Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi gang,

First time here ... and in a couple weeks I'll be the proud owner of two new dart frogs. My twin daughters are greatly interested in the rainforest, so I thought it would be great to get them a mini rainforest complete with the frogs (which they love). So I bought an aquarium/vivarium from a breeder nearby that is set up, as well as two frogs (I believe they are citronella tinctorius).

However, people have been scaring the daylights out of me lately about two topics: The frogs getting out of the aquarium, and the flies getting out.

My questions:

I have purchased an aquarium with a hood. Can the frogs really get out?

Do the flightless flies get out as well? Do they breed once they get out? Will I suddenly have thousands of flightless fruit flies wandering through my home? Eek.

Thanks ...

Slightly wondering if this was a wise move ...

pat

If the fruit flies do get out, they will die, and aren't as annoying as house flies. They are flightless, so don't buzz around, and won't breed outside your cultures. You should be culturing them, however, unless you have a constant supply from a nearby pet store you are willing to pay for. The dart frogs eat a lot. You need to seal the top of your tank well against escapes. If they can squeeze, they will, although the tinctorius are less likely to do this than some of the thumbnails and smaller darts. What is your set up like? Can you describe it for us? The frogs will need vitamin dusted fruit flies on a daily basis. The tincs are real hogs about eating. The temperatures should be kept between 65 at night and 80 during the day. The humidity in the tank should be from 80 to 100 percent. You need to mist daily with spring water. Do you have live plants? These help with the biological cycling of wastes.

Darts can't be picked up and handled like kittens, or even some lizards and snakes. They are mostly for just watching, so may be disappointing to a youngster that wants to touch and feel.

Check out the care sheets that are provided by breeders such as Patrick at:

Link

-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Thanks for answering. The tank is a 15-gallon tank, and it has been outfitted by a dart breeder.

It has a waterfall, small pool, many live plants and some old wood and cork shelves against the side.

The hood is your basic aquarium lid ... and I'm wondering how to seal it tight so the frogs can't get out.

Thanks again.

I know a lot of people, including myself use screen lids with some type of covering (plexiglass, glass, or plastic wrap) over about 80 - 90 percent of the top to increase or keep in humidity.

this will prevent anything from getting out, flys or frogs

Until you go on vacation and your care-giver doesn't close it completely.
-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Is this a glass lid with a hing to open one side? I'm not sure what a basic aquarium lid is, but I use the tight fitting glass lids that just hing in the front and have a plastic flap in the back for accommodating tubes and wires. I tape these down around whatever is coming out of them. I have lost more dart frogs to escapes than to any other excuse possible, and this has been embarrassing, to say the least. The thumbnails are most prone to escapes, but I've chased an auratus off the counter and under a rug, and have found more than one mummy on the floor, whose escape I can only explain by the fact there was a 1/4 inch negligence about securing the lid. I't hell to find a $150.00 mummy the size of a house fly on the floor, which was once a Dendrobates fantasticus, and there's no one to blame but yourself.
-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus