Calcium Bearing Clay Substrate for Bioactive Vivaria / FREE SHIPPING

Description

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For more info on our Calcium Bearing Clay Substrate, read our article at:
https://frogandfrond.com/resources/calcium-clay-substrate-faq-and-how-to/
Calcium Bearing Clay Substrate
is believed to be beneficial for dart frogs who require calcium to survive, especially for smaller species and froglets who are not big enough to take in fruit flies dusted with calcium supplements.
The pellet form offers better drainage and more surface area for microfauna like springtails to thrive on. (Yes, you can also use the pellets as your springtail culture media.)
You will only need to cover the surface that is accessible to your frogs so they can benefit from calcium and other trace minerals in the clay. Above the drainage layer, we usually start with another substrate like Turface, and put a thin layer of the calcium bearing clay over it, with leaf litter like magnolia leaves on top. You don't need to cover the entire bottom of the vivarium as terrestrial plants will do better in a substrate like ABG mix (Atlanta Botanic Garden mix). Some people use the clay in smaller patches in vivaria and grow-outs.
Note:
The calcium bearing clay is
non-fired clay
. It is different from fired clay like Leca or Turface. Calcium bearing clay will come dry, but it will get soft once you add water to it, which makes it possible for the animals to access its calcium content. You should not touch or disturb the clay too much once it is wet and soft to keep it from turning into mud.
How much calcium bearing clay do I need? 1 pound of clay pellets will cover an 8" x 8" area. For example, you will need 5 pounds of clay if you want to cover an entire 18" x 18" footprint.