Semi-Aquatic plants look great in a vivarium. These plants are typically grown in or alongside water features and provide cover, easy escape routes out of the water, and add greatly to visual appeal. Josh’s Frogs primarily works with 2 genus of plants that grow well aquatically or semi-aquatically: Anubias and Cryptocoryne

Semi-Aquatic or marginal plants provide a great source of cover for vivarium inhabitants.

Anubias are a group of plants native to tropical Africa, where they grow primarily in rivers and streams that are apt to change water depth depending on season. Known for their green, broad leaves, Anubias is sturdy enough to support most smaller frogs, and can be used to provide egg laying sites for marginal or aquatic breeders.

Anubias are a great marginal plant, known for their large, green leaves and slow growth habit.

Anubias is known for it’s slow growth habit, and typically will only grow 1-2 leaves a month. Keep Anubias in low light, or else algae may grow on the leaves if the Anubias is grown aquatically. If the leaves are allowed to grow out of the water, keep them moist or in very high humidity. Anubias grow by stolons, green horizontal stem like growths that sprout leaves. This stolon cannot be buried in substrate, and is best tied to a surface using fishing line or cotton thread.

Cryptocoryne hail from tropical regions of Asia and New Guinea, where they thrive in slow moving rivers and streams in the lowland forests. Due to seasonal water level fluctuations, ‘crypts’ are commonly exposed to air, and can grow emergently in damp, humid conditions.

Crypts make great aquatic and marginal plants in a naturalistic vivarium.

In the vivarium, crypts should be planted directly in the water feature, with their leaves above or below the water’s surface. If leaves are submersed or emersed after growing the opposite way, they will die and be replaced with new leaves adapted to growing conditions.

Introduction

Leopard Geckos are one of the most popular pet lizards in the pet trade today. Easy to care for and simple to house, leopard geckos make great pets, and are often a first pet reptile for many new keepers.

Trade Name(s)

Leopard Gecko

Family & Scientific Name

Gekkonidae; Eublepharis macularius

Range & Origin

Leopard Geckos are native to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Iran, where they live in dry grassland and desert regions.

Adult Size

Most leopard geckos measure 8-10 inches in length at maturity, with some females approaching 12 inches.

Life Span

The average lifespan of a leopard gecko in the pet trade is approximately 10 years, although leopard geckos can live over 20 years if properly cared for.

Enclosure

Leopard geckos are very easy to house. Commonly kept in plastic bins by breeders, most owners of leopard geckos will house their lizard wards in glass enclosures, such as Exo Terra Glass Terrariums. Standard glass aquariums with screen tops work well, too.

Exo Terra Glass Terrariums are fantastic housing for your pet leopard gecko.

Substrate

Opinions on substrates differ greatly among keepers, and a wide range of leopard gecko appropriate substrates are available on the market. For younger animals, cage carpet or paper towels work well. For older animals, the 2 previously listed substrates will suffice, or fine reptile sand can be used to provide the leopard gecko with a more naturalistic environment. If you choose to use sand, it is important that your leopard gecko is adult sized and has access to fresh water – a small or dehydrated leopard gecko can become impacted on sand.

Temperature

Leopard geckos are desert animals, but are active primarily at night, when temperatures are cooler. At the warm end of your leopard gecko cage, aim for a temperature of 85-90F. This can easily be accomplished by using a heat pad or heating lamp. Ambient temperature in the enclosure should be about 75F. Temperatures should be measured closely with a thermometer.

Lighting

Leopard geckos are not active during the day, so specialized lighting is not required. A red bulb or night heat lamp may be used as a heat source if desired (and an alternative heat source is not provided), but UVB lighting is not needed. A day/night cycle is required, but ambient room light can provide this.

Red Heat Lamps are commonly used as a heat source for Leopard Geckos.

Social Structure

In the wild, leopard geckos are solitary creatures. In captivity, they are best housed singly to avoid conflict, but can be housed in groups consisting of one male and multiple females. Young, immature leopard geckos can be housed together as long as care is taken to insure that all geckos are getting enough food.

Diet

Leopard geckos eat a wide variety of insects in the wild, and their diet is no different in captivity. Common staple foods are mealworms or crickets. Phoenix worms, superworms, or waxworms are great treats for your pet lizard. All prey items should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement.

Mealworms are a common staple food for captive Leopard Geckos.

Cleaning

Keeping leopard geckos clean is a simple task. Spot clean your leopard gecko’s enclosure daily. If paper towel is used, replace it completely at least twice a week. Cage carpet should be cleaned once a week. Reptile Sand should be sifted with a sand sifter frequently, and replaced every couple/few months. A 5% bleach/water solution works well as a disinfectant. If this is used, rinse well with water and allow the enclosure to air dry.

Handling

Leopard geckos can be a bit nervous when young, but quickly settle down into easily handled pet lizards. Handle new purchased infrequently, in order to allow your new pet to settle into it’s new environment. Ensure you support the gecko’s entire body, and never pick it up by the tail. Leopard geckos can easily drop their tail when they feel threatened. Tails will quickly be regrown, but the resulting replacement will never look quite the same as the original tail. Additionally, leopard geckos store fat in their tail – loosing this can put additional stress on your pet leopard gecko.

Additional Reading

Josh’s Frogs always recommend thoroughly researching the needs of your pet before making the purchase. Here are some helpful care guides and books concerning leopard gecko care:

The Leopard Gecko in Captivity by Robbie Hamper

Leopard Geckos – Complete Herp Care

Leopard Gecko on Wikipedia

Leopardgecko.com

Leopard Gecko Care Sheet

Leopard Gecko Care by Melissa Kaplan

It’s important to research your prospective pet before you bring it home.

Conclusion

Leopard geckos continue to grow in popularity. What was once a simple yellow and black gecko is now available in a dazzling array of colors and patterns, as herpetoculturists strive to create new phenotypes of leopard geckos. Easy to keep and widely available as healthy, captive bred animals, leopard geckos are sure to be common reptile pets for years to come.

Typical Analysis of Josh’s Frogs Brewer’s Yeast
Crude Protein……………………………….40.0%
Crude Fat………………………………………..1.5%
Crude Fiber…………………………………….1.0%
Ash…………………………………………………5.5%
Moisture………………………………………….6.0%
M.E. (Calculated)……………….1,423 Kcal/lb

Josh’s Frogs Brewer’s Yeast is manufactured by Brewtech at a facility dedicated to drying brewer’s yeast in such a way that the maximum amount of nutrition is preserved intact. This process leads to the creation of an extremely nutritious brewer’s yeast that retains the fresh yeast smell and taste. Josh’s Frogs Brewer’s Yeast is research proven, providing nutritional, palatability, and digestibility enhancement to animal feeds. Josh’s Frogs Brewer’s Yeast is guaranteed to be free of any antibiotics.

Brewer’s Yeast in Fruit Fly Media

Josh’s Frogs Brewer’s Yeast is one of the most important additives to fruit fly media. Brewer’s Yeast’s high nutritional content and extra protein result in healthy, booming, nutritious fruit fly cultures. Josh’s Frogs strongly recommends the addition of brewer’s yeast to any fruit fly media. Josh’s Frogs is the largest producer of 32oz Fruit Fly Cultures in the world, shipping out over 30,000 cultures last year. We know what we’re talking about!

Generally, most fruit fly media recipes call for about 1 cup of brewer’s yeast per 1 cups of other dry ingredients. Brewer’s yeast is a vital step to a successful fruit fly culture, so it’s vital! Drosophila hydei fruit flies especially need the added protein brewer’s yeast presents.

Brewer’s Yeast as a Food Additive for Your Pets

Brewer’s Yeast also has it’s uses in other animal feeds. Brewer’s Yeast is great for the skin and coats of dogs and cats. Regular addition of Brewer’s Yeast to the diet of a dog or cat also can drastically reduce shedding. Brewer’s Yeast also enhances the immune system, and helps the animal deal with stress by providing B vitamins. Please keep in mind that too much brewer’s yeast can cause bloating in dogs, cats, and other animals – this is a serious condition, and a vet should be consulted to establish the proper amount of brewer’s yeast to feed your pet.

Brewer’s Yeast as Flea/Tick Control

Additionally, Brewer’s Yeast naturally repels fleas when consumed on a regular basis. Brewer’s Yeast should be fed daily in small quantities. It can take up to a month for the effect of brewer’s yeast to become apparent, but it is a great form of effective, natural flea and tick control.

Brewer’s Yeast can also be an effective flea preventative by mixing ¼ cup of Brewer’s Yeast with 1 quart of water, and spraying the animal’s coat daily. This will not kill eggs, but will repel any adult fleas. It will also result in a shiny, smooth coat. This treatment can also be used to treat dry skin.

External Links

eHow.com – brewer’s yeast for cats

eHow.com – brewer’s yeast for dogs

vetInfo.com – benefits of brewer’s yeast for dogs

University of Maryland Medical Center – explanation of the various nutrients in brewer’s yeast, and their benefits

WebMD Brewer’s Yeast Article – explains what brewer’s yeast is, and the benefits

Thanks for visiting the Josh’s Frogs How-To Guides section of www.JoshsFrogs.com. Josh’s Frogs is dedicated to providing everything you need to properly care for your pet reptile or amphibian. In line with this thinking, we regularly write and publish completely original guides, care sheets, and blogs about reptiles, amphibians, happenings in the herp world, things going on at Josh’s Frogs, and product reviews/how to guides. Make sure to check back often for the latest posts and updates. You can also subscribe by typing your email into the subscription form on the left.

Josh’s Frogs is run by hobbyists who are dedicated to providing the very best for the animals we love. Many of our employees have worked with reptiles and amphibians both on an amateur and professional level, and have related degrees (or are currently pursuing them). We’ve built our business around our vast experience and dedication to sharing our knowledge in order to improve the lives of reptiles and amphibians.

The Josh’s Frogs How-To Guides is best navigated by using the drop down menu on the left, above the subscription bar. The How-To Guides section is divided into several sections:

Josh’s Frogs Information discusses some of the basic founding principles of Josh’s Frogs, and will be updated frequently as our company grows. Any major business announcements will be posted here.

Poison Dart Frog Care. Poison dart frogs are what Josh’s Frogs has excelled in since the company’s inception in 2004. Josh’s Frogs is now the largest breeder of healthy, captive poison dart frogs in the United States, and most likely the world.

Tree Frog Care. Josh’s Frogs has invested heavily in producing healthy, captive bred tree frogs in response to an increase in demand and decrease in availability of these amazing anurans. By producing tree frogs in captivity, we hope to help decrease or eliminate the demand for wild caught animals.

Toad Care. Josh’s Frogs is proud to be the only professional breeders producing and offering captive bred bumble bee toads! As our breeding projects expand, Josh’s Frogs will offer more and more captive bred toads for sale.

Pac Man Frog Care. Occasionally, Josh’s Frogs works with pac man frogs, which are some of the easiest frogs to keep. Known for their large appetites and comically large mouth, pac man frogs make great pets.

Feeder Insects. Josh’s Frogs supplies a wide variety of nutritious feeder insects, perfect for most pet reptiles or amphibians. Josh’s Frogs is the largest producer of 32oz fruit fly cultures in the world, and is dedicated to supplying healthy, nutritious feeder insects to reptile and amphibian keepers all over the nation.

Terrarium, Vivarium, and Habitat Information. Terrarium construction can be one of the more challenging aspects of keeping reptiles or amphibians, especially when your pets require a more naturalistic setup. Josh’s Frogs is the lead supplier of naturalistic vivarium equipment and supplies in the United States, and has been involved in the design and construction of hundreds of vivaria, including several for zoos and professional institutions. We provide a library of articles concerning how to construct a terrarium or vivarium, and provide solutions for many common problems facing terrarium keepers.

Reptiles. Josh’s Frogs isn’t limited to just frogs – we also have experience with many of the different species of reptiles encountered in the pet trade. We offer care sheets on several species that will allow you to better care for your pet, as well as recommend products and services we offer that will make caring for your pet reptile easier.

Reptile and Amphibian Substrates is simply a chart that shows the different substrates we carry, and what reptiles and amphibians they are suitable for.

Vivariums, From the Ground Up covers the different substrates used to create a naturalistic tropical vivarium, and their purposes. Read this article if you’re about to set up your first dart frog tank, or are seriously thinking about it.

Tropical Vivarium Plant Overview discusses the various kinds of plants Josh’s Frogs offers that are intended for use in a naturalistic live tropical vivarium.

Terrarium Plants 101 is a broad overview of the different plants Josh’s Frogs offers that are suitable for a live naturalistic vivarium.

Growing Moss Like a Boss teaches you how to grow a lush, green carpet of moss in a naturalistic vivarium. Josh’s Frogs offers several species of moss, all of which are suitable for your tropical oasis.

Foreground Plants in the Vivarium informs about the various live tropical plants grown by Josh’s Frogs that are appropriate for the front portions of a vivarium. These plants typically grow in a matting pattern, or are not very tall.

Background Plants in the Vivarium acknowledges the background-friendly live tropical plants sold by Josh’s Frogs. These plants are typically taller, and do well in the back reaches of a live naturalistic vivarium.

How to Plant Epiphytes in a Vivarium discusses several varieties of epiphytic plants (plants that grow without soil) that Josh’s Frogs cultivates. Epiphytic plants are generally mounted on the background or hardscape of a live naturalistic vivarium.

Venus Fly Trap Care teaches you how to properly care for a Venus Fly Trap, an unusual carnivorous bog plant from the southeastern United States.

Let There Be Light discusses the various techniques and products that can be used to light a naturalistic vivarium, where lighting must meet the needs of the animals and plants.

Lighting Your Reptiles and Amphibians teaches you what lighting your pet needs to thrive.

Heating Your Vivarium covers the various products and strategies that can be employed to heat a naturalistic vivarium.

Keeping it Cool discusses how to reduce the temperature in your pet reptile’s or amphibian’s habitat.

Choosing a Vivarium Electronics Thermostat teaches you the difference between the various models of Vivarium Electronics Thermostats that Josh’s Frogs offers.

Terrarium Construction shows you how to build a tropical vivarium using supplies readily available at Josh’s Frogs.

Abronia graminea Vivarium Construction How-To explains how to create a gorgeous naturalistic vivarium for this amazing arboreal alligator lizard.

Creating a Terrarium Fogger shows how to modify an utrasonic humidifier (commonly available at your local pharmacy) into a device designed to maintain humidity in your pet reptile’s or amphibian’s habitat.

Building a Vertical Tank explains the method involved in converting a standard aquarium into a front opening terrarium.