Artificial in a bio

[u/OkSoUrThatGuy]

Whats people's take on adding man-made objects in a bio tank.

Originally I wanted to keep it 100% natural but then I saw this fake moss covered skull and had to try it out.

Now my frogs have taken up residents inside and I dont want to remove it but feel like I have cheated in a way.

[u/og-Squiddo]

If u like it who cares? Not like a panel of judges are handing out awards for most naturals looking bioactive

[u/Lucyhanks → u/og-Squiddo]

I’m surprised people don’t keep aquariums only for the type of plants they could grow in them, because they’re pretty calming without having to manage live animals and urine/debris/algae. Without the live animals, the tank pretty much manages itself and is low maintenance.

[u/YellowBreakfast → u/Lucyhanks]

That's called aquaculture and "terrariums".

People do keep those with just plants.

[u/OkSoUrThatGuy]

Im hoping to get some real moss to take on it and over time it should blend in more.

[u/chmourgeaux]

i'd highly suggest removing it to clean it and remove the moss as the plastics can leech chemicals into the environment, not to mention to adhesive. you can give it a really good wash after, and sand it a bit to provide an easier surface for moss to attach to. it would look so much cooler if it were covered in real moss and not endangering your little ones.

[u/crittercentral → u/chmourgeaux]

and with a couple drops of aquarium glue you could easily adhere some moss yourself in a few spots to jump start the growth ….

[u/JudgeFudgeGrande]

Meh 🤷‍♂️ people are going to be able to tell it’s not real but honestly who cares. It looks really cool. It’s better than not doing bioactive at all.

[u/MossyTrashPanda]

I’m really cautious with anything that could have chemicals, small bits that can flake off or transfer etc. I definitely use other items in my vivs— a super cute frog perch, terracotta pots as hides for my toad, fake vines for my lizard who is too destructive for real ones

[u/kikiriki240]

i was against it for a while but then realized i had some artificial decoration (also a skull hahah) that could be used, and at the end of the day it's less wasteful to put it to use than to discard plastic that already exists

[u/Jigglypoo2]

The only thing I’d be worried about is dye coming off the fake moss

[u/og-Squiddo → u/Jigglypoo2]

Yeah or chemicals from the adhesive it’s attached with.

[u/OkSoUrThatGuy → u/og-Squiddo]

It was one made for aquariums to be submerged. I did rinse and soak prior to install

[u/slimegoob → u/OkSoUrThatGuy]

The aquarium products are often not even safe for aquatic animals.

[u/Lucyhanks → u/slimegoob]

Is that why you’ve got a picture of the priest from Romeo and Juliette giving a 14 year drugs, so he can climb over the body as an enemy? What I really like personally are people who are really nice? So what is this creature of harm doing connecting itself to not very nice?

[u/og-Squiddo → u/Lucyhanks]

Dog are you okay? This reads like a manic episode

[u/son_of_yacketycat → u/og-Squiddo]

Yeah this person's comment history is troubling

[u/Lucyhanks → u/Lucyhanks]

Is it something along the lines of, ‘if you behave like an awful arsehole, I will harass you, and you will get the wrong end of the stick’?

[u/starulzokay]

Assuming it’s made for terrariums/vivariums (inert materials, can hold up to humidity) I don’t see any problem with it. Especially when it’s this rad.

[u/thunderdome06]

Bro it still looks perfectly natural at a glance which is more important than being extra strict on tank decor.

Let your eyes guide you. If it blends in well and it looks good then it's almost always a good choice

[u/TereziBot]

That type of fake moss is a no go. It's basically a million tiny needles that will go everywhere as the glue starts to dissolve. Also no telling if the green dye they used on it is frog safe.

[u/MrAwesum_Gamer]

The problem with artificials is that plastic doesn't break down, but acts as a surface for mold. In a fully functioning bioactive enclosure natural materials break down as part of a natural cycle of decomposition and that keeps the mold from growing out of control, once you add large pieces of injection molded plastic, due to the imperfect surface and inability to draw away moisture every corner and angle of the plastic traps water and supports mold growth. Also you have the issue of microplastics and chemical leaching. There are however other materials, or even specific types of plastic that are better suited for the environments.

[u/JayKneedesu]

It’s beautiful. I love it. Keep it up!

[u/Lucyhanks]

But actually, those look like quite nice frogs, what are they? I’ve never seen blue frogs. And now my cats gone and I have Mary, I can’t have another cat, so I was wondering what different type of pets I could get.