Substrate problems

[Bethany84]

Hi everyone,

I have 4 Pacific Chorus Frog babies (few weeks old). When they first morphed I put them in a tank with aquarium gravel as the substrate. They didn't seem to mind this, but many of the teeny crickets I have been feeding them squeeze under the gravel and die there before the frogs can eat them. So today I changed out the tank and put in coconut fiber (reccommended by the lady at the pet store). It works great to keep the crickets from hiding, but the frogs seem to hate it! It gets stuck all over their skin and they just sit there, wiping it off. Also, it gets stuck on their toes and they have a harder time climbing on the glass (they just kept sliding down). I feel bad, but what else can I switch to? At the pet store I saw this stuff that is basically a piece of felt that can be cut to the size of the tank, and is washable. But the lady there told me that it is supposed to be for "desert" type creatures, and that it would not be a good choice for the frogs since it won't hold in moisture. If it could work, though, it would seem to be the perfect solution to both my problems. Any suggestions?

[DonLisk]

Hi Bethany, I use Zilla Jungle Mix but you did actually make a good choice in the coco fiber.
You could use Leaf Liter on top of the substrate which gives them a clean surface to walk on. It will give crickets places to hide but your frogs can hunt them under the leaf liter.

I do have to ask if you have enough branches and large leaved plants for them to keep up off the substrate since they are usually happier high up and perched above the ground level.

Describe your setup or add a pic and someone might have alternate ideas.

Don

[Jace]

I, too, am proudly owned by 6 Pacific Chorus frogs--and have my setup as follows: natural looking aquarium gravel as a drainage layer, topped with fine mesh (cut to fit) and then layered with soil and moss. I have a variety of branches, driftwood and a large glass bowl for water (with branches and leaves in it for them to sit on). Some crickets will hide and die regardless of substrate choice, but I have had great success with this setup. My frogs are seldom on the ground, even when hunting their food, and they are fat and happy. Out of the six, I have five males, and after a good feeding, all the males sit on the edge of their pond and their calls can be heard through-out my whole house. Good luck!

[Bethany84]

Thanks Don and Jace! Don, I have some big leaves from a rubber tree, a shallow water dish, and a small branch in there that goes from the bottom of one corner to almost the top of the opposite corner. I will try to post a pic as soon as I can... right now my kids are asleep in the room with them, though. And about the leaf litter... could it be any type of leaf? Could I chop up some rubber tree leaves?

Jace, how deep is your water bowl? Right now, mine is shallow enough that when they sit in it, their head is sticking out. Should it be deep enough to swim? I like the idea of putting things in the bowl for them to sit on.

Before today, the frogs wandered all over the tank. But since I changed the tank today, they just want to sit at the top of the tank in the corner, holding on to the glass. My other worry is that I just put in some flightless fruit flies and a few tiny crickets, and the frogs don't seem to want to come down and get them. Usually as soon as I put food in there, they gobble it up right away. So I don't know if they are hesitant because of the coconut fiber (as they spent quite awhile brushing it off of themselves) or maybe they are just getting used to the new tank setup (along with changing the substrate, I changed out the old branch for a taller one, and added more leaves) before they think about eating. When some flies climbed up the glass near them, they didn't try to eat them either.

Anyway thanks again!

[Jace]

The water dish I use is approximately 4-5" deep, and about 6" across. They love sitting on the "log" (a spare chunk of stick I threw in there just because) and the leaves of a silk plant I had. My biggest male, Yoki, floats in the water, with his throat sack extended out like a wrinkly life preserver!! He usually hogs the water dish, but being the oldest and biggest, he has the right!! I know when I change around their setting, it takes them a night to settle in. Younger frogs might take a bit longer, so don't worry. One thing PCFs like more than anything is food...they'll eat real soon.

[LilyPad]

My frogs also hate the substrate so now it is covered with plants, live moss, and large flat river rocks. The only time they even jump to the ground though is when they are hunting.

[DonLisk]

I would ID that plant since some are poison to your frogs. I wouldn't use the rubber tree but someone else might have more info on this topic.

Leaf Liter is usually live oak, Magnolia, or Seagrape leafs and come dried out.
As stated above, your frogs really won't spend much time on the substrate if you have enough plants and branches. See some of the members photo albums for ideas.

[Bethany84]

Thanks guys, I feel much better

[Bethany84]

Oh, and thanks Don, I just saw your comment about the rubber tree leaves. Good to know!