Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got several questions...

Like I've said in a previous post, I have been looking into getting a pair of dart frogs to start with. I was thinking about starting with a 20L or a 29 gallon. I currently have a 29 gallon tank that my fire belly toads live in. I also have a 55 gallon that my turtles are living in. The 55 gallon will also be available once I transfer my turtles into a 210 gallon in the near future. What size tank is the best for a beginner dart frog keeper?

My second question is what type of dart frog is the best beginner frog? I have heard Auratus, Azureus, and Tincs. I do not want to start with thumbnails as I've heard they are harder to keep. I like the larger frogs anyway.

One more question...which I'm sure is a dreaded question to dart frog keepers... Can any species be kept together safely? I've heard that some can be kept together if the tank is large enough and if enough cover is provided...ie a heavily planted tank.
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Seal Point Siamese (Mieko)
5 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, Tiki, & Romeo)
3 Red-Eared Sliders (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

I would start with at least a 20 gallon for any of the larger species. I believe you mentioned that you liked D. azureus in particular. A pair of these is perfect for a 20 gallon. If you are going to use the 55, perhaps you should consider something like the D. galactonotus (orange morphs) or D. leucomelas that do really great in groups, so you could have 4 to 5 of them in there, or even a group of D. auratus. P. terribilis also do well in groups. The D. azureus and D. tinctorius are best kept in male-female pairs.

I've never tried mixing different species together, at least not yet. Although it has been done successfully, I don't think it is something a beginner in the dart hobby should consider right away, at least not until you are comfortable with the first ones you choose and really have some experience under your belt. You don't want to mix different color morphs of the same species or take a chance on cross breeding closely related species, simply as an ethical consideration of keeping the original blood lines as pure as possible. Most people in this hobby eschew "designer" frogs.

There is really no reason to avoid all of the thumbnails as first frogs, if you like them at all. The D. imitators are very entertaining and easy to keep in groups, especially since you can just let them breed, raise their own tads and watch the entirely interesting show. But the larger frogs are indeed less intimidating to a new owner, and not as grasshoppery about leaping around in great bounds. An athletic thumbnail can scoot past you when you open a lid faster than a speeding bullet.

Just take it slow--do one thing at a time, then make your decision about mixing any of them together.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

Hi, this doesn't have anything to do with your post, but I have animals named Milo and Otis tooo!!!! sweet, Milo is a hedgehog and Otis is a lawsons dragon:

Your Milo and Otis are great looking animals! I actually almost got a hedgehog awhile back. I used to have a green Iguana named Irwin too! What are Lawson's Dragon's like?
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Seal Point Siamese (Mieko)
5 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, Tiki II, & Romeo)
3 Red-Eared Sliders (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted (Milo)
1 Blue male Betta (Alpha- named by my students!)
1 Pleico (Hoover)
1 Tiger Barb (Tigger)
10 guppies
3 ghost shrimp
Check out my website with most of my pets!

Thanks for the quick reply. Lawsons dragons are like beardies, but they have brighter colors and only get to about 9 inches. They have the exact same personality as beardies too, I've found that they likd water more and like flatter greens, but otherwise are the same.