This is in reply to a previous post:
Quote "Also, in answer to the question "CAN you mix species?", the word hybrid should not even come up. The likelyhood or possibility of creating a hybrid, plays absolutely zero role in whether or not these frogs can be sucessfully kept together"
This is not a simple question.
First anyone who comes to a message board and ask the question, "Can I mix species" or "What species can I mix with out the risk of hybrids" does not know enough about the frogs and their behavior in the first place, to be mixing a tank. Yes, we could answer it yes and let them kill off some frogs get dissuraged and leave the hobby. Granted some people will get lucky and not have to many die off, but I can count on one hand the people I know that have tried mixed tanks and had less than 2 losses. I am hear to help people period!
Let me ask you guys this: "Can I keep a beardie in with darts?"
The first answer that comes to mind is no, but when really I can. The tank would have to be the size of an Olympic swimming pool but it could be done.
Now it is easy to just tell new people that no, you may cause hybrids. But if you look at what species they are wanting to mix, then this issue does come in to effect!
When mixing a tank there are so many issues that need to be taken into account and then you have to watch how the animal act and react with each other.
Marcial, I would love to hear your reaction to this. I can really care less if you mix your frogs, people have done it in the past and people will do it in the future. This hobby is still on such a small scale that a few hybrids running around miss labeled (it has happened in the past) really hurts the hobby, because you can't un-mix the frogs. In the mid 90's you could buy histro's for $35-$50, but know they go for $350 and up.
Retics where also more common at one point and now look, you have to know someone or get lucky to have them, plus the run $150 each. A lot of people get into the hobby and have fun for 2-3years and then they move off to another, just like every hobby, but the people that are hear to say are left with the mess and have to live with it, but that is how it is and will always be.
Have a good one everybody,
Benjamin Green
