Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm sure that the plants found at local home-improvement stores contain pesticides. My question is how great is the risk of poisoning to frogs from these pesticides? Will simple things like washing the plant get rid of these chemicals? thank you

Seth

I've used plants from Lowes, Home Depot and a local grocery store, with no problems. I did rinse them off first and the the tanks were set up for about a month before frogs were added.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
D. leucomelas
D. azureus

Wherever you get plants for the terrarium they should be washed off. You can even swish the leaves around in warm soapy water and rinse. Like Kyle, I set the vivariums up well ahead of time, which allows the plants to establish as well as dispersing and degrading any fertilizers or other chemicals.

This is just a personal preference, but while a lot of regular house plants are suitable for terrariums, there are many more interesting things available from other suppliers. Our sponsors here have some-- (T&C, Black Jungle. etc.); Glasshouse Works, Birdrock Tropicals are reliable and inexpensive sources. You can also find dwarf species that will stay more contained. I just enjoy growing unusual plants nearly as much as I enjoy the frogs.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

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

Very true, I try to use a mixture of both, or at least I have in my first 2 tanks. Now my thrid will be a different story I guess.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
D. leucomelas
D. azureus

Patty's right,
Plants found at places mentioned are good but will grow almost too good in the conditions of a vivarium.I have a philodendrum in my auratus tank that I planted at one time and wanted to take it out but the root system is everywhere in the tank so to keep from disturbing all the other plants I just prun it off when ever it needs it.Like she said the plants are just about as important as the frogs in my opinion because they are so closely linked to one another.I have a big old brom in the Costa Rican's tank that lloks like a dartfrog hotel at night all 4 of mine sleep in it so I have started one of it's pup so when the old one it dies they can "move",LOL
Take care,
Mark

LOL, thats funny you say that, it sounds just like my Leuc tank. I have a pothos that has done the same thing with the roots, and I find it grows better and nicer if I cut it back. In the same tank I have 2 broms that are almost on the way out, but they both have pups that should be ready soon.

In my Azureus tank I am using a ficus type thing to cover the background. It is growing great, but I have to cut it back at least one time a month. It has filled its purpose though and covered the seems in the corkbark. It looks much more natural now.

I would think you will have the same root problems with other more exotic plants also, so I would not same that normal houseplants are bad by any means. Most are tropical plants anyways I think.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
D. leucomelas
D. azureus

you probably won't have a problem with it if you wash them off and allow them some time to set in the tank before you add the frogs.
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Nate
1.1 alanis tincs
0.0.2 Azureus (soon)

I found some broms at my local lowes and figured they would casue no ill effects to the frogs if they were washed but just wanted to make sure. They will have plenty of time to set in the enclosure as i won't get frogs until the end of august or the begining of september. So most of the fertilizer that might not have been washed off should wash down through the soil and be collected in the false bottom were in can be syphoned off.

Thank you for the replies, this is a very informative and friendly forum so keep up the good work.

Seth