Potential New Frogger

[EMCookjb]

My name is John. I am currently in Lincoln Nebraska. I am still in the research phase of this new project and never had frogs before. I recently got a 24 inch cube tank (see picture). I am looking to recreate a mini-ecosystem that includes both terrestrial and aquatic areas. I would like to take advantage of the vertical space in the tank. I am trying to decide if I want to do tree frogs and/or dart frogs. Any suggestions of comments would be greatly appreciated.

John

[Frogfeet123]

Tree frogs. Easier, hilarious, and forgiving of newbie mistakes


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[EMCookjb]

Thank you for the suggestion. Since I am looking at creating a living natural environment, will the plants be able to deal with the waste of a number of tree frogs? I have read that a living vivarium can deal with the waste of a number of dart frogs. I want to create as "self-sustaining" of an eco-system as possible.

John

[elly]

Tree frog waste will probably be larger depending on the frog, it may need to be removed as you find it. Also some tree frogs (red-eyes) can be somewhat difficult. In a cube that size you could probably fit more darts (depending on species, whether they're territorial) than you could fit larger tree frogs. Except maybe American Green or Gray tree frogs. I'm not certain, I've mostly studied White's TF info.

[LilyPad]

What a beautiful tank! I, myself, adore tree frogs. I do not clean the waste out of me tree frog vivariums. It is broken down by springtails and isopods and used by the plants as fertilizer. Is the top glass? Tree frogs need good ventilation, so that wouldn't work for them. I did a lot of research on P. terribilis and they seem to be an easy starter dart if that's what you're looking for.

Here is an article that would be a good read for you -http://www.frogforum.net/content/choosing-frog-147/

We also have many great threads on building vivariums that will help once you choose a species.

[EMCookjb]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Here is a picture from the top. Most of the top, at the moment is glass but there is currently a 2 inch piece of plastic in the back. There are two glass portions. The one with the handle is 5 inches and the rest is about 15 3/4 inches. I can probably replace one or both with plastic and poke holes in them. Or install a ventilation system and/or replace the 2 inch plastic with mesh. Thank you for the feedback. I am wondering if I want to add a water feature or just focus on going vertical with both a couple of tree frogs up high and a few dart frogs on the ground.

John

[LilyPad]

You can only put one species in there. The tree frogs will eat the dart frogs and possibly get sick and die. Even with an excess of hiding places, the stress and potential toxins will be too much for either of them and their immune systems will break down.

[flybyferns]

Hello John,
Welcome to Frog Forum
God luck with your build.

Heads up... be careful with the plastic top/part. If it moves, even a little, a frog could escape.

[elly]

Frog species have different kinds of toxin in their skin. Even though captive raised darts don't have toxins that can affect humans, there's still a chance they could harm other frog species, or other species could have unfamiliar toxins that harm them. From everything I've heard from experienced froggers, keeping two different species in a tank is asking for trouble.

Also I don't think anyone's mentioned yet that darts/mantillas species are awake during the day while tree frogs are nocturnal. (My white's are awake in the early evening so I do get to see them a lot though.)

[EMCookjb]

Thank you everyone for the input. I am leaning toward getting dart frogs. I have two questions: 1. Will dart frogs crawl/climb up broken branches to the upper part of the tank? 2. I would like to put some sort of water feature into the living exhibit. I am thinking either a "pond" with a shoreline, a 4 inch wide and 2 inch deep running stream, and/or waterfall. What are the "experts" input regarding a water feature?

Thank you,
John

[elly]

1. I've seen pictures of darts climbing glass, I doubt they'll have trouble climbing branches.

2. I'll let people familiar with water features answer.

[Lija]

Welcome to the forum! Oh gosh if a tank like that would get in my hands .....lol

anyhow... Water features are nightmare.... and very strong headache... But if you are up to and are well equiped with some Advil... You should be fine but you gotta do a reseach and of course if you have qs you are welcome to ask.

and now when I have my darts... I must say.. They are the most entertaining frogs out there. Get one of the bigger ones, azureus or similar, they are always out, eating like pigs, recognize you and beg for food. Tree frogs will be sleeping all day and you won't see them doing much of anything unless you are night owl yourself.

Oh and yes, they ( darts, depending on species) will be climbing all over the place. My azureus are using very single inch of the tank, it is 24" in hight. Keep in mind the actual height will be less when you put false bottom, substrate, stuff.

[EMCookjb]

Lija,

Thank you for the input. Based on what you said, I really do think I am going with the darts. I know they won't have all 24 vertical inches to use, but if I can get a species of darts that like climbing, they will appreciate the vertical space.

I don't mind spending the time and energy researching how to do an effective water feature, as long as I think it will enhance my frogs "lives" and they enjoy it. From what I have read so far, some dart frogs do enjoy hanging out around water.

I am beginning to get a feel for what I think will work and all, including the frogs, will enjoy.

John