[A13]

I never put moss in my tanks, but they all end up with it eventually. I think the cork bark has dormant moss in it that will eventually grow if it is kept moist.

My first orchid was a Masdie and I nearly killed it thankfully Harspiel and others helped me save it. Then I recently nearly killed it again after moving it. My point is that they seem to be one of the more sensitive orchids. If you are new to growing orchids I might recommend something else, just a thought. I have since then received Epidendrum porpax, Pleurothallis alanii, and Bulbophylum pardalotum. They are very easy to get going and look awesome.

I am still new myself and shortly after I start a new vivarium I end up moving or pulling out plants that are struggling, and even adding new plants. It is a learning process, but you can always add more plants later so don't worry too much about that.

You said lemon button fern might be an issue. I can confirm if will eventually take over the enclosure by putting out runner plants. You can rip it out later but it might uproot nearby plants at that point.

I recommend looking into some of the small epiphytic ferns they are great for wet areas and my smaller frogs use them often. I also really appreciate how they look. A few off the top of my head include Microgramma, Pyrrosia, Lemmaphyllum.

Also check out the marketplace on here, I found some great deals on plants and supplies.

Ricky

Thank you so much for the suggestions. Yeah that fern is staying out I see the runners in the pot even and as I do understand it's a learning process and I'll be replacing/moving some plants I'd rather not stick a monster in there right away.
I have just received my first mini orchids and am in LOVE with the minis. Waiting on one more plant to arrive tomorrow and then all of them will be sterilized and placed in the vivarium. I will probably keep the orchids on their mounds initially to see how they grow and then move them to permanent locations.

 

[A13]

I highly recommend sanitizing orchids and mounts separately, then re-mounting the orchid and placing it, with the mount, where you want to grow it in your tank - this allows you to move it around in the tank until you find the ideal spot for it without disturbing its roots over and over.

Do you sterilize the mounts differently than the plants? Why separate them when sterilizing? Some of them are so tiny and intertwined it may be difficult to separate well.

 

[Harpspiel]

Do you sterilize the mounts differently than the plants? Why separate them when sterilizing? Some of them are so tiny and intertwined it may be difficult to separate well.

I'm not convinced that bleach would soak all the way into a mount to kill pests hidden in crevices, behind roots, etc. I also feel like once saturated, it might be hard to get the bleach out of the mount. But others may have had different experiences.

Personally, I bare-root all orchids going into my tanks (I have a single tank with scale that I can't eradicate, the cost of not doing this at first), and that includes removing orchids from mounts. Soaking them in distilled water for a while helps soften everything up before gently removing the roots. At that point, I bleach the orchids and bake the mount in the oven.

 

[A13]

I'm not convinced that bleach would soak all the way into a mount to kill pests hidden in crevices, behind roots, etc. I also feel like once saturated, it might be hard to get the bleach out of the mount. But others may have had different experiences.

Personally, I bare-root all orchids going into my tanks (I have a single tank with scale that I can't eradicate, the cost of not doing this at first), and that includes removing orchids from mounts. Soaking them in distilled water for a while helps soften everything up before gently removing the roots. At that point, I bleach the orchids and bake the mount in the oven.

Ok. I'll see what I can do to remove them. Out of the 5 I think 1 will be hard to remove but I'll try at least getting a part of it. It's more of a spreading miniature kind - barbosella dusenii.

 

[Harpspiel]

Ok. I'll see what I can do to remove them. Out of the 5 I think 1 will be hard to remove but I'll try at least getting a part of it. It's more of a spreading miniature kind - barbosella dusenii.

If you think you'll damage the orchid, you can try bleaching the whole thing, mount included. You'll need a stone to hold it down, and I would recommend aquarium dechlorinator in distilled water to soak it immediately after you remove it from the bleach.

 

[A13]

If you think you'll damage the orchid, you can try bleaching the whole thing, mount included. You'll need a stone to hold it down, and I would recommend aquarium dechlorinator in distilled water to soak it immediately after you remove it from the bleach.

I do have some Aqua Safe Plus so I can use that. I will try to remove a small piece of the orchid and start from there maybe.

 

[TrumantheOwl]

For the African Violet, they can be sensitive to new environments. I have success with a leaf cutting placed into the soil near the front vent so that water can dry off. Its now rooted, but i havent seen active growth yet. I also tried a 2” potted AF in the same position to adjust and its now happily planted in my gfs viv near the front vent.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IShouldGetSomeSleep]

If you think you'll damage the orchid, you can try bleaching the whole thing, mount included. You'll need a stone to hold it down, and I would recommend aquarium dechlorinator in distilled water to soak it immediately after you remove it from the bleach.

What does the dechlorinator do? Does it help remove the bleach?

 

[Harpspiel]

What does the dechlorinator do? Does it help remove the bleach?

Admittedly chemistry isn’t my area, but I would assume so, if you’re using chlorine-based bleach…

 

[A13]

For the African Violet, they can be sensitive to new environments. I have success with a leaf cutting placed into the soil near the front vent so that water can dry off. Its now rooted, but i havent seen active growth yet. I also tried a 2” potted AF in the same position to adjust and its now happily planted in my gfs viv near the front vent.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the tips. I am not dead set on using an Af. violet but I have some already, however they tend to look like fake flowers a lot which is not my thing, so unless I decide to buy a micro one I probably will not put one in.

 

[A13]

How large does Korean Rock Fern get in a vivarium for people? I saw somewhere about 12" but then other places 20". If that's the case I may have to not include that one (same as the Lemon Button Fern due to size and spreading).

 

[A13]

Hello Everyone,
Just a little update. I have planted all the new plants sans the ferns that I mentioned I will not put in and I forgot to plant my supposedly miniature Anthurium that I have as a house plant. Without it, it looks like it needs something with big leaves. I do plan on adding a few small ferns as well once I find the right kinds. It may need one more bromeliad, but I don't like even number and I think 3 may be a bit much.
I am experimenting with a couple seedlings that came with my orchids that look like miniature ferns and will see what they turn out to be. I also added a leaf with spores from a maidenhair fern I have as a house plant. Curious if it will sprout.
Everything was sterilized w 10% bleach solution and I was able to remove all orchids from the mounds, so should be all good. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I also added the dwarf isopods and springtails and oak leaf litter.
In a month I will attend the frog show in Oak Brook and see if I can find some cool mini ferns. Probably won't be ready for frogs yet but I'll get more info about them.
Thanks for everyone's help so far!

 

[A13]

Waah waah... my Vriesea racina started developing brown spots on the leaves and the bottom leaves seem to be rotting at the base so I just pulled it out. Probably the air circulation wasn't good and my humidity is 80+ so I'm getting some cheap fans from Amazon to make the air circulate better.

 

[A13]

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to show how things are progressing in the vivarium. Definitely getting greener all over. I haven't lost any plants yet 🤞 and even the Vriesea is still growing though not looking great. I had moved it and it started wilting so I put it back where it was. It's a bit yellowing but growing, including roots. I also have a new Sonerila behind the wood that barely has any leaves because it got shocked in the shipping process. Hoping it recovers as I find it really pretty. Still no frogs. Probably getting them around February-March.

 

[A13]

Hi All,
So I know this is a bit of a short notice but I was hoping for some advice. Tomorrow is the show in Tinley Park and I was hoping to take advantage of the variety to try and buy my frogs then. Here are the frogs I like but I know they have different needs so I have a couple questions.

R. imitator Intermedius
R. imitator Varadero
R. imitator Chazuta
R. variabilis Southern
R. variabilis Highland
O. pumilio Bastimentos

I want to get only 2 frogs but I realize chances are they won't be sexed.
1) Given that info and the fact that some frogs are more aggressive what would be my best choices?
2) If they end up being 2 same sex frogs will there be much aggression if there is no opposite sex present?
I am including the most current pic of the setup

Thanks!

 

[Socratic Monologue]

Tomorrow is the show in Tinley Park and I was hoping to take advantage of the variety to try and buy my frogs then.

PMed you advice.

Public advice: vet all sellers very carefully before purchasing at an expo. Especially with these larger shows, some vendors share tables and their names won't show up on the vendor list, so this can be hard to do. It is actually best to have been to a given expo a few times in the past so as to know what vendors will actually be there, and have time to consider them all carefully.

Buying from expos can be a gamble, and is easier to get burned than buying online and having animals shipped (which is inexpensive and safe).

 

[A13]

PMed you advice.

Public advice: vet all sellers very carefully before purchasing at an expo. Especially with these larger shows, some vendors share tables and their names won't show up on the vendor list, so this can be hard to do. It is actually best to have been to a given expo a few times in the past so as to know what vendors will actually be there, and have time to consider them all carefully.

Buying from expos can be a gamble, and is easier to get burned than buying online and having animals shipped (which is inexpensive and safe).

Thank you. Yes, I actually attended the show in Schaumburg last year and then went to American Frog Day. I have done some research into the vendors and know who I'm interested in.

 

[fishingguy12345]

Variabilis are supposed to be fine in groups. No reason to think that 2 of them won't get along well enough even if they are the same sex.

 

[A13]

The happy occupants are 2 R. imitator Varadero. I just heard one call so I know I got one male. Let's hope the other one is a female 🤞 . Very happy with my choice.
The Tinley show was so packed and crazy from the time they opened that I was getting fearful I won't make it in time for any frogs.

 

[A13]

Sorry if this has been covered but I couldn't find anything concrete. So I just got my 7 mo old Varaderos this past Sunday and have been trying to figure out if I have a pair or 2 males by observing them. I have not seen the calling male exhibit any aggressive behavior (no wrestling or physical contact that I know of) and the frogs are right by each other quite a bit of the time. Today I even saw them in the same leaf of the bromeliad. At first I was worried maybe the male is trying to passive aggressively suffocate the other one in the water, but after awhile the other one popped it's head out and they were side by side with the male calling occasionally. Does that sound like courtship or is he being aggressive? I am not seeing signs of the other one (unsexed one) trying to get away so I'm hoping it's courtship.