Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Lets start out with the story...

About a month ago I took my WTF to the vet because of a suspicion of worms. I came to learn that the 'worms' were his veins under his skin moving around (interesting aye?) The vet went ahead and gave him a dewormer anyway.

The vet asked questions about his tank set up, and I told her that I had bed-a-beast and a a live plant along with a couple of pieces of long driftwood and water dish. She told me that it's not a good idea to have live plants and dirt in there because of the possible mold growth and diseases. She told me I should change it to the carpet stuff because it's easy to clean. I did this because I figured that it would be good to follow the vets advice. But his tank is so boring now, and I've always heard that real plants are better to use. Wen I did have the bed-a-beast in there, I didn't notice and growth of mold. And Jade, my frog, did seem happier.

So, to the point. Do you all think I should go back to the bed-a-beast or keep the carpet?

(sorry for the long post, but tell me what you all think)

also, what do you think is the best set-up for a whites?

Hi, I am no expert, but I would keep the bed-a-beast. Ussually if the tank is keep clean (not that you were not) there will not be too much mold and stuff. But then again if your frog seems happier with the carpet, then its up to you, whatever makes him happy, good luck!
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Mark B.

Well I am no expert about frogs but I just recently got a pair of White's and I have them in a set-up with green carpet stuff (The reptile store said it was much better to have that sort of bottom with WTFs). I got it at the home depot, but of course it does look boring so to spice it up I added plants. What I did was pot the plants in clear candle holders and then used a small amount of the moss bedding that I use for my Green Tree Frogs and tucked it around the top of the opening so that the soil that comes with the plants is not accesible to my frogs. I also added a pretty green water dish and some flat river stones along with a neat looking branch from my LPS. My two White's seem to enjoy the set-up. Here is a picture.

if the bed a beast is molding it is because there is not enough ventalation. it is actually easier to keep bed a beast clean than it is to keep the carpet clean because the carpet soaks up the urates and is harder to spot clean. the bed a beast is coconut husk and takes a long time to break down and decompose, so it is not very good to plant live plants in but this also means that mold and fungus will not as readily grow in it.

i personally have never seen mold grow in bed a beast( that doesnt mean there isnt microscopic mold) but i have seen it grow on urate soaked reptile carpet (wasnt my enclosure)

also the coconut husk makes it easier to keep the humidity up without having to leave puddles on the reptile carpet
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