Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times so forgive a newbie.
Is it advisable to feed dart frogs ants? I have access to several different kinds including large carpenter ants,leafcutter, harmless nectary and "black" ants and stinging fire ants. I understand that some species, like P. terribilis, derive toxins from their wild diet- which conceivably includes stinging and non-stinging ants, small spiders and the like.

Is there a particular specie of ant that is preferred or known to be okay to use as a regular or supplemental dietary item or is this an ill-advised experiment?

I sometimes feed small black ants to newly-morphed pumilio if I have access to a colony. This helps give 'em a little variety in their diet, which is never a bad thing (as long as the insect in question isn't known to be noxious itself!) I don't see any danger in feeding any small ant to your darts, though. The only drawback to using ants as feeders is that ants can easily climb the glass walls of the vivarium, quckly escaping into your house. Since I keep my froglet pumilio's in tupperware, this isn't really an issue, however.

Randy
www.fruitflyspecialties.com

Thanks. I have a ready supply of termites and fruit flies, but if I could get my frogs to eat ants I'll never have a problem finding food!

I've a few nectary ants in my larger vivariums (there are no frogs in them yet- just plants)and they are very common around my yard... but you're right they move very fast and always seem to get out. I wonder if a CB dartfrog could catch such a fast moving ant anyway?

On the other hand- they do seem to be attracted to pieces of orange along with the fruit flies.