Dart frogs

[eubankclare]

Do dart frogs make good first time frogs?

[treefroglover]

A simple answer would be no........

However,

A lot of people say that even if you have experience in looking after snakes and reptiles, going to phibs, esp dart frogs can be a bit tricky...... their care and needs are often likened to that of tropical or salt water fish. In terms of environment management. When it comes to correct temperatures, humidity etc. Often dart froggers keep live planted vivariums as this helps with the humidity requirements. So a touch of green fingers helps.

Then there is the food requirements. Often dart frogs take very minute food, fruit flies being a main source..... quite often you have to learn to culture these before even thinking about getting any darts. Each sub species of dart has its own needs and requirements. Some can only take the smaller species of fruit fly 'melanogaster' and some when they are larger/adult size can happily take 'fenubris' and 'hydei'. Some darts can take micro crickets, but I steer clear of them as any 'left-overs' will generally eat your frog 'environment'

From experience, all I can say is research, research, research! As they require a lot of time, effort and money and they can live a fairly long time (poss even 10yrs +). I looked into getting them some years ago and just didn't have the time, money or the space for the whole hobby.

But, I now have two set-ups and they are my first exotic pets and so far I have done very well with them. I set up my first tank in early Jan 09 and got my first pair of d. tinc. azureus March/April and I love them. They have great personalities. So technically I had them as a 'first' frog. Just make sure you learn as much about them before you get them, as any small mistake could be fatal and it's an expensive and heart breaking lesson to learn.

Good luck

[eubankclare]

Thank you so much for your reply, they are for my OH daughter with a little (or as much needed) help from us.
I think ill stick to tree frogs

[ghastly152]

From a personal point of view id say there is no reason that a Dart cant be your first frog, they were my first frog.

Id also disagree with people who say they are hard to look after, i have always found them very easy to look after, but obviously this is provided you create the right conditions for them , but how is that any different to any other animal you keep?

Of course you will need to do plenty of research, with one of the main things to focus on is culturing foods, and although there are many suppliers out there who sell fruit flies ect, i have often found them to be unreliable and its always better to have your own supply.

Lastly, if you know where to look you can find Dart Frogs at a reasonable price, there are more breeders about than you might think.

[ghastly152]

Originally Posted by eubankclare

Thank you so much for your reply, they are for my OH daughter with a little (or as much needed) help from us.
I think ill stick to tree frogs

Well in that case it may be a little too much to ask, especially maintaining food cultures.

[Ron Magpie]

Originally Posted by ghastly152

From a personal point of view id say there is no reason that a Dart cant be your first frog, they were my first frog.

Id also disagree with people who say they are hard to look after, i have always found them very easy to look after, but obviously this is provided you create the right conditions for them , but how is that any different to any other animal you keep?

Of course you will need to do plenty of research, with one of the main things to focus on is culturing foods, and although there are many suppliers out there who sell fruit flies ect, i have often found them to be unreliable and its always better to have your own supply.

Lastly, if you know where to look you can find Dart Frogs at a reasonable price, there are more breeders about than you might think.

It's not so much that they are hard- just that you need VERY precise conditions, food supply etc. Fire-bellied toads, for example are very forgiving of less-than-ideal conditions; darts aren't. The analogy to marine fish was a good one- you mess it up with marines, you end up with a tank full of dead fish. Darts are fab, but only if you are prepared to put in the research and time.