Reptile & Amphibian Forums

how do you clean those really nice looking tanks with all natural plants and moss on the bottom and stuff?

Really, tweezers are the only way. Takes hours.

Just kidding. The frog feces is turned into plant food and all you really have to do to "clean" is clip plants that are growing too big (can push the tops off your tanks) and wipe down the glass so you can see. I have heard people say that you only need to take a tank down every 5 years. I have heard others go a lot longer.
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Josh Willard
www.joshsfrogs.com

My 6 year old paludarium is due for revamping this summer, mostly because the pressed cocoas backgrounds are collapsing. Even in the aquarium portion I have never done anything but partial water changes, and it has been the most successful tropical fish tank I've ever tried to keep. I still have most of the original tetras. As Josh has explained, you just trim plants and clean the glass. Remove any dead plants or just let them recycle. Sump out excess drainage from misting and watering if you don't have a false bottom. With a false bottom and circulating falls and streams, I turn off the pump and replace most of the water rather ad lib, perhaps two or three times a year. You need to add water to it occasionally, though. I do spritz off frog poop from the leaves while I'm hand misting. I sometimes top-dress the substrate with a little more organic soil, leaf litter or cocoanut fiber.

This may seem strange, but it actually works. My dart losses have been due to a few escapes, one injury and one unknown cause--no diseases so far. (Knock on wood-- Never brag, or it will happen tomorrow.)
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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
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus