Re: African Dwarf Frog and Eclipse System Three

"Andrew Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Just curious if anybody can help me out.  I bought an Eclipse System
> Three (3 gallon) filtered aquarium and an African Dwarf Frog.  Right
> now I have a plastic plant and a small clay flowerpot for her to hang
> out in.  I feed her frozen brine shrimp and she spends hours jabbing
> her snout into the rocks hunting.  Then just relaxes in her cave.
>
> Anyways, I used smooth medium sized (1/4" - 1/2") epoxy coated gravel.
>  Everything I read about these things says not to use anything sharp
> or small for the substrate.  They might hurt themseleves or eat eat
> it.  I also covered the intake with some cheesecloth so an arm or leg
> wouldn't get stuck.

Sounds like a lucky, well taken care of ADF :o)

> I was orginally thinking about adding a betta.  I have one right now
> in another 1 gallon aquarium but would buy another.  But I have heard
> that it is possible that they might not get along too well.

In nature, it would never work.  Bettas are carnivores and I hear that
frogs taste like chicken ;~)  however, with a domesticated Betta in an
artificial environment (small aquarium), it does work, about 97% of the
time.  The Betta's attention is usually in the upper reaches of the tank
(top-feeder) and the ADF parks on surfaces (bottom-feeder), so they are
in different 'worlds'.  The Betta quietly hunts things which move, and
the frog moves slowly (when he moves at all), except for the periodic mad
dash for air (which usually startles the Betta away).  If you attempt
this, watch the Betta closely to determine if you are in the 97% or the
3%.  It usually does not take too long, from a few minutes (to note the
Betta's level of interest) to a day or two (to see if anything begins
developing).

The fact that they share the same diet is very convenient (bloodworms,
brine shrimp, freeze-dried tubifex worms etc).

> If I don't add the betta, would it be too small to add another frog.
> I was also considering adding a couple of ghost shrimp.  I am assuming
> they pose no threat.

No problemo on more ADFs.  Ghost shrimp would be an experiment.  The
adults _might_ be ok (especially if the ADFs are well fed), but any
newborn shrimp would be at risk.  It's an inexpensive experiment.
Biggest risk is the disease vector so don't buy your shrimp from a tank
with frogs in it, and quarantine is always a good idea.  I don't imagine
that a shrimp could be a threat to an ADF, but I've never tried it
myself.  I think I've had Amano shrimp with ADFs and the Amano slowly
disappeared.  If you ADFs were actually African Clawed frogs, then your
shrimp would be frog-food eventually.

> Does anybody else here have any other ideas what I could add without
> overcrowding the tank?

Consider adding an Apple snail (middle-feeder, glass cleaner, algae
eater, bottom-feeder), and throw in a sliver of zuchini or an algae wafer
once a week.

> I also would appreciate any ideas for a live plant.

Ideal plants for Bettas/ADF/snails have thick broad leaves.  Both the
Betta & the frog can/will park in the leaves and the snail is less likely
to damage a thick leaf.  Frogs prefer the leaves in the lower portion of
the tank (ie: Anubius), while Bettas usually hang out closer to the top
(ie: the larger Echinodorous, Pennywort, Moneywort..etc).  It would also
be beneficial to have some selective ornaments.  Anything with an flat
opening which would only fit the ADF, would give him a secure shelter
from Betta curiousity (a place to sleep in complete peace).  Keep in mind
the ADF's eventual size, probably about x2 or x2.5 what they are usually
sold at.  A similar shelter for the Betta would be nice too, as they like
to park in a secure area as well, conserving energy and relaxing while
they survey their 'kingdom' ;~).  For him, an open cup-shape shelter with
a Lilypad on top (Limnobium laevigatum) would make a nice bachelor pad.

NetMax

> Thanks