Any Exotic Pet Owners Out There?....... Might Be Buying Poison Dart Frogs

Stellios

Stellios

Stellios

Soldato
Joined
27 Aug 2004
Posts
17,104
Location
Geordieland
Hi guys,

Im just after some advice really as ive never owned anthing beyond a parrot or a goldfish before. Im looking to buy 2 bumblebee poison dart frogs and was wonderign if anyone can offer some advice on whats the best way to keep them. Whilst I know a fair few people with exotic pets theres no harm in extra advice!

Ive already god a bloody huuuuuuuge tank that was given to me that was used for a chameleon (sp?) and im looking to put 2 frogs in there. The terrain is gonna be mostly rock and leaf with a waterfall down the back of the tank so obviously ill have to have a few inches of gravel at the bottom of the tank to compensate for the water. Ive also been told the temp of the tank needs to be kept reasonably high (heat mat id assume?) and the humidity needs ot also be kept high. Does anyone have any neat tips or tricks on doing this? Ive been advised the waterfall will obviously help but and the tank will need sprayed daily but is there anything im missing?

Thanks for any help at all as this is kinda new to me.

For anyone not knowing what im on about, I want 2 of these:

9534129380de7676406.jpg


The tank (needs new terrain and a good clean obviously):

imag0032k.jpg
 
These are not easy to look after and the setups are not cheep. There are some great forums out there, get reading.
 
I know the setups not cheap. Ive budgeted about £120 for gear (not inc tank) and then £120 for the frogs, the tank was given to me.

When I asked the shop to price me up for everything they told me id need £260 for everything but ive got the tank free now (and its a bigger one!)
 
First of all, books books and more books! And a bit of internet reading, such as specialised forums.
From what very little you have said and asked i would say not to get poison dart frogs because you have very little experience. You've asked how to keep a constant high temperature, use a thermostat. It's common sense and the most basic of knowledge for keeping any sort of reptile/anphibian. If i was you, get something easier such as geckos, anoles, corn snakes, etc. When you have experience then move on to something that takes more skill and requirement such as these frogs.
Lastly, that's a very small tank for a chameleon...
*edit* Keeping humidity high in that vivarium may be difficult because the whole of the top of the vivarium is just mesh.
 
Ive made myself sound a bit dim with the temp thing :p Im just used to being around lizards, geckos, chameleons and frogs are a new thing to me. Ive got no interest in owning most reptiles to be honest, ive spent the last month sat in the same room as a tank with 2 geckos and i rarely see them as they are always hidden.

Ive already thought about the keeping the humidity high problem, gonna have a research on that one and see what I can do as the top is just mesh, yeah.
 
Ohhh ok, from how you worded that i thought you were a complete novice and jumping in at the deepend! :p

You say you're bored of your geckos because you barely see them but do you really think you will see more of two tiny dart frogs in a tank of that width and depth? If anything i think you would barely see them. Having said that, keeping this type of animal means you can create some very impressive rainforest set ups which are also very humid. I have always wanted to do this sort of thing and incorporate live plants (http://www.dartfrog.co.uk/plants.html), such as Bromeliads because the store a lot of water, and adding a custom waterfall/stream/little pond system.
Have a look at these:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&biw=1280&bih=777
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...xhQeX6fmnCw&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...hQeX6fmnCw&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0
One with some of the frogs that you want :P
http://www.vivariumdesign.com/tropicalvivarium.jpg
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...hQeX6fmnCw&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0

But yeah, there are a few ideas for you. I would love to do this, i have wanted to for years. For more inspiration/ideas just google "Rainforst vivarium" and "Dart frog vivarium", some impressive stuff to see!

*edit* Also, to keep a viv humid you can buy foggers which are pretty good.
 
Last edited:
Tefal said:
the blue ones look better than the yellow ones :p


http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/9789/imagesfrog005bluedartfr.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/9342/bluefrog.jpg[IMG]

I'd love some of them :D

would spend hours watching them :p[/QUOTE]

Me to. He could maybe get a couple of each? *hint hint* :D
Click to expand...
 
Not sure about poison darts, but ive started off with a white's tree frog to get me into frogs...hardy as hell as long as he gets fed and sprayed he doesnt care :D

They are very pretty though :)

Get over to RFUK, veyr good advice given over there :)
 
This might be a retarded question... but can you touch dart frogs, let them crawl in your hand etc?

I'm guessing you just don't let the poison go in a cut or something?
 
StoutMeister said:
Tell us more OP or reptilian keepers..:)

Might be worth investing in one of these too..
Click to expand...

AFAIK its only their skin that is poisonous so that they dont eaten. Wouldnt really go round touching them, they have their name for a reason.

You cant really handle any frogs anyway because the oils in your skin can cause them serious harm :)
 
G18241 said:
Not sure about poison darts, but ive started off with a white's tree frog to get me into frogs...hardy as hell as long as he gets fed and sprayed he doesnt care :D

They are very pretty though :)

Get over to RFUK, veyr good advice given over there :)
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot matey, ill have a snoop around :)

StoutMeister said:
Apparently you can handle the ones born in captivity as they aren't poisonous, due to the fact of not being raised on their own natural prey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden...s ([url]http://www.dartfrog.co.uk/plants.html), such as Bromeliads because the store a lot of water, and adding a custom waterfall/stream/little pond system.
Have a look at these:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&biw=1280&bih=777
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...xhQeX6fmnCw&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...hQeX6fmnCw&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0
One with some of the frogs that you want :P
http://www.vivariumdesign.com/tropicalvivarium.jpg
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...hQeX6fmnCw&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0

But yeah, there are a few ideas for you. I would love to do this, i have wanted to for years. For more inspiration/ideas just google "Rainforst vivarium" and "Dart frog vivarium", some impressive stuff to see!

*edit* Also, to keep a viv humid you can buy foggers which are pretty good.
Click to expand...

Cracking advice mate, its much appreciated. Some of the tank setups are lovely like, and im hoping to do a good one. Whether or not I can do one thats as good as some of what ive seen i dont know, but the pond/stream idea is an excellent one that ill probably do as im buying the kit anyway. As for live plants thatll probably have to wait a bit, but its deffo summit ill look into.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom