Have many questions. New to dart frogs.

[LilyPad]

I disagree. Spring peepers had fruit flies for a year. I was so disappointed when they became big enough for crickets but preferred fruit flies still.

Then again, I do not keep crickets usually, I buy as needed from a pet store a couple blocks from work. Right now I'm keeping small ones on hand for feeding the red eyes daily, but I won't when they're big enough for Mon-weds-Fri feedings.

I'm also a huge failure when it comes to making my own cultures so I ended up spending so much money for premade ones!

[DigitalPunk]

Yeah making cultures takes some practice too.

That is something I would recommend to anyone looking to get darts. Buy flies early, at least a month. This will let you practice making a few cultures so you will know how to do it and know that you will have enough food on hand to feed those little guys/gals.

Almost all new Dart frogs are very young, typically 1 month old. They will only be able to eat Springtails at first so you will want to get a culture or 2 of those and set them up in breeding tubs. Breeding tubs are basically a small shoebox size plastic tub with a loos fitting lid, some small charcoal, 1 inch of water, and springs. I bought my breeding setup initially from Neherp, but found the same bins at the dollar store. I haven't found a good source for the charcoal yet, but they are super simple. Just sprinkle some yeast in the tub with them every 2 to 3 days and in a month you will have more springs than you know what to do with .

[DigitalPunk]

Oh and we did the same thing with crickets when we had the 3 little ones. Once they got bigger it is way cheaper to buy the crickets by the 1000. Our local pet store will order us 1000 crickets at a time so we don't have to pay the shipping fees. I think we pay like $16 per 1000. At those prices I could buy them and resale them for a small profit lol.

[flybyferns]

Eli,

Dart frogs should have live plants -only.
I don't know if the size of the tank is a final decision? But it is low.
Substrate is , at the very least, is 5". Like Paul mentions...this does not leave much 'height' space.

Leucomelas do well in a small group. But would - really- appreciate more height.
Auratus ( though very shy ) would be ok in a group as well. This species is especially sensitive to improperly kept temps.

Dart frog species , nor morphs of species should never be mixed. What would happen to the 'mucked-up' off spring?

Paul hit-the-nail-on-the-head ! Fr Fl do take some practice !

It's really very simple. Understand and respect the 'rules' of proper husbandry.. FOLLOW THEM and your dart frogs will be very happy.

My 5 species of dart frogs are all in exo-terra tanks. The screen tops have been completely removed and replaced with glass. I build layered substrate ...not false bottoms. Just a matter of preference.

My tanks are drilled at the upper substrate area for automatic drainage; something I am SO very happy to have taken the time to do.

I might me tempted to created a very small screened area in the next one I modify......like a 2' diameter, screen cover, hole in the glass lid. The only ventilation is the under the doors and the little holes in the lid made for tubing and cords to pass through.
I have never lost a dart frog. ( knock wood ) I believe they are happy
Even the cord spaces are blocked ( with fiberglass screening ) for my R imitators and O pumilio froglets.
(They are quite proficient at escaping, and WILL find a spot if they can fit their little bodies through )

Some people block off the ventilation area under the doors so the fr fl don't escape.
If this is done on an exo...... ventilation should be added somewhere else!

Heating the enclosure in never a problem. Cooling it very well could be. Be prepared for this.
Dart frogs can die quickly if they are too warm. AC or a lg fan will be needed if the room they are in cannot be heated or cooled separately.

Small world. .... spent my summers , as a child, in Gilboa, NY. I'm on LI. My PDFs are in my basement. I still need to use heat cables in the winter. ( yes ... heat cables - carefully ! ) In the simmer - I keep a big circular fan on a thermostat. I had this set to come on when the area reached 78, but recently moved it to 76 after finding one tank (a few days) ago that reached 78 F. I keep ,at least, 2 the thermometers in each tank; including ones that are stuck in the substrate.

Get your enclosure going ,at the very least ,a month in advance.

Don't forget to QT your frogs. You know the routine.

Black Jungle has great plants too !
Josh's Frogs has great supplies for fr fl , really good ABG. Especially recently, the spagnum is ground up better
IMO NEHerp has the best ghost wood pcs.

Repashy "Super Fly" is my favorite fr fl medium. I was making my own for a while. But ( no more) I worry about crashes and being without food for a lot of hungry babies Too risky !

Buying frogs? We all approach this differently.
Personally, like to buy at a show:
1) meet and speak to the person selling them to me
2) SEE what kind of conditions they are kept in
3) and pick out my frogs........ myself
4) avoid the addition stress of shipping ( but ...this is not always possible)

There is a show in White Plains on 7/6/2014. There WILL b really good breeders there. If you would like names, throw me a PM Happy to help!. It would be worth the ride. Since you have to QT them for at least month anyway.... purchasing the frogs 1st is really not a problem as long as you have a QT tank ready. If you want to speak to a QT expert ...talk to Heatheranne. She can vouch for them being happy and health in QT for a 'very long time'

Enjoy ! I guess you are hooked now

Keep us posted !

[Mentat]

Hi Eli! Just want to add that you will need an AC room to help maintain cool temps in Summer. There is no other efficient and less expensive way to cool a high humidity vivarium .