Filter Foam

[infamouschris7]

I am considering using the black filter foam for my pacman frogs but i need some questions answered first.

1. Where can i find the right foam, meaning what kind of foam do other people use for their frogs?
2. How often does it need to be changed?
3. Can i use the same piece of foam over and over again by simply wringing out the foam with hot water?
4. Are their any reasons why i should not use the foam?

[Lija]

1. no idea
2. every day it have to be rinsed
3. yes, but water have to be dechlorinated
4. stress levels will be higher as frog is not able to burrow and also more time consuming for you

[infamouschris7]

Ive found websites that sell air filter foam. Could i use that?

[flybyferns]

Ive found websites that sell air filter foam. Could i use that?

This is the same material as 1/2 " ( available in different thicknesses ) , 100% polyester quilt batting; found at fabric stores.
It comes in big rolls. I would make sure your feeder insects don't nibble it! It would need a cleaning routine w/ bleach then a de-chlorinated rinse ! I use a routine like this for my tree frogs, but the substrate I use is fleece fabric. However they don't burrow and are not disturbed when changing it.

Like mention here a frog can't burrow... causing stress.

Actually, I have seen this used as a substrate barrier instead of the traditional fabric or screening.

Lynn

[deranged chipmunk]

I would be very cautious on using any foam designed to be used as human furnishing for the following reason. All polyester battings and such are manufactured the same as fish tank filter floss with one addition, flame retarding chemicals. I have seen these leech into fish tanks and wipe out colonies of shrimp and schools of fish. I can only imagine what they would do to a frog isf accidentally ingested. Just something to think about.

[Pluke]

I've read that untreated polyurethane foam rubber is fine to use. The kind of stuff used in furniture, I actually read that in a pacman book. I can't seem to find a good source of it anyway.. I'd just use the filter or like I stated earlier that Matala filter, I don't think they can burrow and tear into that. They tear lots of holes in the blue stuff and my frogs have practically tore up a whole $15 roll in a month. I'm going with matala next time even though its more expensive, I think it will last a lot longer.

As far as hiding goes, you can always put some sphagnum moss in a corner or some fake plants as hides, that what I use. As long as your temps are at a fair level the frog shouldn't get too stressed from not being able to burrow, as long as he can hide somewhere. I don't think I'd put a frog thats spent its whole life in eco earth on foam though, that's just me. I imagine that might be somewhat stressful. Babies that will grow up on foam, that's another story.



There you can see what I mean about the hide. She eats like a champ and doesn't show any signs of stress at all. She actually grew up on that foam her whole life WITHOUT a hide in the middle of a kitchen. She now has a hide and uses it constantly.

[deranged chipmunk]

What about poret foam? It's used to filter ponds. And there's a big difference between foam rubber and spun fiber, so i wouldn't hesitate using the cushion foam rubber

[Pluke]

As long as the stuff is untreated and you're sure that there isn't chemicals in it I guess, I don't really know too much about the stuff. Just the few things I've read here and there. I'm not sure what Poret Foam is, either. So I couldn't comment on that. I know someone who uses a certain foam as a drainage layer in their dart frog tanks instead of Hydroton, I hear it works great too and is lighter/easier to clean.

[flybyferns]

This 100% polyester quilt batting; found at fabric stores; I was mentioning isn't foam.
( used instead of screen/ mesh or barrier fabric)

100% Polyester Quilt Batting