Vivarium Substrate for live plants

[reptigirl04]

What works best for a substrate to keep live plants living in a vivarium??
Would a mixture of something work better than just one thing?
I've heard of potting soil, peat moss, and co-co fiber being used.
I want what ever will keep the plants alive, but not mold, or anything like that.
Also, would moss be able to grow on this substrate too?

This is for a 20 Tall aquarium that will be housing a Red eyed Tree Frog.
thanks.

[WhiteLips]

Hi There-

I found a book that has a great deal of information regarding bioactive substrates, soil, etc

The Art of Keeping Snakes by Philippe de Vosjoli, published by The Herpetocultural Library

Maybe this can help you!

[Gecko-Guy]

Yeah, Phillipe knows what he's talking about. If you take about a month to set up a substrate, you can actually make it self sustaining and it will decompose the frogs feces and use it as plant nutrients. It takes alot of time and effort to make a substrate bioactive but well worth it. You don't need to clean it out for about six months. I have the Rhacodactylus book that contains a little info about naturalistic vivaria, that was 40$ well spent. Even has his autograph . If you want to learn exactly how to do it, I would buy the book that Whitelips reccommended. You will really get a lot out of any de Vosjoli book you read.