Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just received a bunch of Lilianopsis for my waterway. The waterway is deeper than most, a 4" deep pool with circulating waterfalls sculpted from the Winterstone. What sort of substrate would be appropriate to anchor the roots? The pool will hold 2 dwarf African frogs, which are strictly aquatic and the water plants are there to help clear waste as well as for decorative puposes. Homer, I saw the photo of your plant, but your waterway is so well done that I couldn't tell whether the Lilianopsis was in soil or gravel.

I also obtained some Mondo grass which came in what appears to be a peat block. I have placed this, peat and all, in one of the shallower pools along the stream bed. Although it was listed with only the common name, it is most likely Ophiopogon (sp?)in the lily family, and not a grass. Has anyone had experience with this? This specie is very dwarf--about 2" and may possibly be what used to be called "Arabicus."
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Patty

I just did some more homework and L. braziliensis needs only a gravel substrate, but found no information on Mondo grass.
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Patty

Hey Patty,

I really haven't had any experience with these plants. The bog/aquatics I have growing in my terrarium are two species of Cryptocorynes that I have been growing in fish tanks for about 10 years. My waterway is filled with waterlogged coco husk chips and some coir dust as a substrate. Yeah, I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing me say coco husk chips--I use them for everything.

Most of the bog plants I have grown were actually grown aquatically, with some growing emersed--various sword plants, Cryptocorynes of different types, Hygrophila polysperma (a fast grower that is good for sucking up nitrates if you have enough light), and several other oddballs I would pick up at fish swaps. I would imagine that most bog plants will do well in gravel, especially since you have some aquatic frogs that leave a lot of excrement for them. However, I'm curious as to whether you have a mechanical filter (undergravel, powerhead, sponge, etc) setup in there to help out. I look forward to seeing some pics.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of All Trivialities

Thanks, Homer. You've given me some ideas about using some cocoanut fiber matting I have as a substrate. I'm boiling and soaking some pieces of it now.

I'm going to try again to get a decent whole view photo so I can hopefully explain how it works more clearly. It's very low tech, and certainly not maintenance-free. I'll start a new post if and when I get the pictures.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

Hi Patty:

Well, I'm not answering any of your questions but I'm asking one(it seems I'm always asking you one-hopefully one day I'll answer one of yours). Your darf Mondo grass. Where did you get it, and would it work in a 60-80%humidity, 75-80F tank. lighting is a coil compact Super UV Florescent. I've got some Bumble Bee walking Toads(Pampas Toads)and supposedly they like grasses.

Thanks!

Hi Maggie:

This isn't a true grass, but a member of the lily family and a bit more stiff than most grasses. The foliage is like little fans resembling miniature muscari (grape hyacinth) leaves, to which it is closely related. It should bloom in good light with little racemes of hyacinth-like flowers. It appears to be doing well in its peat block in a dart vivarium in about 1" of water, but it may be too early to tell. I got it from Black Jungle--look under aquatic plants. They don't give the genus or species, just call it Mondo grass. I looked it up in Exotica 3 and it is one of the Ophiopogon species.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho