Organic fertilizers are made from the same grains everyone is talking about here. In addition most of them add potassium sulfate. I'm not sure what effect the potassium sulfate would have on the frogs, so if you don't know but still want to fertilize, stick with pure grains and/or the chicken manure. Tires are a commodity I don't think you are allowed to own in Calif. Why? Because mosquitoes breed in them. Still if you want to try a mosquito diet for the frogs, you could put out anything shallow that catches water. I have used corn meal almost exclusively since 2002 and love it. Since I started using it my toad population has increased all the way up until we acquired 3 cats. I have not seen a toad since. As the cats age we're finally getting geckos back. Where do you live in CA? Please be more specific than NoCal or SoCal. Calif has far too many zones that run from Mexico to Oregon, across all climates, for the zones to be meaningful.

I am a new member of this forum. I have really enjoyed looking at the terrariums linked on these pages. The info regarding certain harder-to-keep varieties of plants has also been helpful. When I read this thread, I felt that I had to reply. PDF's are not hard to keep. There are 10 year old children in my neighborhood who are successfully maintaining a vivarium with the frogs, and even breeding the frogs. Personally, I have over 50 vivariums in my home. Each one contains some poison dart frogs. Any and every color you can imagine. Orchids, bromeliads, tropical mosses, waterfalls, you name it. I really like the terrariums, but when you add a pair of bright, electric blue frogs, now you have some life!! Yes, you do have to culture, or purchase, the fruit flies. The flies we use in the hobby cannot fly. They are non-invasive and very easy to culture. They do not smell either. I have 200 cultures going at a time, there is a slight smell with this many cultures, but most visitors to our frog rooms do not even notice it. Mixing the frogs and plants to create vivariums has been the most rewarding journey of my life. I encourage everyone, not to base your opinions of keeping PDF's based on heresay, or an experience of a friend from 10 years ago. The hobby has changed drastically over the last decade. The frogs are easy to obtain, and there is soooo much info on keeping these precious little gems. Remember, everyone starts with no experience. Please fell free to email with any questions. I live in the Chicago suburbs. Pete

They are just there to have their meals. It will be irritating but they don't do any harm to you. I used to do the same, spray chemicals or bug sprays, but one day my daughter thought me something which I forgotten long back. She is studying in Sunnybrook School in Ontario, and they had a class one day about the frogs, tree frogs etc. That day she made me realize that these frogs and toads are important for proper bio balance. Stop hurting them and try simple steps like those mentioned by Walker.

When I drained my pond last year, I rescued the tadpoles, and they thanked me by jumping on my pants legs, and climbing on my finger this spring. I though that was cute. I enjoyed their soft purring/cooing sound last summer. But this year they are LOUD! 200 LOUD tree frogs, and one soft peeper, you bearly can hear. My frogs start 'shouting' at 8:15 p.m., and yell until 12:30 p.m. All lights are out, as my husband goes to bed at 7, (he is a bus driver who has to get up at 3 a.m.) I keep things quiet so he can sleep, but I can't here the t.v. over the tree frogs. I have both peepers and common tree-frogs. The first year I loved them, they were soft and soothing. But this year they have gone wild! Last year most were peepers, and this year. I have so many more tree-frogs. I have taped them on my phone, because no one will believe how loud they are! They are NOT cute anymore. What can I do to send the tree frogs packing? My husband said he already saw a snake, (fortunately I have not). Should I borrow my sons cat? They are ridiculously loud! When I got outside to stomp on the deck the close ones are around, they stop, But as I get to the door to come back inside, they start again...grrrr. Any ideas?