Tree frogs vrs. Darts for beginers

[Pocket Frogs]

Hey, I am rather new to the forum. I know absolutely NOTHING about frogs, but I want to. I am planning on getting a viv with either tree frogs or darts. Which one is the most suited for beginners?
Thanks!

[DonLisk]

Good question and the answer is not an easy one.

Both type of frogs require a suitable and purposely built home. Some dart frogs are more forgiving than other and the same goes for tree frogs.
If you build and set up the enclosure to meet the needs of what your frogs needs then either will be ok.

A dart frog needs high constant humidity and temps between 68 to 82 degrees. Darts will not survive in temps higher than 85 degrees for very long.

Tree frogs need similar temps but the humidity is more in the 60 percent range depending on the frog.
Tree frogs need some air flow and darts are usually kept in fully enclosed tanks or with minimal venting to help retain humidity.

Tree frogs need a diet of crickets where as dart frogs need fruit flies. You also need to supplement both type of frogs diets with calcium and vitamins by dusting the crickets or fruit flies.

Here is a great article on choosing the right frog: Frog Forum - Choosing a Frog

Good luck with your choice.

[Pocket Frogs]

Thanks! I am also on Herp Care Center and started a thread there too. One of the people said that they housed a pair of auratus with a red eye (link here http://www.herpcenter.com/introduce-...599-hello.html {I am FunFroggies}), is it a possibility to do that with a pair of both (I am looking to breed the red eyes)? And is there a way to feed darts something besides live fruit flies, because anything with the words "live" and "food" in the same sentence are a HUGE no.
Thanks for your help

[Pocket Frogs]

I know Exo-Terra has a line of canned foods, do you know if they would eat anything on this list? --> Exo Terra : Canned Foods

[ViperJr]

Sorry to be that guy, but housing a auratus with a callidryas sounds like a perfectly good recipe for disaster. Not only do they have different care requirements, there's always the danger of slowly poisioning when housing different kind of amphibians together, since they all excrete different serets from their skins which could slowly decreased to others health. Lastly, a large red eye could very well try to eat a small dart frog.

Also, if live food is completely unthinkable, you have to give up the frog idea, I'm afraid. They won't eat dead food, most frogs won't. Perhaps a pyxie frog or a pacman (which is trained to be hand fed), but a dart frog? Not a chance

[Pocket Frogs]

Oh ok, I guess I will think about it. Thanks for your help.

[ViperJr]

My advice would be go get on Youtube and look at videos of live food (that's what I did beforing getting cockroaches, to get more used to it beforehand). Fruit flies are probably the least imtimidating food source, so a dart would perhaps be a good call (if getting over the live feeder-fear).

I hope you find something that works out for you!

[Pocket Frogs]

Ok I would be able to handle buying crickets at the store, but I can't raise my own fruit flies like I am seeing everywhere.

[DonLisk]

Fruit fly culturing is a simple and pretty cost effective process. I actually just by pre-made media for the cultures from both Joshsfrogs and Black Jungle.
Mix up, add flies, and 10 days later you have flies.

There are also a pile of good do it yourself mixes for media that is all items you probably have in your home.

[Pocket Frogs]

Yeah, I have coaxed myself into being able to culture flies, but I am going to put tree frogs in my viv, and poison dart frogs in another later on. So the flies are not a problem now. Could I culture crickets for my red eyes? Would they eat fruit flies like the darts?

[ViperJr]

Crickets works fine as a staple diet (although I personally recommend the roach Blaptica dubia). Red eyes will not go for the fruit flies, since they are too small (unless it's tiny froglets, in which case they work great).

[JimO]

One of my main reasons for keeping mostly dart frogs is that they are active during the day. All the treefrogs I've kept have been practically invisible until well after the lights go out. Consider this when making a decision. Some folks don't like having an animal that is not active or visible during waking hours. Also, if you get male treefrogs, be prepared for some loud evening music

Good luck.

[Pocket Frogs]

Oh that is true, but I have my heart set on RETFs. They are so adorable. Do the juvenile red eyes croak? I don't mind the croaking, just curious.

[ViperJr]

Juveniles (and females) do not call, it takes a while before they start, but when they do, it's lovely. But they are not the most active callers, I often hear my male once every night, but not always.

[flybyferns]

Hey, I am rather new to the forum. I know absolutely NOTHING about frogs, but I want to. I am planning on getting a viv with either tree frogs or darts. Which one is the most suited for beginners?
Thanks!

Hi "Pocket Frogs"

You have gathered great information here.

Once Red Eyes get used to the scheduled lights-on lights-off routine( my viv is in my basement.) You are able to spend time viewing them. Over time , I have decided to set up the following schedule:
-7 pm automated mist
-feed
-lights go out at 7:30 ( on timers ) early lights out !!
This is specifically so they become mobile for viewing. In a 1/2hr, or so, they are up and about!
(Daytime cage maintenance is a must, of course)

I have a cozy old chair in front of the viv, the cat on my lap, a cup of tea, my ipad , and I visit FF. lol

Sometimes I will put a regular 60 watt light on - far from the viv just to throw a little light our direction of which does not make them go back to bed. Every photograph I have taken at night has been with a little flash light that is made to snap onto eye glasses. ( purchased at the pharmacy for 8$)

Noisy calls: Never! I have three red eye males in my viv.
Their calls are not constant in nature. Active - yes.
The all have very different little red eye routines.
They are very entertaining!

Last night I watched 2 males near each other on their way down to eat. One male got himself up on a leaf and shook it and made his " get away " call ! --telling the other guy to get away ! They most definitely have 2 different calls. I think they enjoy being in groups? It's always the same male ("RUBY") that is the bossy one! I often wonder if researchers have observed a pecking order when groups with more than one male are kept in captivity?

They are always funny !!

[Pocket Frogs]

lol sounds like you have it down to a science. Is there such a thing as a "too big viv," because I found a nice one for a reasonable price and it is huge. Here is a link Terrarium Setup

[Sunshine]

I think that viv is awesome!! It would be perfect for some red-eyes, or any tree frog. And for that price I would not pass this one up!

[Sunshine]

Maybe not... it is wood... Sorry, I just thought of that.

[Pocket Frogs]

is there any way I could seal it or something?

[Sunshine]

Yes but I think it would be very difficult. You can get pieces of plexiglass cut to fit the walls inside and silicone the cracks with 100% silicone. The measuring and fitting would be the hard part. I am not sure how the plexiglass would be attached to the wall... I could be completely wrong but in theory it sounds good!!