Hello folks,

I've been interested and involved in terrariums for some time. Admittedly, I've been mostly a plant person. I've only kept anoles before and am recently set up a 55 gallon tank as a terrarium that is begging for some additional life. The substrate will probably need to be redone before long as I've been reading/learning about ones that last longer when not made of potting soil (though they grow great plants!). The terrarium has some nice driftwood pieces, but otherwise is mostly mosses and ferns. I have done a lot of reading on Mantellas and some on poison dart frogs... and it seemed to me that my situation would best allow for Mantellas...but boy are they difficult to come by locally. I live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, any ideas? I've gone to Twin Cities Reptiles who only get them in once or twice a year... have none currently. I'm also starting to wonder if it wouldn't be best to consider poison darts instead as they are more readily available. I want to keep the best suited type for the environment I have. The temperature is typically around 70-78oF, humidity is kept very high (but I am not currently measuring it).

M. bernhardi, M. betsileo, M. ebenaui, M. expectata, M. leavigata, M. nigricans seem to be the best at the warmer temperature range I have, unless you experts know that other species may do equally well?

Appreciate any feedback for this newbie interested in getting involved in these animals, and perhaps breeding at some point as well.

Thanks!