Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I was just wondering if it is safe to put a plant in a dart frog tank that I found outside? Thanks!

depends on the plant and if it was no where near fertelizers or pesticides.
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Click Here to See My Dart Tank In The Making

If you don't have an identity for the plant, know whether it is an annual or perennial or an attractive weed, it's probably better to forgo this. Even if it is safe for the frogs biologically, it's likely to be a wasted effort in the long run. If you live in a temperate zone, the plant is unlikely to survive unvarying tropical temperatures, humidity and lack of seasonal variations. Even if it is pesticide-free, you may introduce unwanted guests along with it-- not that this doesn't happen on occasion buying tropicals. On the other hand, as racer says, if it is pesticide-free, fertilizer and herbicide-free, try it. If it's spineless, it is unlikely to harm a frog on contact. Your frogs aren't eating plants and many of the common ones we use (philodenrons, dumb cane, etc.) are highly toxic if ingested. If your collected plant dies, you can remove it. If it harbors unwanted guests, either the frogs will eat them or you can hand pick them off later. A lot of uninvited guests are not harmful and actually good for breaking down wastes. I have a lot of uninvited centipedes in some of my terrariums, and even some very tiny, pretty snails in another that don't harm the plants, but clean up fungi and algae. They do no harm to either frogs or plants, just add to the cyclic balance.

This is sort of six of one or half a dozen of the other advice. You may get more opinionated opinions that will be more helpful.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

hi there,
thank you for the advise but i thought about it and would rather spend alittle money for plants just to be on the safe side. i do have another question for you guys though. what type of aquatic plants do you use for you virarium and where can i get some. i am setting up a fifty gallon virarium with a waterfall and a stream that runs down to a pond in the corner of the tank. the pond deminsion is 13 1/2 in long 8 in wide and 3 in high. any suggestion and information would be greatly appreciated. thank you very much.

I'm using Java moss, Lilianopsis braziliensis, and a species of Ophiopogon (relative of the grape hyacinth in the lily family) advertised as Mondo grass at Black Jungle. Both the Lilianopsis and Mondo grass grow in water, but the grass-like leaves are above it. Some people use the floating "duck weed, but I find it gets out of hand and tends to clog the pumps. There's another floating aquatic fern that doesn't do this, but I lost the name and haven't found a source yet.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

Lilianopsis between rock and falls. One of the levels in the falls looks like a toilet bowl. I need to amend that!

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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

Mondo in upper pool is the little dark tufts. That's a piece of charcoal across the outlet for temporary skimming purposes. I should have removed it before the photo.

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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

The Lilianopsis is on the left between the rock hiding the submersible pump and the waterfall at the back. On the mid right, a stream curves down and into the pool as well. The Mondo grass is the dark little spikes in a small shallow pool just above and to the right of the main pool. It's really hard to get clear entire photos of waterways.

The Java moss isn't in this vivarium yet, but it will be used to cover up the bit of exposed tubing and cord from the pump.

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Patty
Lost River, Idaho