Wild Creations Eco Aquarium
Back in June my husband and I took our children for a four day stay in Ocean City, Maryland. While we were down there we of course hit up the boardwalk. And while on the boardwalk I purchased an Eco Aquarium. The aquarium, sold by Wild Creations, includes two African dwarf frogs (aquatic), one snail, and the little aquarium they live in. The aquarium itself features a layer of “Living” gravel (it is supposed to naturally filter out dirt and debris), a layer of decorative gravel, a small stick of bamboo and two decorative rocks. All this plus a packet of frog pellets for $20.
As dorky as this sounds, I purchased the frogs for me, even though I let my daughter choose the tank style (she picked the tank that had pink gravel and teal & purple decorative rocks). I figured it would be pleasant and relaxing to look at while I’m blogging about panama city deals or simply writing about greeting cards.
I would be tempted to report that the Eco Aquarium does not stay perfectly clean and clear for five to six months, as the website states, but the issues I have had with it are of my own making, I’m afraid. You see, my mother also purchased an Eco Aquarium, and because she followed the instructions (my aquarium apparently did not come with instructions, or the book was lost somewhere between the boardwalk, the motel room and home), her tank is crystal clear.
Where did I go wrong with my Eco Aquarium? Well, let’s start with placement. Instead of keeping it away from direct sunlight, I put it next to the kitchen window, which gets a full blaze of sunshine in the late morning and early evening.
I think I also overfed the frogs.
The original snail died, probably because he ate himself to death from the overgrowth of algae. I purchased a second snail, and put him in the tank after cleaning the aquarium. My mistake there was mixing up the living gravel with the decorative gravel, so within a few days the tank was back to be dirty again.
Well, I want to get things right with the Eco Aquarium. So I ordered, directly from wildcreations.com, decorative gravel, living gravel and a replacement snail. I trashed the existing living gravel and gravel, and then put everything into it as it should be placed — the layer of living gravel first, then the decorative gravel, then the two decorative rocks, the bamboo stick, and finally the two frogs and the new snail.
Also? The frogs only need to be fed two pellets each, twice per week. I have a reminder in Outlook stating just that!
So, overall, I’d have to give the Wild Creations Eco Aquarium a 5/5 rating, simply because my mother’s system is crystal clear, and we have had the tanks for almost two months!
Rating: 
charlotte m. boone
Is it possible for me to order two, mail order as Christmas gifts? CMB
karen
Thanks so much Jenn – I’m looking at getting one of these for my daughter for Christmas and your review was very helpful!
Terrible product
Your entire gravel is “living”, there is no difference between the decorative and the so called “living gravel”. Bacteria can’t tell the difference between the two therefore every bit of gravel will become “living” with bacteria. And yes, there is both bad and beneficial bacteria, Google “Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle”. First of all, you are lucky if you have had success with keeping the frogs in the Eco-Cube – unfortunately your frogs are not so lucky and are only suffering. For anyone reading and considering buying this, the instructions are terribly & horribly cruel, inhumane, and incorrect! 2 pellets per frog, twice a week – they tell you to feed so little because Wild Creations knows that this set-up can’t handle processing any more waste than that. On top of things you will have major ammonia build up right away in so little water due to food and frog waste (poo), so how dare they suggest you clean the water every 4-6 months! You will have ammonia build up within a few days, ammonia will burn and kill your frogs. And they are carnivores, a pellet only diet can cause constipation and bloat. This is very simple, if you end up with this terrible scam you NEED to do research right away for the proper and correct care, you ABSOLUTELY need to place them in something larger right away and inform yourself. Plenty of information online, join a forum or message board for African Dwarf Frogs which is what these are right away for help! Burn the care instructions! Whatever you do, do not use straight tap water, it must be treated first with tap water conditioner, do lots of research right away and before re-housing the frogs into something larger. You can buy these frogs for $2.50 to $3.00 each at pet store as well as better supplies, if you want the frogs as pets you will get more for your money and better products if you buy from a pet store. Most big chain stores with an aquarium department will have them. However disease and illness is common in pet stores as well as from Wild Creations so do research on what to avoid and look for when shopping. There is a very disturbing video currently on PETA.org featuring Brookstone/Wild Creations and shows where these poor little guys come from and how they are processed and packed into the terrible cubes. Here’s the link:
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2737
brandi
i have had an ecoaqaurium for about a year and a half and i looked in it today and there was only one frog. what happened to the other frog. the lid was not off, it just dissappeared. please explain.
beth
we have a brookstone setup. clear water & funny frogs. found this while researching if indeed they needed more space. question.. can a larger tank be used with more living gravel? love the ease of maintenance with this system but do agree-they need more room as one is really picking on the other.
Chris
Although I agree that there is a serious issue regarding the collection and mistreatment of wild and exotic animals for import to the U.S., I must respectively disagree with above PETA poster. I do not believe the frogs are suffering and will die. I have had my ecoaquarium with two dwarf frogs for approximately one year. The snail died within the first month or two and I did not replace it. The snail is not necessary as it is not part of the ecosystem. I have NEVER cleaned the aquarium. After a full year, the aquarium sides and water remain clear and the frogs appear healthy. I do, however, keep it out of direct sunlight.
Just today I ordered the “cleaning kit” from the Wild Creations web site. I did so because evaporation lowered the water water level and changing the water is recommended. Caring for the frogs and easy and maintenance…well, none. I love my frogs. As a mater of fact, I’m so pleased with my frogs, I chose to purchase additionsl aquariums as gifts.
Judy Showers
I purchased mine two years ago. Got home & immediately put them in a larger aquarium with filter and light. They are as fine as froghair and have mated & layed eggs several times. I alternate feeding them with pellets one day and frozen blood worms the next day. If you remove them from their cube, and do the above, you will make them happy & have them for many years to come. You can use the cube for a terrarium.