Mold???

[DigitalPunk]

They like high humidity which requires damp soil. Both Springtails and Isopods do good in a wide variety of soil types. ABG mix tends to be the best because it has so many different comp nets to it and will break down slower. ABG mix when cared for properly can last for over a year before it need to be replaced.

Isopods do the same job that Springtails do and can be eaten by the frogs as well, though most frogs prefer to eat the baby isopods as they have a softer shell. Having both Springtails and Isopods will not cause harm to one or the other. Having them both in the terrarium helps in bring as much of nature as possible into the habitat.

I know it is in another thread here, but refresh me on the frog you are putting in here. I think it was a Dart frog, they require high humidity which will lead to the soil being moist but not swampy which will be perfect for the soil insects.

From your picture in the first post I don't see any leaf litter. Your frog will love leaf litter. It gives them loads of hiding spots if they get spooked. It will lead to your frog being more bold than it otherwise might not be. NEHERP has leaf liter as well. Its cheap and you will get more than you need. Save what you don't use to add in after a month or 2 and to replaces the leaves that have decayed.

[ukfan1976]

They like high humidity which requires damp soil. Both Springtails and Isopods do good in a wide variety of soil types. ABG mix tends to be the best because it has so many different comp nets to it and will break down slower. ABG mix when cared for properly can last for over a year before it need to be replaced.

Isopods do the same job that Springtails do and can be eaten by the frogs as well, though most frogs prefer to eat the baby isopods as they have a softer shell. Having both Springtails and Isopods will not cause harm to one or the other. Having them both in the terrarium helps in bring as much of nature as possible into the habitat.

I know it is in another thread here, but refresh me on the frog you are putting in here. I think it was a Dart frog, they require high humidity which will lead to the soil being moist but not swampy which will be perfect for the soil insects.

From your picture in the first post I don't see any leaf litter. Your frog will love leaf litter. It gives them loads of hiding spots if they get spooked. It will lead to your frog being more bold than it otherwise might not be. NEHERP has leaf liter as well. Its cheap and you will get more than you need. Save what you don't use to add in after a month or 2 and to replaces the leaves that have decayed.

I have a dart frog, Azureus. he's still really tiny, bought him off a guy who got him this past December. He has a big appetite and is quite active. I'm housing him in his old terrarium which has the old substrate and a bromeliad in it right now. He's pretty content. I've been considering leaf litter. I've been trying to make the terrarium as close to a forest as I can and think it will add to the ambience nicely. I really like the NEHerp website. does the fact i live in California make a difference for the shipping of live insects?

Also, something I've been wondering about is how much do I need to feed my frog? I've been feeding once a day and just pouring some fruit flies from my culture into the tank. I'm not real sure how many to put in there. I'd estimate my frog is about the size of the tip of my thumb. He's definitely a little guy.

[flybyferns]

Paul has you covered !
He's right --- the best thing would be springs and isopods ---lots!
Seed both tanks!
Perhaps there is a show you could go to?
It would save those darn 'live' shipping costs.

FF
I use the 'leftovers' as a guide to how many flies.
Put in- at least 20 - or more- a day. If there are a lot left over ..then you can cut back as long as you are sure he is not haveing trouble finding his FFs.
If he has had difficulty 'growing' it may mean he was taken from a 'grow out' enclosure too soon? Feed him well.
Put the FF in the same spot every day. You could bury a tiny pc of banana at the FF site to keep the flies around the area.

I feed all my adults PDFs ( fruit flies) daily - following routine:
-dusted daily
-alternated Repcal Ca, Repashy, and RepCal Vitamins
-the adults get Repashy Vit A once a month

however, lots of people don't feed darts daily- I like to. What difference does it make ? ...as long as there are not too many FF in the enclosure -stressing the frogs. Knowing they are eating well and getting their supplements is all that matters

Now and then, I might skip a feed --- so the frogs can clean-up !

-the ,very,very, newly morphed froglets get springtails and isopods
( kept in little 2.5 gallon tanks/ dampened paper towel, a sprig of real plant and leaf litter)
-new springs are added daily
-the older froglets get fed FF 2X daily - dusted once , spring, and isopods

I feed isopods green zucchini and springs bakers yeast- both are kept - very successfully- in the same container with wet ABG, leaf litter, and big chunks of charcoal. I keep 3 large cultures---One is used only to replenish/ add to the other 2; these '2' are used to feed the babies. Works for me.

Enjoy your build.

[ukfan1976]

Paul has you covered !
He's right --- the best thing would be springs and isopods ---lots!
Seed both tanks!
Perhaps there is a show you could go to?
It would save those darn 'live' shipping costs.

FF
I use the 'leftovers' as a guide to how many flies.
Put in- at least 20 - or more- a day. If there are a lot left over ..then you can cut back as long as you are sure he is not haveing trouble finding his FFs.
If he has had difficulty 'growing' it may mean he was taken from a 'grow out' enclosure too soon? Feed him well.
Put the FF in the same spot every day. You could bury a tiny pc of banana at the FF site to keep the flies around the area.

I feed all my adults PDFs ( fruit flies) daily - following routine:
-dusted daily
-alternated Repcal Ca, Repashy, and RepCal Vitamins
-the adults get Repashy Vit A once a month

however, lots of people don't feed darts daily- I like to. What difference does it make ? ...as long as there are not too many FF in the enclosure -stressing the frogs. Knowing they are eating well and getting their supplements is all that matters

Now and then, I might skip a feed --- so the frogs can clean-up !

-the ,very,very, newly morphed froglets get springtails and isopods
( kept in little 2.5 gallon tanks/ dampened paper towel, a sprig of real plant and leaf litter)
-new springs are added daily
-the older froglets get fed FF 2X daily - dusted once , spring, and isopods

I feed isopods green zucchini and springs bakers yeast- both are kept - very successfully- in the same container with wet ABG, leaf litter, and big chunks of charcoal. I keep 3 large cultures---One is used only to replenish/ add to the other 2; these '2' are used to feed the babies. Works for me.

Enjoy your build.

BIG Thanks to everyone!!

It looks like there is a LLL Reptile here in San Diego. I've got most of my supplies from Pet Kingdom but not sure if they have the isopods or springtails. One of them surely has them haha I"ll be sure to check today when they open

[DigitalPunk]

I bought my last round of Mantellas from LLL and 2 of my Red Eyed tree frogs from them Wish I lived close enough to a store like that.

[ukfan1976]

I bought my last round of Mantellas from LLL and 2 of my Red Eyed tree frogs from them Wish I lived close enough to a store like that.

Paul,

Yeah it appears the store is like 10 mins from me haha. Don't open for a few more hours tho. I checked out their FB page for the local store and apparently they have 20% off their Dart Frogs ending today..... LOL I may come home with more than just isopods and springtails haha.

[DigitalPunk]

LoL, send us pics if you get some! My son ordered 2 Azureus they should be here on Tuesday