- Joined
- Jan 11, 2009
- Messages
- 4,096
Hey yall! So my dream of owning Simandoa conserfarium is finally coming true! I have a dozen nymphs on the way from Orin and I could not be more excited!!
I have done a ton of research because I want to set them up properly, of course... everything I have read says they are easy keepers. I read the very few threads on here about them, and I have a few questions still for those who have kept/keep this species!
1. Leaf litter seems to be an important food source for them... but what type of leaves?!
2. I have read that individuals of this species like their space and do not do well with crowding. Can they be given *too much* space? Is a 5.5g tank too big - or too small - for a dozen nymphs? I can go bigger if needed and definitely will when they start reproducing, but that is my open tank at the moment so it would be handy if it was okay for the nymphs for now.
3. One YouTube video I watched had a random G. portensa female living in with the Simandoa, burrowed down in the moist substrate. Does anyone else have experience mixing these two species? I keep my portensa mutts with my E. javanica, and keep them dry... would a portensa mutt do okay in the humidity the Simandoa need?
My enclosure plan is the 5.5g tank (if it is big enough), with several inches of moist top soil topped with some moss to retain moisture. I will add a top layer of leaf litter as well, once I know what type to use. I'll also be providing slabs of bark both vertically and horizontally for hiding places. I know they are climbers... and while they have wings, I haven't read any accounts of them flying. I'll be cautious about flyers, just in case, and will utilize a Vaseline barrier on their enclosure like I do with my other climbers.
In addition to my questions above, any other firsthand information yall want to share about owning these guys would be awesome!
I have done a ton of research because I want to set them up properly, of course... everything I have read says they are easy keepers. I read the very few threads on here about them, and I have a few questions still for those who have kept/keep this species!
1. Leaf litter seems to be an important food source for them... but what type of leaves?!
2. I have read that individuals of this species like their space and do not do well with crowding. Can they be given *too much* space? Is a 5.5g tank too big - or too small - for a dozen nymphs? I can go bigger if needed and definitely will when they start reproducing, but that is my open tank at the moment so it would be handy if it was okay for the nymphs for now.
3. One YouTube video I watched had a random G. portensa female living in with the Simandoa, burrowed down in the moist substrate. Does anyone else have experience mixing these two species? I keep my portensa mutts with my E. javanica, and keep them dry... would a portensa mutt do okay in the humidity the Simandoa need?
My enclosure plan is the 5.5g tank (if it is big enough), with several inches of moist top soil topped with some moss to retain moisture. I will add a top layer of leaf litter as well, once I know what type to use. I'll also be providing slabs of bark both vertically and horizontally for hiding places. I know they are climbers... and while they have wings, I haven't read any accounts of them flying. I'll be cautious about flyers, just in case, and will utilize a Vaseline barrier on their enclosure like I do with my other climbers.
In addition to my questions above, any other firsthand information yall want to share about owning these guys would be awesome!