Gravel? Do I need to buy aquarium gravel?

[Ribbet]

Hello, I'm new to keeping frogs and new here. I'm getting a 45 gallon tank ready for frogs and was wondering if I have to buy the expensive gravel or if I can just go out and get some yard gravel, boil it and use that?
Thanks

[Kurt]

Don't use gravel at all! It can lead to gastrointestinal impaction and death. The better substrate would be either sphagnum moss or ground coconut shell. Both are fairly inexpensive. The coconut shell comes in "bricks" and expands when exposed to water. It sells for about $5 a brick. One brick should be enough to cover your tank.

[Ribbet]

I have some "reptile bark" someone got me as a birthday present. I want to have shallow water and some land, will the coconut work for that? Will it foul the water or clog the pump?

[Ribbet]

I just looked and the "Reptile bark" says it is made from the bark of fir trees.

[Kurt]

I think reptile bark may be ok, but I have never used it. I am sure someone else will sound off on it. The frogs will track the coconut shell into the water, that is for certain, I am not sure if it will clog the filter though.
Live moss may be the best substrate for a semi-aquatic set-up.

[into]

The frogs will track the coconut shell into the water, that is for certain, I am not sure if it will clog the filter though.
Live moss may be the best substrate for a semi-aquatic set-up.

I used coconut fiber for a couple weeks and it turned the water yellow and eventually clogged my water pumps. I went back to using rounded stones.

[kmhort]

What about aquatic frogs? Is it okay to have gravel ?

[Kurt]

With aquatic frogs like African clawed frogs, dwarf clawed frogs, and Suriname toads gravel is fine. These are the only frogs one can keep with gravel as a substrate. Anything that is terreatrial, arboreal or semi-aquatic and eats live prey such as insects should never have gravel as a substrate. The risk of impaction is just to great, but in the aquatic enviroment gravel will not stick to food and thus will not be swallowed accidently.

[Jace]

With aquatic frogs like African clawed frogs, dwarf clawed frogs, and Suriname toads gravel is fine. These are the only frogs one can keep with gravel as a substrate. Anything that is terreatrial, arboreal or semi-aquatic and eats live prey such as insects should never have gravel as a substrate. The risk of impaction is just to great, but in the aquatic enviroment gravel will not stick to food and thus will not be swallowed accidently.

Sorry, Kurt, but I have to disagree on this, speaking from personal experience. My female African clawed frog did choke on aquarium gravel during feeding. She was so excited and just started shoveling it in with her front legs. I had to fish her out and remove the gravel from her throat with blunted tweezers. She survived, but the gravel was tossed. I would be very leery of using such gravel with these guys, but I have had no problems with it and Dwarf frogs.

[Kurt]

I just have never seen any Pipid frog swallow gravel or even come close to swallowing it.

[Jace]

My other two never had a problem with it. Maybe it was a female thing???