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terrarium size for dart frogs

20K views 19 replies 11 participants last post by  Wolfenrook  
#1 ·
Hi i want to get a Poison Dart Frog and im wondering what size terrarium i would need for it. WxHxD please thanks.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I'm no expert as I'm fairly new to keeping darts but for one that likes more height I would say 30 x 30 x 45cm would be an absolute minimum for one single frog, but more would be better, and 45 x 45 cm floor space an absolute minimum for a single dart frog of a more terrestrial species.

I have one pair of D. tinctorius in a 45x45x60 exo terra.

PS My dimensions are W x D x H as it is normal practice to give the height last.
 
#5 ·
Bigger will generally always be better as they are active little things. But you still haven't said which species it is you are thinking of getting?
 
#9 ·
Also keep in mind that floor space doesn't always mean the footprint of the vivarium however. It is possible to create horizontal space in the vertical space of a vivarium as well if you know what you are doing, this is why often more experienced keepers get away with small vivs.

Another trick is to use depth as well as width to create more floor space. Measure the space the viv is going to be sitting on and get a custom viv designed to use this space. A perfect example is I own a 40cm wide, 60cm deep 40cm high viv. This fits in the same width as a 40cm cube but uses the full depth of the 60cm deep shelf it sits on. I also own a 50x50x40cm viv sat on a 50cm deep shelf. Make maximum use of your space most efficiently.

For a pair of tincs, leucs or auratus however I would concur that a 50x40x40 wide would be a good minimum. Some like to use 40cm cubes for pairs of these, but I have found from experience that these are a bit limiting, and have actually been upgrading my tinc pairs to bigger vivs. You would be surprised how much more active they become when you give them more space.

Ade
 
#14 · (Edited)
I found in smaller vivs that planting landscaping and lighting are all more difficult, and the vivs tend to look less aesthetically pleasing.The frogs are also allot less active in smaller vivs.... in my experience anyways. 60 60 45 are my fav vivs to use

bigger the viv the better
 
#17 ·
As said before size is all dependant on species and how many frogs you are thinking of housing together.
With regards to only keeping one frog per viv you will find that this can sometimes stress the frog they do seem to prefer to be with others. There is also a good chance that the frog will hide a lot if kept alone.

Get an idea of which species you are thinking of trying and people can give more specific information which will help a lot more.
 
#20 ·
Been married 8 years now, hence my joke about trying not to talk to myself. ;) I prefer married life is all I am saying. lol

As to the yanks, sometimes they think they know more than they do. I don't mean Americans in general, but rather certain ones on a certain forum who often don't seem to see past their own ego. ;) My female Regina was on her own for a while, went uber shy, my female cristobal was also uber shy when on her own, seen the same with vents/variabillis as well. So that tincs, ranitomeya and pumilio, all of which examples have demonstrated less 'happy' behaviour patterns when kept on their own.

As to viv design, agreed Ron. My Ancon Hill auratus viv for example is a shadowy jungle that many would find way too full of plants and decor, but the frogs are doing a lot better in there than they were in a viv more pleasing to the eye of somebody who prefers a more spartan look. For me though it's about trying to do both, please the frogs and myself. lol

Ade