atlfrog

I was wondering what people are using as organic Fertilizers that do not consist of frog droppings. I saw this product in Lowe's and bought it for my terrariums that is all natural an organic to use on your plants. The packaging was a recycled sprite spray bottle with new a label on it. All it is is recycled worms and worm waste etc. I called the company and they said it was safe for animals, but they weren't sure on frogs. I did try it out on the plants works well, just not the frogs. The company said that it probably wouldn't hurt the frogs but they didn't want to give me a for sure answer due to liability. After a many emails between the creators and myself, the answer is inconclusive. So I am wondering what you guys are doing for yourself if anything? PS: I left out the name of the product purposely, but I do know that they have it now.

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Merek Matthew Cardew :: ATLFROG.com
HTTP://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptilian-fish

Socalsam

I myself never use any kind of fertilizers. The fertilizer i get is from any bugs that die, Nematodes, Frog droppings and dead plant matter. Basically your tank is its own ecosystem. Springtails can be added to the tank and would break down any decaying or rotting plant matter.Plus depending on what kind of drainage you use, hydroton and leca(don't know if i spelled right) is good to use in a sense it holds moisture from the water it is in contact with.So when your frogs and all that other stuff starts doing their thing, the nutrients will leach down into the drainage area and with hydroton and leca it will absorb that and basically release it when you would do a water change. Plants roots will grow in the drainage layer so it is a good thing. It is similar to a hydroponic system. Just think of it this way, your walking in the Amazon Rain forest and you see an area thats so beautiful you scoop it up and put it in a tank. The Amazon doesn't use fertilizers and its thriving with plant growth so why mess with a good thing. Hope this helps

Sam

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A few frogs.

Knoxter

I usually let nature take its course and allow the frog waste to be the fertilizer. Here are a few I always see offered for sale at Black Jungle. I haven't tried them, but I have been told they work well.

Dyna-Gro Fertilizer - Liquid Grow 8 oz.: Black Jungle Terrarium Supply
Nepenthes Fertilizer - Osmocote Exact (tm) 8 oz. Bag: Black Jungle Terrarium Supply

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Marc

My frogs- Vanzolini, El Dorado (ong&gold), Cayo de Agua, Almerante, Gold Dust, Yuris, Imis, Inters, Taras, O Lamasi, Iquitos Vents, Varis, SI.


I appreciate everyone here. Without you, there would be no DFF. Thank you for your support.

socaled

I would have to say that using any fertilizer from any store for terrariums is not a good thing even if it say organic.... You can actually make your own organic fertilizer and it's the dead leaves that fall of the plants and also the dropping of the frogs. That should suffice the need of plants in a vivarium. Also to add when my aunt fertilizes her orchids she does this to increase the growth and flowering. Hope this helps

-Angeles

atlfrog

First I do not use any fertilizers in my tanks, chemical or organic, it was a question based on curiosity and not a lack of experience or knowledge in maintaining or understanding the replication of the dart frog environment nor the care of amphibians.

Sam, Listen, I appreciate the post and the info, but the question was Organic Fertilizers. Organic fertilizers do not use any chemicals what so ever. I use Organic soil in almost all my tanks with my plants and it does not hurt the tank what-so-ever or any of my frogs. You imply that I am using chemical fertilizers or asking about them, which the product I was mentioning has NO fertilizers in it what so ever. All it is is processed earth worms, dirt, and plants waste. I have seen the studies and emailed back and forth on this product. The specialists I did talk to said it would be safe to use in the tank with the frogs but they said that they did not want to say yes because they did not test this product with amphibians (No they do not use this product to test on animals. The studies prove that there is nothing in the product to hurt these animals, unless they are allergic to Earthworms, plant waste, etc. They do not want to be liable.) As I said no chemicals were used, as it is an Organic product, hence the meaning organic. yes I used the product on my own plants not in the terrarium and it worked well. Maybe I didn't explain that I did not eplain that in my last post and I apologize. Second I like to address the inaccurate information you have posted.

Snip- The Amazon doesn't use fertilizers and its thriving with plant growth so why mess with a good thing. -end snip

The rain forest uses fertilizers everyday. Anything dead or anything that can decay is an Organic Fertilizer, and even "chemical" reactions can occur naturally that is a natural fertilizer. A lot of chemical fertilizers have an equivalency to many natural plant fertilizers out there we use everyday. In turn the ecosystems that we provide as well as the Rainforest have their own natural breakdown cycles providing Organic and chemical fertilizers. With all do respect, I understand how the natural process of breaking down waste in the the terrarium as well as the process of the natural order of the tank. The question was if anyone uses any Organic fertilizers what are they using, if any and why? I do appreciate the explanation, but I have been doing this for over 20 years and the question was more directed to if anyone uses organic fertilizers. I am not trying to be an @ss but if you read my posts I am not nor near a beginner in the amphibian hobby, but keep posting and keep advising as someone else might learn something.

Socaled: Thanks for the post. This is more of what I was looking for. I have seen and heard a lot of things and my curiosity was peeked when it jogged my memory of the bottle I saw and bought at Lowe's a year ago.

Knoxter: Thanks for the post as well. The links were good. I was curious to see what was out there and if anyone uses these products. I don't but it's all good.

I thought that if I brought this up that it would be a good post for beginners in this area. I know it will come up eventually. LOL I just thought I give it a head start. Thanks everyone for posting and I do hope more do express their feelings and notions.

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Merek Matthew Cardew :: ATLFROG.com
HTTP://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptilian-fish

Knoxter

Your hunch of a beginner forum opening up soon is correct GA, and I will put this thread there when t does. As for chemical fertilizer, I would advise a new hobbyist against using any type of fertilizer. I would encourage them fto make their setups basic and learn as you go. See and learn how the plants react to the terrarium environment.
As a discussion for advanced viv keepers I think this is a well deserved discussion. When I initially got into the hobby almost 15 years ago, I thought it was all about the frogs. I soon recognized that the real pleasure came from making their homes. I have explored several type of chemical fertilizers, but never any organic types. I would be curious too Merek to see what type of results I would get from an organic fertilizer like the one you mentioned. If it had any noticeable difference in the plants overall growth and health.

Marc

I wonder how my wife would feel if I put a lump of earth worms in her food processor. LMAO

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Marc

My frogs- Vanzolini, El Dorado (ong&gold), Cayo de Agua, Almerante, Gold Dust, Yuris, Imis, Inters, Taras, O Lamasi, Iquitos Vents, Varis, SI.


I appreciate everyone here. Without you, there would be no DFF. Thank you for your support.

atlfrog

LOL That's funny. Now to the issue. I would have to concur as any organic fertilizers can be, "can be" is loosely, be a potential problem. Chemical fertilizers are dangerous. I would stay away from any fertilizers period if you are beginner, as before someone walks into the hobby they should already have the tools before getting into frogs or any other animal. If you don't know what your doing your wasting your time, energy, the health of the animal and the money. Organic fertilizers is the discussion not chemical ones. Learn the environment, the food sources and then the frogs. Cover all the areas before venturing into anything and you will see that your life as well as this hobby and others will be more pleasant and enjoying. I wouldn't buy a pure bred massive unless I knew more about it. I mean in that case those dogs can be 150+ lbs. In this case, frogs can be cheap, but looking at it as a whole they are expensive. That little fire belly toad you paid for $8, the setup, constant food, adds up.

Plants: Actually Marc I have. I bought lots of it, and I saw a dramatic difference between the two terrariums I tested it in. There were no frogs in these tanks. The control was water and the other was the particular product. There were massive differences between the too. Plants grew better and faster. Same temps and humidity as well. No differences but the misting of the what was in the container. BUT in regards to frogs I will not test this on animals or while animals are in the tank or will be. I want proof that it will not harm them rather than play Russian roulette. BUT I did have a friend who did use it in the tank and the frogs were fine. He used it for several months before I figured out what he was doing. I explained that I wasn't sure if the product would have any ill effects but I did tell him about what I learned from the company. I don't think he is using it anymore but I did tell him at least what I know. I still don't endorse this as I want more information before doing something like this.

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Merek Matthew Cardew :: ATLFROG.com
HTTP://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptilian-fish

Socalsam

GA frogs,

The rain forest does not use fertilizers(Man Made). Also I would not use anything that could be absorbed in to my frogs skin with what ever its in contact with regardless i if its Organic or not. I know allot about plants being I was in the agricultural department for 3 years and was a certified applicator for pesticides and fertilizers. These are my opinions and I wasn't trying to imply anything i was merely comparing the two
Sam

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A few frogs.

atlfrog

You obviously missed the point of the the post I did in regards to chemical fertilizers. I never said Man Made either, some chemical fertilizers found on the market are man made replicants to the some that are found in the wild. So are food products that we eat everyday. IE. Scientists have figured out that instead of using organic food products, they use their made made equivalents. IE. Cool Whip has antifreeze in it to keep it from freezing and it is also used as a food preservative. But the anti freeze is modified so that it does not hurt us when we eat it. There are also many other things in it to make it what it is. This is just to make it cheaper for us to buy. The consistencies in chemical fertilizers are changed to make them either stronger or less weak and put on the market to sell. Now I didn't say All chemical fertilizers. You are obviously upset, but you need to know that you must be clear as well as myself, as others who are new need to know the correct information.

For example: I hate to call you out but here,as well I have seen on Dartden.com are various links that you are a beginner in this field....Sorry Marc for the other forum posts but I do feel as this is needed....
Join Date: March 2009 New and Hooked! - Dendroboard
2) New to the hobby - Dendroboard

You are the same person on this forum as well as DartDen. Samsonfrogs@yahoo.com I am sorry it is very strange to post on one forum to say you are a beginner (How you are hooked and you are new to the hobby.) and then act like you have been doing this for 4 or more years. I also have a hard time believing what you have to offer, as you said on other forums as you were...

"Wow Thank you for welcoming me. Ok so i will go with the 30g and maybe get 2 20's just incase i decide to get anymore frogs. lol i prob will i swear these little guys are so fascinating and eye catching. Beautiful little creatures. Anyways Thanks again you all and ill kepp you posted on how the froggies are doing." The "Topic was New To the Hobby".

I am sorry but I have issues with people who misrepresent themselves. If you have good information then post it, but do not act like you have been in the hobby for as long as some of us. It is an insult to the owner of this site who is doing us a favor by providing a sound environment to others as well as the folks who have been in this for awhile. Sorry to be so undiplomatic but this irritates me and hurts us here as well as everywhere else. We are a small community among a lot of websites and it hurts me to think that this happens.

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Merek Matthew Cardew :: ATLFROG.com
HTTP://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptilian-fish

chue

Seems like the topic got off track!

I think that the organic fertilizer that you are talking about GA, is safe for plants that you might put into a viv, but I would not put the actual fertilizer into the viv considering that no one seems to know the impact on the frogs. I know exactly which fertilizer you are talking about...I use it on my organic herb garden!

As for new hobbyists.... I think that if they have some great topic or information to give to the hobby, by all means please share!!! However, claiming that you are experienced when you are not is not a very good way to get your foot on the ground. Especially if you are trying to start a business. I believe that trust and good business should compliment each other.


C