Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In many pictures of dart frog setups I see old leaves. Are these leaves that people are finding in their yards? Is there some special way of preparing them before putting them in the cage other than letting them sit out for a long time so any bugs die?

I did see some for sale at one website, but they seems crazy expensive! Is this something that I could pick up cheaper at the Chicago show in October?

I just really like the look but I was curious what kind of leaves, etc.

Thanks in advance!
Nicole

I was told use magnolia; I dried them in my sunroom (which took about a day because it ranges over 5000degrees in there... or close). They look great, hold a pic of water, provide shelter for springtails to breed and are slow to decay. I also added a large household plant's leaves (from this huge plant that had a few fallen leaves outside a mall down south). They are large like bananna leaves but I took smaller ones, they dried well and hold water and flower beetle larvae. Just search for leaves that are tropical and slow to decay. I pruned a few leaves from a few plants I put in my vivarium, and some dried and decayed in the tank slowly, others worked great. Try all sorts of things, but make sure they are pesticide free.
-Sean

Oak leaves are also great and don't break down rapidly.
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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