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

[Stellios]

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:

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

 

[Stellios]

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!)

 

[Stellios]

Ive made myself sound a bit dim with the temp thing 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.

 

[Stellios]

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

They are very pretty though

Get over to RFUK, veyr good advice given over there

Thanks a lot matey, ill have a snoop around

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
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.

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.