Hey everyone new to dart frogs I have a question :)

[gotzkill]

first time posting on a forum EVER lol but here it goes im getting a exo terra tank 36X18X36 and i wanted to first put crested gecko's but now im interested in dart frogs i was looking at some and the one i find the most colorful and amazing to me are the Ranitomeya ventrimaculatus "Iquitos" i believe thats how you spell it. i was wondering if i can have multiple of those species in the tank and or any suggestions of frogs i should possibly get or even mix with those frogs. I will get the tank this weekend and start building upon it and keep you guys posted if you want first time creating one but looking at tanks on youtube for the past two months really got me excited well thank you for your time and appreciate the help

[John]

Those are a poor first time dart frog choice. They're pretty shy, very small, and if you've never kept dart frogs before, the small ones are very delicate and easy to kill. I suggest you look at something like Dendrobates tinctorius (including azureus), D. leucomelas, D. auratus, Phyllobates terribilis, or P. bicolor. They are larger, much tougher, and quite bold - you will see them, while you wouldn't see Ranitomeya ventrimaculata. The general thinking on mixing species is don't. Some dart frog species are quite territorial (D. tinctorius is perhaps the most territorial) and most species can stress each other, even if it they're not very territorial. There are also possibilities of disease transmission, parasites, and mutual toxicity.

[gotzkill]

if i get one of the many Dendrobates tinctorius (including azureus), D. leucomelas, D. auratus, Phyllobates terribilis, or P. bicolor how many could i fit together in a tank thats about 100 gallons

[John]

For tinctorius I would say 2 males and 1 female. For everything else I would say up to 10 individuals. Don't mix the species.

[LilyPad]

Welcome!! John has given you some great advice! Good luck with choosing a frog.

[bshmerlie]

I would sugguest the D. Leucomelas. A group of them in a tank that size would be rather neat.