Hello!

[GRKIDDO]

I am new here to the site, but I must admit I have been referring to it quite often since we got our Green tree frogs, fire belly toads and anoles a few months ago. There is tons of information and your posts have been a big help!
We currently have our little family in a 40 gallon aquarium with about 25% water area. We have a reptile filter in the water. The ground is organic..now I cant remember if it's organic top soil or organic potting soil. (But I do know it doesn't have the perlite in it) We also have some red wigglers in the dirt. On top we have Spagham moss (which we clean out and put fresh in once a week. Boiled first and cooled down before adding to the tank). Currently we have 4 live plants in there, and a fake vine thing hanging across the back (which I HATE). We also have 2 rocks that are in there. One is directly under the lights and one is in the middle partially under the lights. Then we have a rock in the water area as well. We made the water area with Lexan and aquarium safe silicone.
I know it's not the best idea to mix species, but honestly they all pretty much stick to themselves. I guess the tank is big enough that they can all get away from each other.
Currently we are feeding them crickets at about 700-730 PM and their lights go out about 1030 -1100 PM. I have seen each one of them get crickets, although the green tree frogs don't seem to eat every day, usually every other day. I also did put some rosy red (minnows I guess) in the water and I believe the firebellies got those.
We spray down the tank usually 3 times a day. (Last one always after they've eaten, about 2 hours before lights out)
So here's my question>>>>We have been doing a lot of research since we will be adding leopard geckos and bearded dragons to our home soon (in totally seperate tanks) and I have learned a lot about impaction. Recently I saw one of the fire belly and last night one of the tree frogs get some moss in their mouths while eating crickets. Both used their front feet to kind of pull the little bit they had in their mouth out. But now I am thinking maybe we should have something else in there instead????
I worked in a pet store for 10 years, but we all know pet stores aren't the best place for gaining knowledge, and honestly they only had Anoles back then. I had toads growing up as a kid, but honestly I dot recall what we had for substrate. I'm kind of thinking something horrible like aquarium gravel?? (that was before computers, so who knew?) Anyway, would the coco fiber be better? Not worried abouut messy water, I will gladly clean it out if it's better for them!

[GRKIDDO]

Also, any suggestions for a live vine type plant?? I really hate the plastic one!

[Lija]

welcome to the forums! how it works here is that you ask the question in appropriate section to get a faster and better response
but every single person here will tell you - NO to mixing species, especially firebellies and anybody else. they might appear fine for some time, but I'm wouldn't be too surprised if you come home one day only to find somebody dead or sick to the point nothing can be done. PLEASE for the sake of the frogs keep them separate. they all need different types of enclosures too.
moss is the last thing you want in a tank, unless you want to risk impaction that you are for sure facing.
check the corresponding section of the forum for more info on firebellies and tree frogs, there are tons of information and feel free to ask as many question as you need.

[GRKIDDO]

I have heard many people for and others against mixing species. Our local zoo houses all three of these species, along with fire belly newts. I have talked to the zookeeper who has been there 20+ years, and he told me they have housed them together for many many years. He's been in the lizard house at least 15 years, so I pretty sure he knows his stuff. He told me if I was diligent about doing water changes and keeping them well fed there shouldnt be an issue. Also as long as there isn't anyone who is real agressive in there.
We do complete water changes between once a week to week and a half. There is just about 1 1/2 gallons in the tank.


The moss has been removed, replaced with coco fiber. I asked at the zoo, and they have soil with moss living in it. Which may be another option.
Thanks for your help!

[FishChum]

Everyone on these forums like's to fly off the handle about stuff, don't worry about it. Ive had some strange things together in the past too. If you do it right it can work. Live moss looks great if you can get it growing, mostly just the tropical stuff grows well in vivariums. Pothos is an easy to grow and get vine that does amazingly well in a vivarium. I say if they don't ask don't tell, people that come here do there research or they wouldn't be here, so they obviously care about there pets.
P.S. watch out for things attempting to eat other things, its crazy what some critters think they can swallow! lol

[GRKIDDO]

Thank you FishChum! I did go out and get some pothos the other day and that's in there now. Still looking for some moss! We are going to a Reptile Expo in April (never been to one) so I am curious as to what they will have there. We dont have any specialty pet stores here, just the big box pet stores. So finding items is a bit of a challenge.

[FishChum]

Online shopping works wonder's, just get a prepaid credit card.

[GRKIDDO]

I have PayPal also so I will have to see what I can find. I am not really "up on" all of the varieties of moss so I will have to do some more research on that. Thanks again!