MicroFauna - How does it work in the Viv ?

[Cer]

Hi, after searching the Internet for a couple of hours I can't seem to find anything on the purpose of having microfauna in the vivarium. Do the frogs eat them ? One thing I did find though was that springtails and woodlice work well. Do I need to culture them and add them in every now and then or do I just throw them in and wait ? Also, would microfauna be necessary in a rubbermaid container with froglets ? Thank you very much.

[D3monic]

Microfauna serves multiple purposes. First of they are janitors consuming mold, fecal matter and ect. They are what MAKES the eco system virtually maintenance free. Springtails will eat the mold and decaying matter. They also serve as yummy snacks for frogs and are a must have for smaller froglets. Pretty much the same goes for Isopods.

[Cer]

Is there anywhere I can get them and do I need to regularly add them to the terrarium ?

[Philsuma]

Microfauna is not essential in a vivarium but it is pretty darn helpful. Very helpful.

Microfauna means = "Tiny bugs". Springtails and Isopods pretty much comprise the term "microfauna" in our hobby. There are several varieties of each and they are easy to culture.

They serve two very useful purposes:

1. Frogs and froglets eat them - they are nutritionally divergent from Fruit Flies and a great change for the frogs diet.
2. They thrive and reproduce in the Vivarium and take on "janitor" duties - eating decomposing plant material, wood, mold and frog poop.

You need to culture them and "seed" your vivariums with them prior to adding frogs as well as keep seeding every so often after frogs are added. It's always good to culture them in containers and then add portions to the vivariums every so often.

If you are keeping frogs in a temporary container or a quarantine container, then you do NOT need to seed or add microfauna in either of those cases.

[Philsuma]

Is there anywhere I can get them and do I need to regularly add them to the terrarium ?

I'll have several varieties for sale at the upcoming Hamburg PA Reptile show.

[Cer]

I'll be sure to buy some from you at the show. How long is every so often? Thanks for the help.

[Convertible]

Thanks for this topic, was something I wanted to ask, too!

Philsuma: if someone can't buy cultures, what would be the easiest way to get them? Where can i find them in nature? What place should I look at? And would it be safe to gather them and seed them in my tank?

[Michael Lawrence]

Microfauna are the cleaning crew but if your viv is stable and decently established it can support its self without the need for reseeding unless the frog population is over abundant. Normally if you have smaller froglets in the viv its still best to reseed on a schedule.

Covertible I'd be happy to donate you a few cultures to get going if you cover shipping. I will be home in a week. If you cant wait and wish to order somthing do it from Doug or ''Pumilio'' on DB, Hes done very well maintaining his collection of bugs.

Michael

[Michael Lawrence]

Never mind spoke before I saw your location. The best way to find a decent micro fauna source is under dead and decayed logs in the forest. There are usually multiple species from springs to isos and more. If in a clean area some people collect dead wood containing termites, springs, and more and place it inviv to see it.

Michael

[Convertible]

Yes, it's allways the location... I'm on the other end of the World.

Thanks for your reply Michael, I'll see what I can find, tho I hope I won't bring my tank down with some kind of infection...

[Stu&Shaz]

Yes, it's allways the location... I'm on the other end of the World.

Thanks for your reply Michael, I'll see what I can find, tho I hope I won't bring my tank down with some kind of infection...

You might be able to get cultures from other european countries shipped to you especially in the summer,try ENT germany, or dutch rana,also Sprinhalen.dk in denmark, maybe there are places here in England too. I haven't yet shipped across europe myself but a lot of other guys here get their cultures from abroard.
Stu

[Convertible]

Thanks Stu, can you provide a link for ENT, as if I look up I can only find Lord of the Rings stuff and such.

[Tony]

http://www.terrarientechnik.de/index.ph ... arien.html

[Convertible]

Thank you Tony, awesome stuff!

Going to order pea aphids, waxmots, drosophila (+breeding set) and springtails and a Lucky Reptile Mini Light Strip LED, too.

[Convertible]

Honestly, I feel like I'm living at the end of the World. By checking out I had to realise that they don't ship to Hungary...