Substrate Maintenance

[esnailme]

I am due to receive 4 captive bred fire belly newts some time this week.

I plan the setup to be terrestrial.

I will be using eco earth as a substrate.

My question is:

How often will I need to change the substrate?

I have been reading up on different bugs being used as a cleanup crew.

Is this a good idea?

Other than springtails, are there any other bugs that can be used as a clean up crew?

 

[evut]

I suppose this will be a temporary set-up until they grow bigger and go aquatic?
These two articles about terrestrial substrates are very informative:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/substrate2.shtml

http://web.archive.org/web/20070905...world.org/amphibianArticles/article0021.shtml
http://web.archive.org/web/20070905...world.org/amphibianArticles/article0021.shtml

 

[Logan]

All of my mantella frogs and dart frog tanks are packed with springtails and isopods. These help keep things clean for sure. If you add a nice layer of leaf litter in some areas they will breed really well in the tank. I use oak or magnolia leaves for this. Good luck.
Logan

 

[esnailme]

I rec'd my baby newts. I have been trying to go through the old threads.

Every time I get ready to start reading I start sneezing. It's allergy season.

How moist should I keep the substrate? s light mist or a little more than a light mist?

thanks guys


p.s. they are just kind of hiding for now. i think it will take some time for them to get used to me, they are soooo adorable!!!!