Bottom-of-the-world Blues (or: bad availability, worse prices)

[EmJay]

AARRGHH! *ahem* Now that that's out of the way, a short rant and then some requests for advice...


I can not believe how (comparitively) hard it is to do a vivarium in this country! Everything costs more, lots of recommended products aren't available, and shipping from overseas is impractical and expensive. Examples:

- Hydroballs, for drainage. NE Herp's price? US$5.50. The ONLY price I could find locally? NZ$32.50 + shipping. With a two-week delivery time. Couldn't find Biodrain at all.

- Eggcrate. Can't find it for love nor money online, with only one lead on an aquarium shop that *may* have some. (According to the national aquarist club forum, this is an ongoing problem.)

- Microfauna. I keep reading recommendations to buy cultured isopods, springtails, etc. because wild ones can introduce pathogens. But I can't find anyone who cultures springtails here, and the one person I can find who supplies breeding woodlice is charging $45 for 250. Forty-five dollars for critters that are congregating on my back porch at night time in their hundreds, devouring my railings!

So, my questions:

1) Is there anything else that's good to use for a drainage layer in a temperate paludarium-type viv that's 2/3 land, 1/3 water on a 12 x 12 footprint? (L. aurea) I'd rather not resort to large aquarium gravel...

2) I plan on a raised dry-land layer (or two stepped layers if possible). If I can't get egg crate, can anyone suggest an alternative?

3) Is there a safe(r) way to culture slaters/isopods from wild-caught? I have no idea how to go about even trying to get springtails (wanted more for bio-system/clean-up than froggy feed source).


I'd like to get on to this ASAP, so the viv can get cycling and I can put poor Froggley out of her plastic tank and into a decent habitat. Thank you very much in advance!

[Mentat]

...1) Is there anything else that's good to use for a drainage layer in a temperate paludarium-type viv that's 2/3 land, 1/3 water on a 12 x 12 footprint? (L. aurea) I'd rather not resort to large aquarium gravel...

Aquarium sintered glass bio-filter media (i.e. Seachem's Matrix, Ceramic Rings), or similar porous pebbles.

2) I plan on a raised dry-land layer (or two stepped layers if possible). If I can't get egg crate, can anyone suggest an alternative?

Check hardware stores, electrical and lighting supply places for eggcrate (originally it's a light diffuser on 2x4 ft. fluorescent ceiling fixture). Alternates are under gravel aquarium filter plates or could get a polycarbonate clear sheet and drill drainage holes to it.

3) Is there a safe(r) way to culture slaters/isopods from wild-caught? I have no idea how to go about even trying to get springtails (wanted more for bio-system/clean-up than froggy feed source).

Try and find another vivarium owner that could give you some from a healthy tank. If none and you can collect your own in a pesticide free area do so. Let tank settle and cycle for at least 30 days without frogs and you should be ready to go.

Hope this helps, good luck !