Substrate for WTF and other concerns.

[lraulston]

My WTF gets mouthfulls of dirt all the time. No problem. It all comes out okay. He manages to wipe some of it out sometimes, and other times some goes down with the cricket.

[Endosymbiote]

Thanks, I will dust the crickets at least once per week.

[Ryan S]

What about sphagnum moss?

[Kurt]

Sphagnum moss works fine. I use it with a lot of my amphibians.

[lraulston]

I've heard it can cause impaction also

[John]

I've heard it can cause impaction also

I've heard that too, though I haven't seen it. I think it's more a problem in ground dwelling frogs. Treefrogs really shouldn't be eating much of their substrate if the vivarium is furnished properly.

[lraulston]

Yes, but white's don't care what is there when they go to eat. It all goes in the mouth, which is why I don't have it. But i know some people keep it no problem.

[Kurt]

I've heard that too, though I haven't seen it.

I have seen my blotched tiger salamander accidentally eat sphagnum and he/she his still alive.

(note to Laura; he is eating crickets not as enthusiastically as he used to. The vet diagnosed him/her with a respiratory infection and he/she is currently being treated for it.)

I have also seen my Colorado River toad scoop up shagnum whilst feeding. He usually manages to "spit" it out.