Is Sphagnum Safe for Grays?

[Lynx]

This is the first of probably many questions. I currently have 4 gray tree froglets, about a week old, in what was to be temporary housing until I could set up sweeter digs for them. Currently they reside in a 20 gal High with topsoil (I spaced out in my rush and didn't put clay or gravel down first) Fluker's "all natural" moss on top of that, a potted pothos, a planted pothos, water dish, bamboo tube, a couple rocks and plenty of branches.

I'm aware that these guys have a tendency to swallow more than bugs in their zeal, and want to make their home as safe as possible. Originally I was going to attempt a vertical with my rats' old 29 gal, but I noticed that for some reason they made the rim so that the lip doesn't go all the way around. I'll need to replace that first. After some looking around I found a Zoo Med 18x18x24 terrarium on sale and was going to pick that up tonight. Which reminds me, is that worth the $80 bucks? Anyone have or used this particular one?

Also, is it important to have some kind of water feature? I hadn't really planned on it until I was ready to convert that tank. For this one, I just planned on the clay balls, some kind of screen, top soil, then maybe some live moss and a bit of peat moss. At the moment I'm very overwhelmed and intimidated by setting up anything very permanent as far as background and water on a new buy.

Suggestions, ideas, advice openly welcome.

[Lynx]

I realize now that this probably would have been more appropriate in the vivarium section

[LilyPad]

I wouldn't recommend sphagnum moss for grays as they can be quite aggressive eaters. That being said, I did put some in the background of my new vivarium, but it's not part of the substrate where they dive to eat. When I first set up my viv, I had it as a layer above the ecoearth. When I first got my frog, I did find her struggling a giant string of sphagnum hanging out of her mouth and when I pulled it out, there was a lot more that she had already swallowed. I removed it after that.

[Lynx]

Thank you much for the warning! That's what I was worried about. I was lucky enough to catch them hunting last night and saw one come up with a mouthful of dirt along with his prize, though he did remove the dirt clod. It seems they don't like to get really active until 2 or 3 in the morning, so I've had great difficulty trying to watch and make sure they're getting enough to eat. There is, however, plenty of poop to be found.

Would you have any recommendations as to something I could put on top the the soil substrate, or is it fine to leave it as is? Now that I think about it, what about live frog moss? I had planned to put some of that in as well, now I'm a bit nervous

[John]

You can leave it uncovered if you like. I don't like sphagnum for frogs that might ingest it like Grays. By the way, that price on the tank is a good deal. I prefer the Zoo Med version though because the Exo terra has a split down the front, whereas Zoo Med is a one piece solid piece of glass.

[UncleChester]

You can put leaf litter on top of the substrate if you like, no danger of being ingested and it helps keep soil and junk off the frogs.

For your new tank, a water feature they can sit in is a good idea. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate just a water dish like you have now will work fine. Just make sure to change the water before it gets gunky and that it will be large enough for all your frogs at once. A simple version that holds a fair amount of water is to give them access to your drainage layer, like here. It also gives an easy access to siphon water out of the drainage layer when needed. It's also cheap and easily removable if you decide to remodel.

You don't absolutely need a background, it will make it prettier, and give an easy way to get plants and perches up high. You do have lots of time to research the different ways on how to make one for your new tank before you'll have to move your frogs though, their current home sounds quite nice!