feeding my darts??????

[mvogan]

Purchased 5 dart frogs anout aweek ago. Fed them the next day, but they didn't seem interested and the ff just hung around for 2 days. Waited a day and then fed them again, again not very interested and this time I found a bunch had escaped the tank. The YouTube videos show darts being fed in a small container, but that seems like a lot of unnecessary handling. They seem active and healthy but I read that they should be fed everyday to ever other day, I got them on April 1st and it's April 9th and I've only fed them twice. Is this normal or something to worry about.

Please help?

[LilyPad]

What kind of darts to you have? What is their temp and humidity? How big are they and what kind of flies are you using? My baby darts (an aurat and a tinc) only take springtails and D. mels. They wouldn't eat at all at the pet store though because they were not properly housed.

[mvogan]

They are all dendrobates tinctorious: 2 citronellas, 2 powder blues, 1 Patricia. The temperature was 82 but turned of lamp it's now 76, hhumidity is 70%. Not sure how old they are but they range from about 1/2 inch to 1.5 inches. I think they are adults or sub adults. The pet shop said they were feeding them ff and sold me 2 cultures 1 well started and 1 just starting. I had calcium at home already so i dust ff both times I fed them, just got vvitamin and something call superpig to increase pigment (haven't used yet).

[DigitalPunk]

Your humidity is to low. It needs to be closer to 90%. The temp up around 82 will kill them in short order. Better to be in the low to mid 70s like you are now.

You do not have them all housed together do you? That will stress them out big time and will lead to them not eating and slowly withering away. Stress in frogs is a serious thing. I know it sound minor, but a stressed frog is prone to contracting all sorts of opportunistic diseases that will end badly.

What size tank are they in?

Citronella get bid (2.5-3) they dont climb and like lots of floor space. I have my breeding pair of Cits in a 24x18 tank and they use every last inch of the surface area.

Powder blues and Patricias are smaller than Cits as adults, but will not climb much either. They need at least 18x18x18 tanks.

What type of flies are you using? Hydie or Melo?

You should be dusting the flies with each feeding. You need a Multi Vit supplement and a Clacium w/D3 supplement. The super pig is optional. Rapashey Calcium plus is a great staple supplement to use.

[mvogan]

I'm not sure what type of fruit flies just that they are flightless.

The tank temp is down to 74, humidity is up to 85.

The tank is 12x12x18. I was orginally going to keep them in the 12 sq tank, but they were jumping so high that they were bouncing off the top. The pet store said they would be fine in the smaller tank together. They seem like climbing all over the tank and are quite active.

[DigitalPunk]

That is WAY to small. They are jumping because they are stressed out. I am can guarantee you any petstore you buy frogs from will provide you with really really bad care advice.

You should honestly split the frogs up my species into plastic tubs with wet paper towels. Use Distilled Water. Tap water is toxic to amphibians.

I wont sugar coat this, if your frogs stay as they are for very long you will slowly start to loose them. I am offering you advice that will allow you to enjoy your frogs for years and years. Each species needs to be in a tank by them selves. 18x18x18 is plenty big. Until then keeping them in a temp/QT tub like I described earlier will be your best bet to calm them down and keep them happy. You should honestly do the move no later than this weekend. 9 days without eating is pushing it. You can use cheap tubs from the dollar store or buy some $5 tubs at a big box store.


QT Tub

1 - Layer unprinted paper towels on bottom of tub (2 deep). Make the paper towels as flat as possible
2 - Add some plant clippings. Pothos or wondering jew work good in these situations
3 - Something to hide under or in. A deli cup works if that is all you have or piece of cork, coco hut. Anything that is non toxic and wont mold in a humid tank
4. Distilled waster. Soak the paper towels. You dont want it to be laying in water but you want them saturated.
5. Mist with Distilled water 2 - 3 times a day or as needed
6. Feed daily. Place a piece of sliced banana into the tub. The flies will be drawn to it and will help minimize escaped flies.

[jarteta97]

5 cits in a 12x12x18 ?!!!! I mean wow pet stores just really do know nothing. Listen to Paul's advice, he'll lead you right. I wish you the best of luck

[Lija]

Josh, there are 5 frogs in that tank : 2 cits, 2 powders and 1 Patricia because pet store people said its ok.
in 12x12x18

[LilyPad]

That is so frustrating because people have no idea how much they're going to end up spending to house them properly. Sad. Keep us updated mvogan, we're happy to help.

[flybyferns]

I'm not sure what type of fruit flies just that they are flightless.

The tank temp is down to 74, humidity is up to 85.

The tank is 12x12x18. I was orginally going to keep them in the 12 sq tank, but they were jumping so high that they were bouncing off the top. The pet store said they would be fine in the smaller tank together. They seem like climbing all over the tank and are quite active.

Josh,
How old are the frogs? Even information such as full grow or small will help us.
Slowly get yourself separate enclosures for each species.
These enclosures can be temporary such as 2.5 gallon aquariums that are purchased w glass lids.

If they are small frogs---- purchase a springtail culture ( or 2 ) and melanogaster fruit flu cultures ( and supplies ? ) from NEHerp.
New England Herpetoculture LLC - Live Bugs
Their cultures are super, you can purchase the flies in different stages of development.
They will last a long time ---- which will enable you to get your own cultures going.

Wondering
During your purchase.... were your you given ANY additional information about the frogs. Age ? breeder? Instruction as to how to house them permanently? Need for quarantine ?

Also ...If you don't mind sharing ....privately please .... please send me a PM .... What pet store told you it was OK to put them together?

[flybyferns]

I'm not sure what type of fruit flies just that they are flightless.

The tank temp is down to 74, humidity is up to 85.

The tank is 12x12x18. I was orginally going to keep them in the 12 sq tank, but they were jumping so high that they were bouncing off the top. The pet store said they would be fine in the smaller tank together. They seem like climbing all over the tank and are quite active.

Josh,
How old are the frogs? Even information such as full grow or small will help us.
Slowly get yourself separate enclosures for each species.
These enclosures can be temporary such as 2.5 gallon aquariums that are purchased w glass lids.

If they are small frogs---- purchase a springtail culture ( or 2 ) and melanogaster fruit fly cultures ( and supplies ? ) from NEHerp.
New England Herpetoculture LLC - Live Bugs
Their cultures are super, you can purchase the flies in different stages of development.
They will last a long time ---- which will enable you to get your own cultures going.

Wondering
During your purchase.... were you given ANY additional information about the frogs. Age ? breeder? Instruction as to how to house them permanently? Need for quarantine ?

Please give us a list of the supplies you currently have on hand

Also ...If you don't mind sharing ....privately please .... please send me a PM .... What pet store told you it was OK to put them together?