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Peat vs. Sphagnum:
Sphagnum is a variety of mosses that grows in bogs. They are sometimes referred to as "sphagnum peat bogs." Milled sphagnum is just that, finely chopped sphagnum (it’s in original state; it is called long fiber sphagnum). Peat moss is what happens to sphagnum after it dies and breaks down and crumples up. It holds water, is slightly acidic, but does not drain well enough on its own, for our purposes – Dart Frog Hobby.
In the old days; people used potting soil in all their terraria.
Potting Soil = Peat based substance.
It would work for a while, but for enclosures that do not have drainage holes, it would eventually deteriorate after being in contact with water for so long.
Fir bark = orchid bark. Lasts longer than peat, and coir lasts longer than both potting soil and fir bark.
However, coir is fairly inert; it does not have much nutritional value. As such, it needs to be "amended" to make it more useful to plant material. Amendments can include: fir bark, tree fern, long fiber sphagnum moss, crushed leaves;
over the long term, coir-based substrate will last longer than even the ABG mix. The ABG mix is a good, nutritious plant friendly mix though, and will work well in baskets - keep it bulky and airy, not too densely packed.
Coir based - lasts the longest.
ABG (Atlanta Botanical Gardens) – Is the most balanced and nutritious (for plants).
You can use a Coir-based mix (with some fir bark and chopped up oak leaves) as the bulk of your substrate, and then put ABG mix only around the individual plants.
Coir-based mix:
30% peat moss
30% coco-fiber-fir
20% fir bark
10% ground up long stemmed sphagnum
10% crushed pin oak leaves
This is a rough guess as I just go by look and consistency and I don’t ever worry about exact measurements.
The pin oak smells great, and gives springtails more organic matter for food.
One highly recommended mix is the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) recipe from Ron Gagliardo:
ABG Mix:
Recipe #1:
2 parts fine fir bark
2 parts fine tree fern fiber
2 parts milled sphagnum moss
1 part fine charcoal
1 part peat moss
Recipe#2:
2 parts Ground Tree Fern Root
2 parts milled Sphagnum Moss
2 part fine orchid bark
(i cannot emphasize *fine* enough here, it's hard to find)
1 part sphagnum peat moss
1 part charcoal
Recipe#3
1 part milled peat (sometimes more)
1 part milled sphagnum moss
1 part fine charcoal (sometimes more)
2 parts fine tree fern fiber
2 parts fine orchid bark
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Everyday I meet someone I dislike, are you today's pick? If you dislike me it's because somethings wrong with you!
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Everyday I meet someone I dislike, are you today's pick? If you dislike me it's because somethings wrong with you!
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Lisa
In central NY
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' 2.3.0
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' Froglets 8 and counting.
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Yes, I meant Background. What I wrote wasn't clear what I mean either. I have set up my viv, so am familiar with the ABG. I am wondering if "mix" would mean areas of floor made of clay and other areas of ABG? Which I think you basically answered with Quote:You can have "pockets" of different substrates - little areas of ABG surrounded by coir or virtually anything else.
Or if the "mix" was the entire viv, ie background of clay, ABG floor. Is that more clear?
THANK YOU for the remainder of this post!! Quote:Two considerations when designing a Vivarium:
1. Do you need to allow for maximum microfauna (little bugs) - as in an obligate eggfeeder vivarium where the froglets need to forage and consume large amounts of microfauna ? If so, you need a light, aerobic substrate that will never compact and multiple layers of leaf litter.
2. Are you planning for larger non obligates link Tincs, auratus, leucomelas ect, where nothing will be raised in the viv or perhaps no breeding at all ? Then substrate becomes more important for plants and much less emphasis on microfauna environment.
All this time reading and seeing "set the viv up for the type of frog you are getting" and THAT part of it never clicked with me. I considered floor space, climbing or not, planting, hides, substrate, even the microfauna to put in, but not this facet of the microfauna. But this is a gem for a newbie like me. I think it should be in a sticky for viv set up somewhere...
Lisa
In central NY
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