[Pumilo]

The pieces are larger than they would be if you had pushed them through a screen (that method was given to us by Ed). That will mean less surface area. That may cut down some on the number of springtails and isopods that it can support. It should still work wonderfully for you. Nice job!
Some extra depth would make up for the lessened surface area. So would making sure that you have a nice deep bed of leaf litter over most of it.
You remembered the calcium, right?

 

[Pumilo]

How much of depth do you think I would need. Btw this was a small batch to test out the process. I will definately be using a lot of leaf litter. Yes I remembered the calcium. Those white specs might actually be blotches of calcium carbonate.

Keep in mind I'm not saying it's absolutely necessary to go deeper. It will still support a very good population. I usually put about 1 inch of Turface, followed by about 1 inch of clay substrate. Doubling that to a two inch depth of clay substrate would go a long way towards making up for less surface area. From you ruler, it looks like your pieces are about 1/2"?

 

[Pumilo]

I have been very pleased with my 1/4" x 1/4" pieces. I break them up into pieces 1/4" to 1/2" long, aiming at mostly 1/4" pieces. Gives me a good excuse to sit down and watch tv for a while.
These 1/4" cubes are a nice size to allow the bugs to crawl around through the substrate. Too much smaller and that may be impeded. Much bigger and I lose surface area.
So I guess whichever one is closest to 1/4" x 1/4".

 

[Pumilo]

Any time...

 

[Pumilo]

Yes, that looks much closer to the size I like. Don't throw your other stuff out, just mix it in.

 

[Pumilo]

That was the plan _)


This way is actually more work and more time consuming. I like the shapes and have nothing to do so I don't mind. It was $13 at a local art store. If u can't find it let me know I can get you one and ship it out.

Pumilo, now that I have the size down. How long do you think I should bake the clay for? Keep in mind my oven only reaches 500.

You are not trying to fire the clay. You only want to dry it. If you fire the clay, it won't break down extremely gradually the way we want it to. The whole goal here is that frogs can absorb calcium through their skin and that tiny bits stick to the bugs and get ingested by the bugs who in turn get ingested by the frogs. If it is fired, even if any bits do get into the frogs, they won't be able to digest the bits.
You don't NEED to bake it at all. Scott, one of our mods, did a huge batch that he simply let dry out in the Arizona Sun. I have also done a batch that I spread out over a piece of cardboard to dry.
When I bake it, I go 250 to 300 just until it's dry.