Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i like both of these very much but i'm just afraid of the size. Are they harder to take care of then say... azureus (i have azureus and painted mantellas)? Also what is their full adult size and what size are they usually sold at. like 1/2 inch etc.? are these frogs as bold as others or do they hide often and scare easily?

thanks for any responses

I have heard many comments on difficulty of care but I can't say that I have experienced any elevated difficulty except the worry that they might make a easier jail break. My imitators take the same food items, are not touchy and seem just as hardy if not hardier then my Colbalts are. It could be because I did get them from Tor Linbo, a reputable breeder and they were established adults. I have them in a 33 gal and they have laid 4 clutches of eggs in the last 5-6 weeks. Since I got them just a month after my Colbalts, they were essentially a 'first' dart for me and I still don't know why I was so worried. They're easy in my glad and humble opionion.

hey, did your eggs continue developing? you should have some nice sized tads by now if they did.

Oh, I wish they did. But alas, perhaps the development was only in my wishful thinking. I am not too concerned however, I saw them lay 2 more clutches just weeks following and I'm sure one day they'll get it right. The fact that they are trying and the female WILL lay eggs tells me we're on the right track. It now depends on the male to fertilize. He is a superp calller and very amorous at all times, but perhaps he needs Viagra!

sorry to hear that, but thats cool that they are laying (or should i she) so much. mine laid for a little while, but have stopped. the male calls all the time, but no eggs anywhere... but i did get another male a little while back, and he has started calling as well! so now i have to small groups that could start producing anytime. i think it may help encourage the males to do their thing, as they now have compition (although they are in diferent tanks, they are next to each other). well hope you get some good eggs soon.

In my experience, they are a little easier to house and maintain than alot of the larger frogs such as tincs and azureus. Also, due to their smaller size feeding is a little easier for obvious reasons. I keep all of my vents plump and healthy with a fraction of the food items it takes to sustain a good weight in the larger species. As for boldness...my ventrimaculatus are shy but not nearly as shy as some of the auratus that I have. However, any disturbance usually sends them fleeing for cover but they generally resume their 'business' a few minutes later. I have also witnessed the entire courtship process and laying many times...awesome little frogs!!

-Bill J.
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Updated list as of: 11/7/03
2.2.3 D. azureus
1.2 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (22 tads in the water)
3.3 D. tinctorius 'cobalt'
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
0.0.1 D. tinctorius 'giant orange'
0.0.1 D. tinctorius 'citronella'
0.0.2 D auratus 'zwartgroene(Panamanian black and green)'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (very soon)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

i don't think they are much harder to keep then the larger darts. they just won't accept as many food items. mine don't care for crickets of any size and any kinds of really small worms... but they love their FF's so no big deal. as adults they are only the slightest bit smaller then male painted mantellas. so if you haven't had problems with them, then i'd say either vents or imitators would be ok to get. painted mantellas will eat larger food items then either of these dart frogs, but FF's are ok... and mine have also taken some smaller termites. i think imitator are less shy then vents, but thats only from limited first hand experience. as for size they are sold at... well depends on the breeder. if you are really worried about it i would get them from patrick nabors, as he sells them at sub-adult sizes. they are almost completly grown by the time you get them, well worth the $ and the wait. hope i helped at all, and didn't just ramble on.

Hello. D imitator tend to be around 20mm when full grown (or so I'm told) and the vents (which I have experience with) are generally about the same like 18-22mm long. I don't find the vents harder to care for than any other dart; however, there is always the fear of them escaping. They can hide in just about any crevice and even underwater. Their food demands are less also.

Enjoy,
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Justin
stk18119@loki.stockton.edu

D.auratus (Costa Rican, Nicaraguan)
D.leucomelas
D.tinctorius (lorenzo, yellowback, citro, pb, oyopock,etc.)
D.azureus
D.ventrimaculatus (yellow/gold)
D.pumilio (blue jeans, solid red)
P.aurotaenia (narrow bands/green)
P.bicolor
E.tricolor (Santa Isabel)
H. leucophyllata
P. hypochondrialis azurea
P. resinifictrix
A. caladryas
etc.......

they helped a lot!