Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was looking through the forums the other day and came across this one. I've always liked dart frogs ever since i was a kid. So i got reading some of the posts and pictures and it looks like this is something i'd like to get into. But the problem is that i have no idea where to start. I was looking through caresheets and most of them assume you already have a base knowledge of species, terrariums, ect. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could help me learn some of the basics. What all do i need to set up a cage? What species are good for a beginner? What should i expect to pay upfront? How about later down the road? It seems to me like getting the cage set up is probably the hardest part. Thanks a ton.
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Scott,
Proud owner of Porker the savannah monitor (currently 20inches, 550grams)

Whenever you first get into a hobby it's pretty difficult-- hince the name newbie. So that's why we're here. Alright- there are i would say 3 major aspects to KEEPING poison dart frogs : 1. The Terrarium
2. Food Source
3. The frogs themselves
keep in mind this is a basic overview.

1. The terrarium can usually be any size, with the general rule of thumb of 5 gallons for frog.. this is a minimum, so you could have a 55 gallon tank with 2 frogs in it... sure that's cool. It consists usually of 2 to 4 layers, depending on your preference. First and foremost, you have to have a drainage layer. This usually consists of pea gravel or larger.. not too small that the frogs could swallow. I like to make it contain different levels to contain a water source on one end, also not too deep as they could drown. Next, which is optional, is a substrate. Most people use either Cocoa Fiber or their own mix with bark and leaf litter. I've gotten away from it, because it's too messy. The third layer, which is the second for me, is usually some kind of moss. There are many kinds , so you'd have to do your research. You also most definitely need some tropical plants such as pothos and bromeliads. There needs to be some kind of hiding spots available for the frogs also, such as coconut huts or caves or even branches. Alot of people prefer a background also in their terraium... I haven't ventured into this area yet.. as money is really tight for me, and i can't afford to be making these intricate creations. One thing I like to have is a pump in my water source to keep the water circulating, and it's crystal clear. designing your own terrarium is one of the funnest things of this hobby- i really enjoy it. The humidity level needs to stay above 80% and temp is usually 75-80 in the day drops 5-10 degrees at night. The light source is optional also, but mainly you need to use fluorescent lighting. Also, it would be great to go for a timer on the lights, as their schedule will be firm and founded, and it's easier on you. Make sure when you mist that you don't use regular tap water- you can get a gallon of spring water at wally world for 88 cents. That's all I can think about right now

2. Food source-- This is my worst enemy. The staple food source everyone would agree on are fruit flies. froglets need melagonaster's and older frogs can take the hydei fruit flies. Make sure that your fruit fly cultures are established, thus allowing AT LEAST 2 weeks to start up. Get used to making the cultures, as you will be doing this many many times. Go to fruitflies.net or edsflymeatinc.com for info on many food sources. Other food sources are: Sprintails, flour beetle larvae, pinhead crickets, termites, and some others that i have no experience in.

3. The Frogs themselves-- Once numbers one and two are established, there's really not much left. Make sure that the food you feed is dusted with calcium and mineral supplements, usually a 50:50 ratio of repcal and herptivite. Don't play with them alot- that will stress them out waaaaay to much. Feed them at least once a day, and make sure they are getting enough.

As for species-- Auratus, Leucomelas, Tinctorious, and Azureus i'd say are great beginner frogs. Tincs are more liable to shipping stress, so i'm told. I started with Auratus, then Leucomelas, Azureus, and next will be tincs. Keep in mind female tincs and azureus are very territorial, so don't have them together. I recommend Leucomelas, as they are beautiful, have great personalities, and are very bold. Auratus are great too, but some aren't as bold as the leuc's and it can be a treasure hunt trying to find them.

Also, mixing of species is shunned upon, and don't consider it.

Well, I hope this is helpful, there's most likely alot more. We haven't even gone into breeding these little buggers. If you have any questions feel free to ask, because that is what this forum is for. Many sites can give alot of info, so go to kyle's links page, and get to readin!

Good luck!
Kasey Lawrence

Start reading the links site, I have made at the bottom. There are a lot of sites with a ton of information. As for starter frog I would say Leucs.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Yo, palescrawny, one major suggestion: change your sign in name. "tanmuscles"? Gimme a break. How 'bout something like "overcompensating"?

I think putting "God" in your screen name would be a bit more overcompensating than mine. Besides, these forums are meant for discussion of reptiles, so keep your useless posts from trashing the place.

Can anyone tell me and estimate of how much they paid to start up their first system (minus frogs)? Thanks
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Scott,
Proud owner of Porker the savannah monitor (currently 20inches, 550grams)

>>Can anyone tell me and estimate of how much they paid to start up their first system (minus frogs)? Thanks
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>>Scott,
>>Proud owner of Porker the savannah monitor (currently 20inches, 550grams)

Depends on how elaborate you want to get and how large you want to go. You can put together a 10 gallon for less than $50. If you want something a little larger, it goes up from there. Many of the things that you will be buying for your first tank will have enough left over to make another. My first tanke cost around $150, and it was a 29 gallon. You could do it for less, though.