible dammage to little frogs. They chew on frogs as they sleep. Feed pinheads lightly IMO.
Take care,
Rich

Thanks. Yes I will keep an eye on the crickets good thing I asked this question because I had intended to feed pinheads as the main food but now its fruitflies.
pinheads will be fed once in awhile.
Fleck

i built a 30 square planted mantella tank that houses five painteds.

it has a water fall, a steam and that ends in a very shollow pond area in the front.

it's planted only with basic plants, things that i could cut
off house plants before my green house was set up.
i have hardscaped it with redwood; moss love it, as do fern spores.

i feed hydei only. they are large enough to dust well, the mantellas anc find them easily and i only feed in the same area every other day. it's like they, the frogs, know when and where to meet.

I also feed 1 week crickets, well dusted but while in the dusting bag(thanks ziploc!), i pinch off the hind legs.
that is easy to do just by using your nail and pressing just towards the thigh, at the knee joint, the whole leg pops off.
this slows them down and help you to provide a well balanced source of food items. i gut load my pins and 1-week crix on fish food flakes.

I wouldn't feed more crix then needed per sitting as they can hid, eat the plant mater until large enough to eat a frog. - that's got to be painful!
Mantella Tank Photos...