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.

[Ribbet]

So what do I use for fire bellied toads? They need half water and half land.

[Kurt]

I keep mine in a Rubbermaid box with about an inch of water and a floating styroform tray. I keep it real simple.

[into]

I keep mine in a Rubbermaid box with about an inch of water and a floating styroform tray. I keep it real simple.

Geeze, I must be thinking over the top, because I was thinking about setting up a tank for the crickets to live in.

[Ribbet]

So what do I use? If not gravel or coconut how about dirt?

[SludgeMunkey]

Geeze, I must be thinking over the top, because I was thinking about setting up a tank for the crickets to live in.

Some day I will post a video of my critter room...believe me when I say, it shows how bad the obsession can get! Fancy custom vivaria, Sterilite boxes, ten gallon tanks....ziploc containers...etc...

But anyway, about gravel- No need really. In fact, it is much easier to keep the enclosure clean if you leave it out.

While I have not finished the part on terrestrial substrates yet, here is everything you did not want to know about aquatic substrates. While written for caudates (newts and salamanders) most of it is applicable to frogs and toads too! (Just insert "Anurans" in place of "caudates")

Aquatic Substrates

For terrestrial areas for frogs and toads, I am a big advocate of coir, the coconut stuff. Note I advocate the finely ground stuff that comes in compressed bricks, not the chunky mulch. For my semiaquatic ground dwelling species like Bombina orientalis, I skip the coir and use aquarium gravel bonded together with epoxy. Over this I have live moss growing. This works well to keep the terrestrial substrate from fouling up the water.

[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???

[into]

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

I'm not thinking in the right frame of mind

[Ribbet]

So what do I use as a substrate for fire bellied toads? I need something that works as dry land and wont ruin the water area at the "beach" meeting between the two.

[SludgeMunkey]

Hybridize. You will be hard pressed to find an all in one substrate that will meet your needs.

Since fire bellies only need around an inch or so of water, a standard terrestrial substrate with a large water dish will work fine. If you prefer a more involved set up, there is at least two threads on here involving firebelly enclosures with pictures and tons of information.

[Ribbet]

Yes I've seen those. One suggested gravel mixed with epoxy and covered in moss. How does that sound to you?