Probably redundant substrate questions.

[teslas intern]

So I'm sure these have all been asked before, and if so, I'm sure someone will helpfully redirect me? At any rate I have some questions regarding substrate.

1. Are paper towels the only safe option for a quarantine tank? I ask because I've caught my whites tree frogs accidentally trying to eat them when they are fed. They pretty much act like it is their last meal, and don't care if they get some bleached cellulose in there as well.

2. Will my frogs get impacted and die if they eat paper towels?

3. Is a substrate necessary for a quarantine setup? The paper towels don't actually provide much cushion when the green wonders leap down upon unsuspecting roaches... Can I just use an eighth inch of water for humidity?

4. Let's say hypothetically, I have access to a lot of native leaf litter (maple or oak, just for the sake of argument). If I sterilize them, would they make a suitable substrate (for quarantine)? They could be changed frequently... Also is there a procedure for sterilizing leaf litter?

5. Changing direction some, just how dangerous is swallowing various types of bad stuff. Eg. Gravel (seems awful bad) sand (is tiny so not as bad?) clay particulate (is really really tiny, how could it hurt?) long strand moss (as long as it is still growing, methinks it would be difficult to accidentally swallow, and it is organic, so it should be mildly digestible?) peat moss/coco husk (is small, and organic...) chunks of ground leaf litter (it would seem uncomfortable, but they eat cricket chitin, and like it...) and finally paper towel. I don't think though could swallow a whole dead leaf.

6. Here is a more radical question, substances like iron oxide (red and or black) should have some mild antibacterial and anti fungal properties, but don't seem terribly toxic, could they be used as a soil additive to improve sterilization?

7. Uh, I guess that is it for now...

[elly]

I can only answer #3, but I think paper towels are more for ease of cleanup than cushioning.

[teslas intern]

That makes sense... But by that logic, if one has access to lots of say, tree bark, and has good water, and an oven for sterilization... Could one just use large flat pieces of bark, and remove them, poop and all, and clean them up and replace them. Might be more trouble than it is worth, but it would at least look nice...

[elly]

I suppose, though you'd have to make sure it was well sterilized.

[teslas intern]

We have the oven for that, though I suppose that would kill a lot of propane... Also, was that last your 300th post? is that worthy of congratulations on here?

[elly]

Yes it is, and no idea, but thanks. Oh, I just realized I can probably answer #4: Maple and oak would rot fairly quickly, don't know if that would be okay. I use live oak and magnolia myself, those are slow-rotting and durable. Here's a thread on the subject: http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...af-litter.html

[teslas intern]

That is super helpful actually... Thanks!

[teslas intern]

I'm bumping this, since I never got answers for my remaining questions (like is clay bad). Normal soil is like 90% inorganic solids (clay, silt and sand) and if it is pack-able, I have a hard time seeing someone eating it and getting compacted (so long as it is patted down).

[deranged chipmunk]

So I'm sure these have all been asked before, and if so, I'm sure someone will helpfully redirect me? At any rate I have some questions regarding substrate.

1. Are paper towels the only safe option for a quarantine tank? I ask because I've caught my whites tree frogs accidentally trying to eat them when they are fed. They pretty much act like it is their last meal, and don't care if they get some bleached cellulose in there as well.

2. Will my frogs get impacted and die if they eat paper towels?

3. Is a substrate necessary for a quarantine setup? The paper towels don't actually provide much cushion when the green wonders leap down upon unsuspecting roaches... Can I just use an eighth inch of water for humidity?

4. Let's say hypothetically, I have access to a lot of native leaf litter (maple or oak, just for the sake of argument). If I sterilize them, would they make a suitable substrate (for quarantine)? They could be changed frequently... Also is there a procedure for sterilizing leaf litter?

5. Changing direction some, just how dangerous is swallowing various types of bad stuff. Eg. Gravel (seems awful bad) sand (is tiny so not as bad?) clay particulate (is really really tiny, how could it hurt?) long strand moss (as long as it is still growing, methinks it would be difficult to accidentally swallow, and it is organic, so it should be mildly digestible?) peat moss/coco husk (is small, and organic...) chunks of ground leaf litter (it would seem uncomfortable, but they eat cricket chitin, and like it...) and finally paper towel. I don't think though could swallow a whole dead leaf.

6. Here is a more radical question, substances like iron oxide (red and or black) should have some mild antibacterial and anti fungal properties, but don't seem terribly toxic, could they be used as a soil additive to improve sterilization?

7. Uh, I guess that is it for now...

1. paper towels are used because they are easy to clean up. they also make waste products more visible, so finding poo is not so much of a challenge. it also shows runny poo, which would drain into any other substrate and go unnoticed.

2. yes, if they ingest enough.

3. see #1

4. see #1

5. anything ingested could potentially be dangerous, depending on the quantities ingested