WTF substrate help!

[Frogger00]

Um, Frogger00... Ixnay on the rguingaye. If you don't know Pig Latin I'd be happy to explain in a PM...

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[Crispy42]

I too would be very hesitant about the cypress mulch. It may feel soft to us but frogs are much more sensitive than we are (or snakes are). If you're looking for a low maintenance setup have you considered a planted viv with a drainage layer or false bottom? Also, Josh's Frogs sells leaf litter fairly cheaply and it's a very generous portion - they pack that gallon bag as full as it can get!

[elly]

In the vivariums section there's a post on wood in frog tanks. I've found articles that say hardwoods are fine, like Bald Cypress and oak, but cedar has too many oils and it might be harmful over a long period.

Sadly there are cons to every type of substrate. If you do a planted tank it will be more expensive (but require far, far less cleaning). A paper towel or reptile carpet will need frequent cleaning.

If you do end up using cypress chips which I don't suggest, then if at all possible I suggest getting some leaf litter to put on top of the chips (magnolia, live oak) and boiling it and drying it out to kill bugs. If you absolutely can't find it anywhere else I might be willing to mail a bag of magnolia and live oak.

[Crispy42]

In the vivariums section there's a post on wood in frog tanks. I've found articles that say hardwoods are fine, like Bald Cypress and oak, but cedar has too many oils and it might be harmful over a long period.

Sadly there are cons to every type of substrate. If you do a planted tank it will be more expensive (but require far, far less cleaning). A paper towel or reptile carpet will need frequent cleaning.

If you do end up using cypress chips which I don't suggest, then if at all possible I suggest getting some leaf litter to put on top of the chips (magnolia, live oak) and boiling it and drying it out to kill bugs. If you absolutely can't find it anywhere else I might be willing to mail a bag of magnolia and live oak.

Very good points, although I'm not sure that a planted tank is actually more expensive if you look at long term costs. Is it more expensive to set up? Sure. But once you have it set up there is very minimal cost to maintaining it. With tanks where you're changing substrate with each cleaning, you have to pay for new substrate for the rest of your frog's life. Meanwhile, a planted tank can go for years without needing more money invested (unless you have a brown thumb and need to replace plants). So I definitely agree that if someone needs a low-cost initial expense then a planted viv would be more expensive, but if you can afford the initial investment you can actually save money over the long term.