Getting Started with Darts

[MeTree]

Hey guys!

This is my first post in the dart frog section of this forum. I am really excited about getting to know a bunch of you guys who don't hang out at the Pacman Frog section LOL! I really can't wait to get started with Dart Frogs!

Before I continue, I have to thank Cheri for sponsering the 2011 Frog Forum Care Article Contest, because without that, I wouldn't be here right now. Cheri is providing everything I need to get started in this new part of the hobby. Thanks Cheri !! I am glad that I am looking into dart frogs instead of another fat frog like I had planned.

This is a thread that I will be updating alot hopefully. Cheri has shipped lots of stuff, and I will post pictures as the stuff comes in. I am expecting some plants tomorrow, so hopefully I can pictures of those up if they come in tomorrow. I will probably be purchasing the tank at PETCO around the 22nd of this month.

Cheri has already found a nice female Cobalt in my area that a breeder has for sale. She said she'd get a video up after I got this thread up, so I can't wait to see her!! I will be having some back-to-back camps, so I will probably be getting the female around July the 9th-ish. Cheri is going to try and pick up a male and ship him when the weather gets cooler (can't ship a frog in 100*F+ weather we are having in Texas!).

I really look foward to the experience of setting up a dart frog tank, and getting actual dart frogs!! 2 weeks ago I would have never thought... I will include plenty of pictures of what comes in the mail, and of the tank after I start with the DIY background and setup.

Again, I look foward to getting to know all of you! This is the same forum, but a whole new world for me. I am really excited about what will take place over the next few weeks!

[artes]

I snuck over here from tree and pacman frog forum! Bwhahahah!

I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to see photos!! I've loved dart frogs ever since I was a very, very little girl, and will one day own them. But for now, looks like I'm about to live vicariously through you!

/popcorn

[MikeM670]

Hey guys!

This is my first post in the dart frog section of this forum. I am really excited about getting to know a bunch of you guys who don't hang out at the Pacman Frog section LOL! I really can't wait to get started with Dart Frogs!

Before I continue, I have to thank Cheri for sponsering the 2011 Frog Forum Care Article Contest, because without that, I wouldn't be here right now. Cheri is providing everything I need to get started in this new part of the hobby. Thanks Cheri !! I am glad that I am looking into dart frogs instead of another fat frog like I had planned.

This is a thread that I will be updating alot hopefully. Cheri has shipped lots of stuff, and I will post pictures as the stuff comes in. I am expecting some plants tomorrow, so hopefully I can pictures of those up if they come in tomorrow. I will probably be purchasing the tank at PETCO around the 22nd of this month.

Cheri has already found a nice female Cobalt in my area that a breeder has for sale. She said she'd get a video up after I got this thread up, so I can't wait to see her!! I will be having some back-to-back camps, so I will probably be getting the female around July the 9th-ish. Cheri is going to try and pick up a male and ship him when the weather gets cooler (can't ship a frog in 100*F+ weather we are having in Texas!).

I really look foward to the experience of setting up a dart frog tank, and getting actual dart frogs!! 2 weeks ago I would have never thought... I will include plenty of pictures of what comes in the mail, and of the tank after I start with the Do It Yourself background and setup.

Again, I look foward to getting to know all of you! This is the same forum, but a whole new world for me. I am really excited about what will take place over the next few weeks!

Welcome to the Bright Side of Frog Keeping...eyeing all those pacman frog lovers!!! Darts are really cool. I know my 0.0.4 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Azureus' are really fun to watch. Very bold and stay active. The Cobalts are another really nice morph and I will get some in the future.

So what size tank are you looking for? Are you just going to have the pair? With the Petco tank sale coming it is a great opportunity to get a larger setup if you have the room. Be warned this can and is addictive and you may need help with all those other tanks your just gonna get "Just in Case"! By getting your tank as soon as you can this will allow you to take your time in the build and let it settle/grow in! I'm sure you will enjoy it greatly.

[Katieasaur]

Dear Stanton,

I hate you.

<3 KT

[Firebelly love]

Wow! I've heard keeping darts is a lot of fun and hard work!! I don't have the resources to keep them, but would love to someday. Can't wait to see pics!!!

[guppygal]

Wow! I've heard keeping darts is a lot of fun and hard work!! I don't have the resources to keep them, but would love to someday. Can't wait to see pics!!!

But WAIT !! There are TWO parts to owning poison dart frogs. The first part is to create the most beautiful rain-forest environment possible for them in a fairly small area. The Cobalts will do well in a 20+ gal tank, IMO. Could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time.

The other part to keeping the frogs is culturing their food. Once you have your fruitfly cultures producing and reproducing, you're good to go. Unlike a lot of critters, you don't have to feed your frogs everyday. It's always a good thing to seed the tank with springtails so they'll have a snack and they like to hunt, and if you're going away for a week, place a culture with holes large enuf for fruitflies to escape and the frogs are self feeding.

I personally dust at every feeding, but it's not necessary. The dusting is necessary, but not at every feeding. I haven't seen any ill effects from dusting the flies each time I feed.

Also, another great food source, especially in East Texas, is termites. You can actually setup a homemade termite trap using very damp pieces of cardboard pressed tightly together between a couple of cheap plastic organizers ( the ones with the holes or slots on the sides). Bury it near a rotten log and check it a few weeks later (providing we get rain this year), and you should find a boatload of termites. Here's the deal, tho - termites are like candy to pdfs, so although they absolutely love them, the termites are very fattening and should not be substituted for fruitflies. You can safely keep them in an airtight container inside your house. Termites cannot survive loose in the house because the humidity is too low.

Other than that, poison dart frogs are very easy keepers, and putting the vivarium together is an artform unto itself. It an be as intricate as you like, or as simple, just as long as the frogs have plenty of hides and lots of plants.

Once a pdfer, always a pdfer, so watchout, Pacman.....!!

kristi

[nos187]

Hey there!!

Welcome to the dart side of frogging!! =)

I am glad to hear you have taken an interest into the dart frogs as i have. A couple
of months ago my world was taken by these frogs. I sat there gleaming with interest
and desire for them! Needless to say, i finally finished my first vivarium not to long
ago.Thank god for these forums or i would have made a billion mistakes building a
dart home.Sadly, i am still sitting here without frogs waiting for my vivarium to grow in.
I have it posted in the vivarium/terrarium section of the forums under 18x18x24 build
if you would like to see. Bahh here i go rambling again!

Glad to see you have taken an interest in the cobalts! They are a very beautiful morph
and from what i have read very bold and active! Hopefully, cobalts will be my second
dart frog. You must update us on your frogs =). I cannot wait to see them!

Take care,

-Kevin

[bshmerlie]

The female Cobalt is located locally so Stanton can get her right away. A boy will be mailed once it is cool enough...ya know Texas. Cobalts are my favorite frogs...so bold and active all the time. I hope he enjoys his as much as I enjoy mine. Here is a picture of the wood I sent and a layout design possibility. Two fruit fly cultures will be provided by the lady with the female Cobalt and Joshs Frogs will be supplying all other Fruit Fly supplies, ABG soil, leaf litter, springtails, isopods, and misc other needed supplies. I sent five bags of the LECA so that should be enough for the 29 gallon although Stanton keeps going bigger. Its good to see someone venturing into a whole new world of the frog hobby.

[DonLisk]

Oh your both going to have much fun with this build and thread.
Can't wait to watch as things transpire.
Hey, did I spell transpire right... hmmmm

[clownonfire]

Dear Stanton,

Congratulations in winning the Care Sheet contest. You will now be the proud owner of a Dendrobate tinctorius "Cobalt". Wonderful! As these little creatures are very important to me, here are a few things you should know:

1. Tincts are from the Slytherin House of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
2. When you sleep, they sit on your chest, and they will steal your breath.
3. Tincts only speak Spanish. Or in Tongues.
4. Little known fact: they are responsible for the Black Plague.
5. Prone to paranoia, consider making aluminum foil helmets for them.
6. Tincts are Keyser Soze.

So there, I hope these random facts will help you live in perfect harmony with your new frog.

Eric

[MeTree]

That is some very interesting information there, Eric (LOL).

I finally got the video of the Dart Frogs up and running! One of those females will be mine in less than a month hopefully!

Here is the video

YouTube - &#x202a;Special Project Revealed!&#x202c;&rlm;

Enjoy!

[MeTree]

We are in chat working on construction. I am just about to start, probably in the next 2 minutes, with applying the GS. Anyone want to join chat?

[bshmerlie]

Stanton is done with the GS and will hopefully post some pictures of his....creation.

[DonLisk]

This is a great and fun thread. Its like getting a comic book and having to wait for the next issue.

[MeTree]

Yes, here come the pictures! Thanks Cheri and Mike for helping!


These pictures were taken about 20-30 minutes afterward, I was having trouble with my Photobucket, and it wouldn't let me eject the card. Apologies. Then I got caught up in chat (still caught up in chat), so I am finally posting pictures! Yay!






This just keeps looking better!

[ViperJr]

Mighty fine Stanton, mighty fine.

[MikeM670]

The tank is looking very good. And the fact your going to have to let it sit for a few weeks in not a bad thing. It will let the foam and silicone cure longer before you get your frogs.

If your going to get it all planted up before you go then it will have a chance to grow in. Just make sure you have it properly covered and someone to keep it moist.

[bshmerlie]

Looks great Stanton. This is your first tank and you will find it gets easier each time you do another one. You will learn from this build and you will find easier ways to to things. You will develop your own style. This will hopefully be one of many. Keep it up.

[Grrrit]

Looking good brother! Non toxic acrylic paint can be applied just as well instead of the silicon to hide the GS. I used that in a few of mine. Its going to look a little tacky, but I have to go back and cover some of the already done tanks from the outside.

[MeTree]

Thank you guys all so much for the comments, imput, and suggestions! You have all helped me get into a hobby that seemed way too diffecult a month ago. I am really looking foward to getting some dart frogs jumping around the tank. This has been such a neat project.

Thank you SO MUCH Cheri for funding this project also! I never would have made it here without it, and I greatly appreciate it!

Here are some pictures of the pretty-much-finished vivarium. It looks very, very nice, though it may be a little bit hard to see from the pictures (I couldn't find my camera so I used a web-cam). It is my own piece of a beautiful tropical jungle.