It seems like a good way to start, if you are only trying out a single azureus, or even a pair. Then you can go from there. $75.00 completely planted seems a fair price. You'd certainly spend more than that getting the gravel drainage, soil substrate, plants and background for a first tank. It sounds like a good way to learn a bit while planning the next one-- and believe me, you will want a next one-- bigger and better. It's like heroin.



I now have a cellar full of various substrates in bulk, cork bark in bulk, cocoanut fiber matting, egg crate, tubing for water features, extra water pumps I've repaired with extraneous connections, etc., as well as many plants in the present tanks to take cuttings or offsets from, so I can no longer count the costs of setting up a new tank. My first dart frog endeavor was a 135 gallon palludarium, combination fish and frog habitat with two water falls. It was not cheap. Knowing nothing about anything, except for growing plants and a mattering of tropical fish experience, I dove in headfirst. It is still going with the original D. galactonotus frogs and most of the original fish, most of the original plants, minus a few eventual failures and taking over by others, 4 years later. Oh yes, I also had to remodel the kitchen divider between the kitchen and living room to accommodate the tank.



You are doing it the smart way. I merely lucked out that my first elaborate set-up never had major problems-- but I did do some research first. Have fun with this. These darts are wonderful and entertaining.

-----
Patty

Pahsimeroi, Idaho



4 D. auratus blue

5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back

5 D. imitator

6 D. leucomelas

4 D. pumilio Bastimentos

4 D. fantasticus

4 P. terribilis

4 D. reticulatus

4 D. castaneoticus

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