I have decided I want to get some poison dart frogs.
But its gonna take alot money saving and much planning. x]

They're so completely gorgeous and interesting to look at.
And from what I've been reading, it seems PDF's are relatively easy to care for.
This is where I've gotten most of the information I have...
Poison Dart Frogs Poison Arrow Frogs Dart Frogs & Exotic Tropical and Carnivorous Plants with Terrarium & Vivarium Supplies by Black Jungle Terrarium Supply


My Questions:

I'm not sure yet which specific kind I want...
I prefer a kind that's not just green and black.
I like the blue ones the most... but I don't want just one color.
Can the same species of PDF be different colors?
Like can there be blue, green, yellow, ect. ones that are all the same species that can be kept together?

I was also wondering that, if there isnt one specific species that have color variations, if I could keep two species of PDF's together without causing problems, if they're the same age and size?

Are there species of PDF's that you can keep more than one male and female together in a cage without aggression?

How large of a tank would I need to comforably fit four or five PDFs in as well as the plants and everything else I'll be putting in there?




I have to get off now... Bedtime. Can't be grumpy tomorrow. lol
I'll check this either in the morning or tomorrow afternoon or night.
I am most likely going to a reptile show Friday, the Dixie Reptile Show in Birmingham Alabama.
I'm sosososososo excited.
My first reptile show, lol.
I dunno if there will be frogs here...But I love everything else too.
I know there have been spiders and salamanders because of pictures, so it wouldn't suprise me.

But anyways, thanks for looking at this ya'll, and I know there will be some replies before I look at it again.
Thanks in advance.
:]]

PDFs are one frog I'm not familiar with and we haven't had much discussion about. I know SurvivorSteph is doing a lot of work to get a tank together.

Most shows do have some dart frogs. You can also find them online.

Check out Dendro Boards (not sure on the actual web addy, you'll have to search).

I do know they don't need huge amounts of space, like a whites tree frog or a marine toad would need. For 5 or so I think you can get away with a 40 gallon long. They don't like it too hot and don't like it too cold, and get used to raising fruit flies before you get them. if you can't raise fruit flies they will starve and die. Maybe pick up a starter culture kit at the reptile shown and get started.

I also know you can mix certain ones, but you have to be careful and research what kinds. Like Tincs with Tincs.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

I have been doing a TON of research on PDFs. And that's my main advice to you... read, read, read. More than just online, too. When you're at the herp show, look for books. I'd recommend: Poison Dart Frogs by Amanda and Greg Sihler and Barron's Reptile and Amphibian Keeper's Guides: Poison Dart Frogs by R. D. Bartlett. You'll also want to get a couple books on building naturalistic habitats. The Black Jungle site has a great slide show explaining how to build one.

I'll try to answer your questions one by one...

That it does! And planning is KEY.

Certain species are easier than others. Dendroboard Caresheets has a sheet on specific species, and a great sheet on why NOT to mix species.

Very good source... see also the Dendroboard link above.


Leucomelas can be yellow/black or orange/black, but they're the same species. Some Tinctorius have blue bottoms with black spots and black/yellow stripes on their backs. The more research you do, you'll eventually find the species that most appeals to you... just be sure you stick to a "beginner" species! Most keepers recommend AGAINST mixing species.

With PDFs it's not really a matter of how many males, but how many females. Many times it's the females that are aggressive... I've read stories where dominant females have sat on the head of subordinate females and drowned them.

The general rule of thumb is: about 5 gallons per frog for larger species (tinctorius and azureus); about 3 1/3 gallons per frog for medium frogs (leucomelas and auratus); and about 2 1/2 gallons per frog for small frogs (thumbnail species).

Good luck, and keep the questions coming!

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

If you haven't checked them out already a couple of sites have been helpful in my research as I too want to get some later on down the line. Dendroboard.com is a great site as has been mentioned already, as well as Dartden.com. Lots of info on those sites.

It seems the hardest part of keeping darts is the enclosure, lots of money will be spent on getting the enclosure right and it takes about a month or so to let it mature and make sure you don't have any problems such as mold, humidity too low, messed up false bottom, so and so forth. The key to dart frog keeping is patience. It's hard to have a tank with everything in it finished and not be able to put any darts in it but it'll be worth it in the long run for both you and the frogs. It may also give you some extra time to save some money up for your frogs because I guarantee you'll blow a good chunk of money on the viv.

Hope that helped a bit and good luck! Keep us posted on how it all goes!

__________________
Gerp, Gerp, Gerp.

It will also give you time to get the rhythm of growing flies!

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

Don't get too stressed out, I have 4 PDFs they dont need aloooot of space. Mine eat fruit flies that I buy at the herp store I'm working in now and I have a fogger in my tank. *looks nice!* I have 2 green and black, one golden, and one blue and black.
I needa post pics. o.o I have alot of new herps since ive been gone. lol

Thanks to all of you.
Ya'll have been very helpful
:]

I'll go check out some of the places that have been mentioned.
Thankss



..Wait.
The pet store I get my crickets and meal worms from now doesn't have those flies.
I don't think we have a herp store anywhere near...
I'm going to a repltile show tomorrow, most likely.
Someone said I could get a culture kit thing from there...
I have no earthly idea how to handle any of that whatsoever. lol
Is it difficult?
How much does the kit cost?

Awh man. The DendroBoard thingy won't let me view it if I don't have an account, and they're all picky about how old you are and stuff.
They'd have to get documentation if you're under 18..
I'm 14.
x]

I guess that's kinda outta the question.
:\

Oh dang, that sucks man I'm sorry. If you buy a culturing kit online, they're about 50 dollars. You might get one cheaper at the expo. While you there, you can talk to them about how to do it. There's also some good info on the net, so you can do some research before you go and then clear it all up with them.

__________________
Gerp, Gerp, Gerp.

Fifty dollars?!?
Geezzz
Maybe I will find one cheaper. lol
I was wrong about the date, it wasn't yesterday, its today.
We're about to go.
I'm excited.
But yeah, I was planning on talking to people about pdfs and the flies. :]