Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for a soil mixture and want some ideas. I was thinking maybe a 50/50 potting soil/peat or maybe 40 soil 30 peat and 30 vermiculite. What do you guys use?

Heather
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Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first and the lesson after.

Hs Kritter Kove

well normal soil after a while will break down and become a mess. I am using soil mix from T&C terrariums ( www.fantasticfrogs.com ) I priced the items needed to make my own mix of soil. I learned their soil would cost me less then making my own mix. Best of all its premixed, and if T&C uses it, it has to be good.

aj
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Click Here to See My Dart Tank In The Making UPDATED 6.15.03 SPOILER! Still Needs Moss View At Your Own Risk

kungfu28181: My god. You are insane. -Mon Jun 30 21:41:05

I use Jungle Mix made by ESU. My plants and moss are doing great!

I used this in my fist tank and it is also doing well. Though in my second tank I did not use any soil. Only rocks, and moss on top, and my plants are doing just as well.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
D. leucomelas
D. azureus

In my first dart terrarium I used eco-earth which is like bed a beast. For my 2nd tank I deced to add some other things to it and I like it a lot more and I have a lot left over. It is a mixture of mainly peat moss with no chemicals, some eco earth, orchid bark, sand, sphangnum moss and some magnolia leaves. I don't know the measurments of how much of each is in there, but I just added the other things to the consistancy I wanted.
Mark
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my tanks and frogs

I use gravel then oak leaves and in some spots put sphagnum moss for plants.I mainly have epihpytic plants like bromiliads,reurrection ferns and such so I don't use special mixtures unless a plants needs it.Some plants grow way too good in vivs so I don't want to trim them all the time and stress the frogs out.I took out a leaf on one plant one time my male auratus used and he quite calling for a month so trimming can stress them some.Good luck............Mark W.

Jungle mix is a great pre-mix. Avoid potting soils with added fertilizer. The nitrates aren't good for the frogs and the terrarium plants, as someone said, are usually too enthusiastic to need it. I have also read somewhere that vermiculite (expanded mica) should be avoided as well, but there was no explanation why. I have the reptile bedding someone mentioned below in one tank, and it also works. The plants seem healthy in spite of the slow breakdown of this stuff and paucity of nutients. I use a lot of brown sphagnum around the bromeliads and to stuff cracks in the back panels. When fresh, it helps prevent root rot while the bromeliads are establishing and rooting to the panels and branches. It has some sort of "antibiotic" quality.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

D. auratus blue
D. galactonotus
D. imitator
D. leukomelas
D. pumilio Bastimentos (soon)

I use a fairly simple recipe that i got from reptiles magazine.
it has great drainage and my plants do great with it.

2 parts partially decomposed leaves
2 parts orchid bark
1 part coconut fiber that comes in the brick, like eco earth
i have used this mix in a few set ups and i think its great

good luck
nate

This sounds like a REALLY good one. Good drainage and won't break down rapidly. I'll try it myself with my next vivarium.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

D. auratus blue
D. galactonotus
D. imitator
D. leukomelas
D. pumilio Bastimentos (soon)