55g Himalayan Foothills Paludarium

[WhistlingBadger]

Ya know.. In nature these frogs (ya, they are actually frogs, not toads.) DO hibernate. I don't know if this is climate initialed or part of their cycle. Anyway, it is not impossible that they went into hibernation.

Oriental Fire-bellied Toad Care Sheet - Reptiles' Cove

Scientific Facts Common Name: Oriental fire-bellied toad Scientific Name: Bombina orientalis Life Span: Up to 20 years 9 (in captivity) Size: 1.5 to 2 inches Habitat: Streams, ponds, and forests Country of Origin: Northeastern China, Southern Japan, Korea, and Southern Russia Physical...

reptilescove.com

Yeah, I've wondered that too. I wonder what triggers hibernation in them. I don't think temps or the day length would be doing it here.

 

[Tacocat]

Yeah, I've wondered that too. I wonder what triggers hibernation in them. I don't think temps or the day length would be doing it here.

I was just reading someone say that some toads just go into hibernation and refuse eating automatically, and you sometimes just have to go along with it to prevent starvation by lowering the enclosure temp to lower metabolism. Not sure how it could have known though were they wild caught?

 

[jaylach]

Yeah, I've wondered that too. I wonder what triggers hibernation in them. I don't think temps or the day length would be doing it here.

It is believed but not proven that moon cycles, not phases, control when birds such as my cockatiel molt. So possibly the moon cycles could also be a factor in hibernation.

I brought this up a while back as to the affects on birds. The moon does strange things and, yes, there is a difference between the moon's phases and cycles. Shoot, there is even an oyster type that will not open during a full moon.

The following very short article does not really go into any details but does bring out the strong possibility that the moon affects animals. There are also links to related articles. The article speaks of animals and humans which I kind of don't get as humans are just an animal species.

The lunar cycle: effects on human and animal behavior and physiology - PubMed

Human and animal physiology are subject to seasonal, lunar, and circadian rhythms. Although the seasonal and circadian rhythms have been fairly well described, little is known about the effects of the lunar cycle on the behavior and physiology of humans and animals. The lunar cycle has an impact...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I was just reading someone say that some toads just go into hibernation and refuse eating automatically, and you sometimes just have to go along with it to prevent starvation by lowering the enclosure temp to lower metabolism. Not sure how it could have known though were they wild caught?

They were captive raised. No way I can lower the enclosure temperature, so we'll just have to hope for the best.

 

[Magnum Man]

@WhistlingBadger ... found something to get your frogs out of hibernation...

Amazon.com

 

[jaylach]

@WhistlingBadger ... found something to get your frogs out of hibernation...

Amazon.com

 

[Back in the fold]

What @jaylach was saying about the moon is right on . If I ever want fish to spawn then doing a big water change the day before a new moon never fails . The fish almost always shift into high gear and go to town . Figuratively speaking . They don’t have cars .

 

[jaylach]

What @jaylach was saying about the moon is right on . If I ever want fish to spawn then doing a big water change the day before a new moon never fails . The fish almost always shift into high gear and go to town . Figuratively speaking . They don’t have cars .

I use the term 'moon cycles' a lot but, to be honest, I'm not sure that is the correct term. Agreed that moon phases such as full and new affect things but, what I call cycles, is different. It has to be remembered that the orbit of the Earth around the sun is not a circle but, rather, an ellipse. When the Earth is further away from the sun in its orbit the moon has more of an affect. When the Earth is closer to the sun in its orbit the moon has less affect. It is this effect that make researchers believe that the moon 'cycles' affect such things as when birds molt and amphibians hibernate. This research is not conclusive as it really hasn't been around all that long but it seems that changes in the moon's gravity effect on the Earth causes changes in animals', humans included, hormone and enzyme balances.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

The guy that sold the frogs to me (Travis at TCS Dart Frogs in Reno--highly recommended) said it is very unlikely that they are hibernating, as the temps are about 15F too high in his experience. So I don't know. I saw one frog yesterday--the first one I've seen in several days--and it was tucked into a tiny nook at the top of the waterfall. I rousted him out and he ate a few flies, but not as enthusiastically as when I first got them. So I don't know. Time will tell, I suppose.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Doing a water change this morning, in hopes of getting some video for TOTM later, and every thing is falling apart! Chunks of rockwork falling off, anubias falling off, driftwood busting loose and floating. It's almost enough to discourage a guy!

 

[jaylach]

Doing a water change this morning, in hopes of getting some video for TOTM later, and every thing is falling apart! Chunks of rockwork falling off, anubias falling off, driftwood busting loose and floating. It's almost enough to discourage a guy!

Sounds rather odd. What did you use as an adhesive? If super glue, and the rocks are porous, the stuff isn't the best for porous surfaces and silicone may have been better. Still that does not explain plants coming off as they should not need much to hold.

As to the driftwood you have tools. Drill holes in the wood where they won't be seen and fill with plant weights. The weights will keep the wood submerged and plant weights are about as cheap as anything. Shoot, you could even fill the holes with sand, if you have any around, and seal the holes with silicone in either case. I've done this way in the past and it works. It is also handy if you want the wood in a specific position and the natural balance of the wood won't allow. Doing this you can change the balance of the wood to allow it to sit naturally as you want.

LOL! Personally I think that a certain new monitor - won't suggest a name - put a curse on you to keep you out of the TOTM contest.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Sounds rather odd. What did you use as an adhesive? If super glue, and the rocks are porous, the stuff isn't the best for porous surfaces and silicone may have been better. Still that does not explain plants coming off as they should not need much to hold.

As to the driftwood you have tools. Drill holes in the wood where they won't be seen and fill with plant weights. The weights will keep the wood submerged and plant weights are about as cheap as anything. Shoot, you could even fill the holes with sand, if you have any around, and seal the holes with silicone in either case. I've done this way in the past and it works. It is also handy if you want the wood in a specific position and the natural balance of the wood won't allow. Doing this you can change the balance of the wood to allow it to sit naturally as you want.

LOL! Personally I think that a certain new monitor - won't suggest a name - put a curse on you to keep you out of the TOTM contest. View attachment 335708

I didn't sleep well last night, and I suspect I was just being more of a clutz than usual. ha ha All is well, and I think it will be better than before once the new silicone dries.

Plant weights. Isn't it potentially harmful to put lead into the water? That seems like it couldn't be good for the fish. Even if it's sealed into the wood with silicone, some will leach out over time. Interesting idea, though. You have me thinking...

 

[jaylach]

Don't know what they are made of but there are non-toxic weights. Wet Plants ships some plants weighted and they are non-toxic.

 

[Magnum Man]

Actually, not often lead, but if you are doing water changes even close to what you’re supposed to, all your metal numbers will be low enough, to not cause a problem… for over 100 years municipalities used lead pipe, once it oxidizes, not much lead leaches into the water

 

[davros]

Bismouth now instead of lead, believe wheel weights are now this as well