Carbonized cork has a lot of added chemicals and tannins. I'm not sure it should be used with animals. I would never encourage someone to use cork saturated with chemicals for frogs. Be careful about taking inspiration from youtubers. Their primary goal is to get subscribers, likes, and comments. Often, animal welfare takes a back seat to the business of running a channel.
Carbonized cork
Hi everyone!
1st post on the forum. I'm currently building out my vivarium. I have been researching for a few months now and have really found inspiration from a creator on YouTube. Biotope Gallery.
He lays out his hardscape and then fills in the gaps with Carbonized cork.
I really love the outcome to this method as opposed to Great stuff which I used in its place due to being unable to find a source for carbonized cork.
So my question is, any one have a source or know how to go about carbonized cork?
Thanks in advance
Here's the build currently.
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1st post on the forum. I'm currently building out my vivarium. I have been researching for a few months now and have really found inspiration from a creator on YouTube. Biotope Gallery.
He lays out his hardscape and then fills in the gaps with Carbonized cork.
I really love the outcome to this method as opposed to Great stuff which I used in its place due to being unable to find a source for carbonized cork.
So my question is, any one have a source or know how to go about carbonized cork?
Thanks in advance
Here's the build currently.
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
You can source carbonized cork panels from Grainger if you're in the USA.
Carbonized cork does have tannins as well as suberin and lignin. These are organic chemicals found in plants. They are also frequently found in other commonly used materials in vivarium building. Fine milled peat moss is high in lignin. Leaf litter has high levels of tannins.
Are the levels of these organic chemicals healthy for frogs? Probably not. Are they harmful? I'm not sure. You'll have to ask someone with more knowledge than me.
There is a study that suggested that percentage of lignin exposure to morphing tadpoles had little impact on their health
Some ingredients in Great Stuff spray: Polyurethane prepolymers, polymeric diisocyanate, isobutane, methyl ether, and propane.
Are these helpful to frogs? Probably not. Are they at harmful levels after the material sets up? I'm not sure. Again, you'll have to ask someone more knowledgeable.
There's pros and cons to most things. These are frogs in a glass box. Nothing is ideal here. Read up and do the best you can!
Cool looking tank!
Carbonized cork does have tannins as well as suberin and lignin. These are organic chemicals found in plants. They are also frequently found in other commonly used materials in vivarium building. Fine milled peat moss is high in lignin. Leaf litter has high levels of tannins.
Are the levels of these organic chemicals healthy for frogs? Probably not. Are they harmful? I'm not sure. You'll have to ask someone with more knowledge than me.
There is a study that suggested that percentage of lignin exposure to morphing tadpoles had little impact on their health
Some ingredients in Great Stuff spray: Polyurethane prepolymers, polymeric diisocyanate, isobutane, methyl ether, and propane.
Are these helpful to frogs? Probably not. Are they at harmful levels after the material sets up? I'm not sure. Again, you'll have to ask someone more knowledgeable.
There's pros and cons to most things. These are frogs in a glass box. Nothing is ideal here. Read up and do the best you can!
Cool looking tank!
Interesting. He seems to take good care of the animals. Would simply baking the coek at high Temps produce a similar result? Without the need for added chemicals?
Thanks for the reply
Thanks for the reply
Very helpful. Thank you! I'll look into them now!!You can source carbonized cork panels from Grainger if you're in the USA.
Carbonized cork does have tannins as well as suberin and lignin. These are organic chemicals found in plants. They are also frequently found in other commonly used materials in vivarium building. Fine milled peat moss is high in lignin. Leaf litter has high levels of tannins.
Are the levels of these organic chemicals healthy for frogs? Probably not. Are they harmful? I'm not sure. You'll have to ask someone with more knowledge than me.
There is a study that suggested that percentage of lignin exposure to morphing tadpoles had little impact on their health
Some ingredients in Great Stuff spray: Polyurethane prepolymers, polymeric diisocyanate, isobutane, methyl ether, and propane.
Are these helpful to frogs? Probably not. Are they at harmful levels after the material sets up? I'm not sure. Again, you'll have to ask someone more knowledgeable.
There's pros and cons to most things. These are frogs in a glass box. Nothing is ideal here. Read up and do the best you can!
Cool looking tank!
Great Stuff seems to be the standard for vivarium projects. But I got intoxicated with it (headache, nausea, malaise) after cutting up a cured piece. The gas escaping the pore spaces was enough to make me pretty sick. I don't use it anymore and I'm careful to use my 3M respirator for rare projects demanding Gorilla Glue, which I understand to be chemically similar. Yuck!You can source carbonized cork panels from Grainger if you're in the USA.
Carbonized cork does have tannins as well as suberin and lignin. These are organic chemicals found in plants. They are also frequently found in other commonly used materials in vivarium building. Fine milled peat moss is high in lignin. Leaf litter has high levels of tannins.
Are the levels of these organic chemicals healthy for frogs? Probably not. Are they harmful? I'm not sure. You'll have to ask someone with more knowledge than me.
There is a study that suggested that percentage of lignin exposure to morphing tadpoles had little impact on their health
Some ingredients in Great Stuff spray: Polyurethane prepolymers, polymeric diisocyanate, isobutane, methyl ether, and propane.
Are these helpful to frogs? Probably not. Are they at harmful levels after the material sets up? I'm not sure. Again, you'll have to ask someone more knowledgeable.
There's pros and cons to most things. These are frogs in a glass box. Nothing is ideal here. Read up and do the best you can!
Cool looking tank!
Just wanted to share updated pics on the build. Just need plants now... and the frogs of course.
Any feedback?
Any feedback?
What are the intended animal inhabitants?Just wanted to share updated pics on the build. Just need plants now... and the frogs of course.
Any feedback?
What size is the tank?
And is that a water feature at the front?
A pair of Ranitomeya Varaderos.
18 cube
Yes, maybe an inch deep and inch wide if that. with no overhangs and plenty of ramps/rocks/sticks to get out.
Substrate lifted about 1.5 to 2 inches above it to avoid over saturation. Work from home so will be able to observe closely.
Couldn't find a 18x18x24
18 cube
Yes, maybe an inch deep and inch wide if that. with no overhangs and plenty of ramps/rocks/sticks to get out.
Substrate lifted about 1.5 to 2 inches above it to avoid over saturation. Work from home so will be able to observe closely.
Couldn't find a 18x18x24
My feedback is to get rid of the water feature.
The frogs will deposit tadpoles into that water. The tadpoles can then find their way into whatever you're using to lift the substrate up and get stuck and die.
See here for an example:
My sirensis vivarium, but mostly the one it replaced
Additional feedback:
The frogs will deposit tadpoles into that water. The tadpoles can then find their way into whatever you're using to lift the substrate up and get stuck and die.
See here for an example:
My sirensis vivarium, but mostly the one it replaced
Additional feedback:
- More plant cover
I thought of that and blocked it all off with filter foam and mesh
I appreciate the feedback! Nothing permanently fixed/siliconed etc so I can always adjust
I really do appreciate the feedback. I spent a lot of time reading through this forum and more
I appreciate the feedback! Nothing permanently fixed/siliconed etc so I can always adjust
I really do appreciate the feedback. I spent a lot of time reading through this forum and more
I read through that post FishingGuy. Very unfortunate. I do fortunately have very easy access to the drainage layer if this was to happen to me. Where I wouldn't disturb the viv at all
And I don't have any frogs so beforehand i will be very thorough in mitigating any issues.
Thanks for the link!
And I don't have any frogs so beforehand i will be very thorough in mitigating any issues.
Thanks for the link!
Remove the water feature, and the rocks. Replace all that with substrate (ABG) that will support microfauna (for froglet food source) and copious amounts of leaf litter (for foraging/hiding/microfauna production).Just wanted to share updated pics on the build. Just need plants now... and the frogs of course.
Any feedback?
Beautiful viv build, sincerely, but it is apparent that it emphasizes appearance over functionality for the chosen species.
I appreciate it! I knew the small water feature would be a main point of contention & understand why. I will definitely consider removing it but it really is a tiny section of the environment. The rest of it is ABG with sprintails & Dwarf white and purple isopods and leaf litter which I can definitely add more of. It's my first build this "elaborate" but it's not the first reptile/ amphibian I keep.
I sincerely appreciate and understand the concerns and I will closely monitor when I do get the frogs and am always willing to adapt if needed. I do want to stress how small the water section is though. I want something I'm happy to look at as well as something that's tailored as much as possible to the intended inhabitants. For right now it's a small risk in willing to take.
Besides the water feature, everything else, I'd say is OK, no?
I sincerely appreciate and understand the concerns and I will closely monitor when I do get the frogs and am always willing to adapt if needed. I do want to stress how small the water section is though. I want something I'm happy to look at as well as something that's tailored as much as possible to the intended inhabitants. For right now it's a small risk in willing to take.
Besides the water feature, everything else, I'd say is OK, no?
I agree with @fishingguy12345 you need more plant cover. Add more leaf litter. Maybe some more climbing optionsI'd say is OK, no?
Yea I just ordered about 200$ worth in plants. I know I need more for sure. That was pretty much last on the list. I've since added more leaf litter.
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
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