Hi,

I answered your other post on Dendroboard so check there for some info I've already given.

But , I would also say that Frog Forum is more geared to other types of frogs than DB which is more dart frog focused.

You mentioned here that one is only the size of your pinky fingernail....I would be worried that perhaps even the hydei will be too large for it and that you may need D. melanogaster as well.


The rule of thumb is that the prey should be smaller than the width of the head for reed frogs.
If you buy medium crickets from Petco, etc...many of them may be too large and you need to select out the ones of appropriate size....pinheads are OK or for the larger frog perhaps 1/4" crickets.


With the mixture of sizes of the frogs you have then I would go smaller rather than larger.....so try the fruit flies for now rather than crickets (unless pinheads are also given).
The larger frogs will eat the fruit flies as well and you will have all the sizes of frogs covered.


Springtails will not climb out of your viv....so no worries.
But getting the setup and feeding in place is more important as you can add springtails after you get going.

Hydei for the most part will not get through the screens in the Exo-Terra's, but they can get out any gaps other places in the vivarium which should be covered over with duct tape or painter's tape until you can fruitfly proof (or as a remedy/quick fix).

Google or search the forums on how to fruit fly proof an Exo-Terra.


Unfortunately, fruit fly escapes are definitely part of keeping frogs no matter how well you fruit fly proof.......set up a trap of a jar or cup of orange juice, or cider vineagar (or both) with some bakers yest sprinkled in. The trap will get most of them that escape.



If you search here you can find some info I posted on Heterixalus alboguttatus (starry night reed frogs) which will have similar care, etc....etc. some of your reed frogs are as small as juvies so will most likely need the fruit flies.

On the DB forum I posted some links to care sheets.


As I mentioned on DB, a quarantine set up would have been ideal to start out....and testing/treatment .
I would contact LLL as well since that's where you purchased them and you can find out how they were caring for them, etc.

Hopefully most of this info covered on DB and here will cover many of your questions, but feel free to ask additional questions that come up.