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Thread: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

  1. #1
    iloveRanitomeya
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    Default Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Hi! My name is Nathaniel. I am 16. I have not kept dart frogs or similar frogs before. But I have raised Hyla chrysoscelis from tadpoles I have caught in pools of water in forests up to when they lost their tails, but I let them go because I did not have fruit flies and was just feeding them termites and I did not want them anymore. I might be able to get dart frogs soon. Could someone give me tips on raising and breeding them? And a list of the things I would need (such as terrarium, substrate, fruit flies, things to feed tadpoles.) unless the list would be too much trouble could you show me some websites? I was wondering if dart frogs could be kept in something like a plastic shoe box (is there such as thing?) their whole life, or would that not work? And how about if I grow "green water" in the sunlight for feeding the tadpoles? Thank you for the help!

  2. #2
    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Hello and Welcome !

    Ranitomeya are a 'thumbnail' dart frogs. Tiny !!!
    They are a genus of dart poison frogs of which , typically , have more than 2 colors.

    Order: Anura
    Family: Dendrobatidae
    Subfamily: Dendrobatinae
    Genus: Ranitomeya


    They are lovely...they almost ..............glow!
    There are over 20 different species the majority of which are found in the Amazon basin.

    They are not typically viewed as a beginner species.

    Learning about them, keeping them, and raising them requires lots of research.
    There are thousands of care sheets here and on the internet.

    They can't be kept in a plastic box.

    They live for many years and are kept in a vivarium. A vivarium is an enclosed, temperature and humidity controlled, planted environment with soil and drainage layer.

    All PDFs ( poison dart frogs) are raised under conditions that attempt to mimic their natural habitat.

    The enclosure ( vivarium) for any dart frog needs to be up-and-running before the frogs are introduced. The size and design of the enclosure(s) are species specific.

    Good luck with your Ranitomeya research.

    Current Collection
    Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
    Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
    Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
    Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
    Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"

    Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
    Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
    Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"

    Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
    Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
    Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
    Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
    Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
    Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
    Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
    Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
    Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
    Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"

    Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)

    Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
    Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
    Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
    Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
    Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
    Oophaga histrionica "Tado"

    Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
    Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
    Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
    Ranitomeya vanzolinii

    http://www.fernsfrogs.com
    https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs

  3. #3
    Moderator Mentat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Hello and welcome to FF! Here is a care article for one of their species: Frog Forum - Imitating Dart Frog, Ranitomeya imitator / Dendrobates imitator (Schulte, 1986) - Care and Breeding. Would recommend an 18x18x24 in. enclosure for a breeding pair or trio. Reason for extra height is because the drainage/false bottom and ABG soil/leave layers will take around 6 in. when build up. Good luck !
    Remember to take care of the enclosure and it will take care of your frog !​

  4. #4
    Moderator LilyPad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Hello and welcome to FF, Nathaniel! You have gotten some great advice from Lynn and Carlos. Good luck with your research!
    2.0.3 Hyla versicolor "Eastern Gray Tree Frogs"
    2.2.0 Agalychnis callidryas "Red Eyed Tree Frogs"

    0.0.3 Dendrobates auratus "Turquoise and Bronze"
    0.0.1 Anaxyrus fowleri "Fowler's Toad"



  5. #5
    iloveRanitomeya
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Thank you Lynn, Carlos, and Amy very much! And for quick replies. I actually was not really thinking about getting Ranitomeya to start out raising dart frogs. As you said Lynn they might be too hard for me and the prices for them are probably high compared to other dart frogs. If anyone's interested I have cockroaches (used for feeders and pets) I can trade for a few dart frogs. I do not have much else I could trade, except a few Dynastes tityus larvae and wild caught Lucanus larvae (Trying to breed them. I have not bred them before, or have had females lay eggs, but did not take very good care of them, and was unable to get Oyster Mushroom spawn which grows well on logs for the grubs to eat, I have to gather white rotten logs from the forests.).

    I have plenty of terrariums/aquariums that I am not using. I will try to get a terrarium up and running right now.

    Lynn: Why do dart frogs die in plastic boxes?

  6. #6
    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Hello again Walter or Nathaniel ?
    "Lynn: Why do dart frogs die in plastic boxes?"
    Is this a test ?

    I suppose they might not die; but how happy could it possible be?
    How could it possibly thrive?

    Would a captive bred dart frog rather live here:

    Name:  plastic box.jpg
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Size:  5.1 KB Name:  plastic box 2.jpg
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Size:  8.9 KB

    or here:

    Name:  mint enclosure.jpg
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Size:  137.0 KB

    I found some images in my mind of plastic boxes (above)
    A picture is worth a thousand words.

    Below - This is happy and healthy in that same enclosure.
    Personally, a very rewarding moment.
    I feel fortunate to have a photo of this:

    Name:  true blue 2.jpg
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    ~~Precious~~

    Current Collection
    Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
    Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
    Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
    Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
    Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"

    Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
    Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
    Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"

    Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
    Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
    Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
    Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
    Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
    Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
    Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
    Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
    Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
    Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"

    Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)

    Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
    Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
    Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
    Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
    Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
    Oophaga histrionica "Tado"

    Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
    Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
    Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
    Ranitomeya vanzolinii

    http://www.fernsfrogs.com
    https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs

  7. This member thanks flybyferns for this post:


  8. #7
    Moderator Lija's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    The other questions to ask yourself. - Why do I want to have frogs, dart frogs in particular?
    If the answer is - I want to have a small piece of nature and enjoy It as such and im ready to commit to supporting it for many many years to come, then it is a no brainer either to do a nice tank or not.
    keep in mind, it is an expensive hobby, you might need a vet, you will need to figure out who will take care of it while you go on vacation. Your parents need to be ok with random fruit flies appearing in your house.

    I don't want to discourage you, just give you something to think of.
    Save one animal and it doesn't change the world, but it surely changes the world for that one animal!

  9. #8
    iloveRanitomeya
    Guest

    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Hi!
    Lynn flybyferns: " Hello again Walter or Nathaniel ?

    "Lynn: Why do dart frogs die in plastic boxes?"
    Is this a test ?

    I suppose they might not die; but how happy could it possible be?
    How could it possibly thrive? "

    I admit that was a test, sorry. lol Either Nathaniel or Walter is fine, though I think I prefer Nathaniel because that is just what I was called when I was much younger.
    I want to make an enclosure like what you made in your pictures of your vivarium with the Phyllobates terribilis "Mint" (?).

    Lija:
    Wow, I thought there were no or very few vets that would actually know things about frogs! I will try to make a nice vivarium for frogs. Yes, I might not be able to support this expensive hobby. I thought it would be cheap to maintain the frogs and the vivarium after I made the vivarium and got the dart frogs. Though the lighting would cost some electricity. And the lighting will heat the vivarium during the daytime to around 75 degrees when the temperature in the room outside the vivarium is around 68F degrees, right? Usually daytime temperatures in our house during the winter is about 70F and drops to 68F during night. I will keep the vivarium in a shady spot in our house so that the sun won't roast the frogs.
    Oh, no, you are not discouraging me at all! This is encouraging.

    Thank you!

  10. #9
    iloveRanitomeya
    Guest

    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Would it be alright if I add a layer of rocks on the bottom of the vivarium for the drainage? Does forest dirt work well for making a vivarium for dart frogs? I know very little about plants by the way...

  11. #10
    Tongue Flicker
    Guest

    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Hey nathaniel welcome aboard! Don't worry about the plants, we got you covered

  12. #11
    iloveRanitomeya
    Guest

    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Quote Originally Posted by Tongue Flicker View Post
    Hey nathaniel welcome aboard! Don't worry about the plants, we got you covered
    LOL. Thank you. I am happy1892 on roachforum.

  13. #12
    100+ Post Member elly's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    People can answer this in the vivarium forum, but for soil, if you want plants you can make a mix of things. Sadly dirt from a garden/ forest is likely to have insect eggs, parasites and stuff in it. Most potting soil has chemical fertilizers and shouldn't be used.

    You can use rocks for drainage, it'll just make the terrarium heavier and harder to move. There's some light clay-based drainage stuff you can find in garden stores that works. But clean rocks will work too.

  14. #13
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    I wouldn't use forest dirt for your soil it could introduce a lot of unwanted pests and bugs into your vivarium.
    Look up ABG mix and you should find recipes for making your own substrate from fairly inexpensive ingredients from garden centers.
    You could use smalls rocks for the drainage layer but it would add a lot of weight to the vivarium should you ever decide to relocate it.
    If you use rocks make sure you boil them before using them.
    Once you get the main components to set up a dart frog vivarium it is not that expensive to maintain them.

  15. #14
    iloveRanitomeya
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Thank you for the information. Would sterilizing the forest dirt in a conventional oven be alright? I have gravel I can use for drainage instead of rocks.

  16. #15
    Moderator Mentat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Quote Originally Posted by iloveRanitomeya View Post
    Thank you for the information. Would sterilizing the forest dirt in a conventional oven be alright? I have gravel I can use for drainage instead of rocks.
    Sorry for late reply . Yes, you can sterilize soil by baking for 1 hour at 200F (same as branches and leaves) and letting slowly cool down in oven overnight .
    Remember to take care of the enclosure and it will take care of your frog !​

  17. #16
    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hey! Newbie from North Carolina!

    Or you can purchase ready made "ABG" or substrate mix(s) of which are a combination of ingredients that allow for proper drainage > leading to a healthier environment for the plants and the frogs.
    New England Herpetoculture LLC - Vivarium Substrates

    Current Collection
    Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
    Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
    Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
    Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
    Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"

    Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
    Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
    Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"

    Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
    Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
    Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
    Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
    Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
    Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
    Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
    Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
    Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
    Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"

    Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)

    Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
    Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
    Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
    Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
    Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
    Oophaga histrionica "Tado"

    Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
    Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
    Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
    Ranitomeya vanzolinii

    http://www.fernsfrogs.com
    https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs

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