Thinkin' about darts again

[Teh Frog Whisperer]

What temperature range do darts need? What kind of plants are best for darts in a 20-gallon tank?

[clownonfire]

What temperature range do darts need? What kind of plants are best for darts in a 20-gallon tank?

Generally speaking (and it can vary), a range of temperature of 70-80 F is suitable. Keeping it around 75 is good.

As for plants, often enough, when you read "darts" you'll often read "bromeliads". What you want to do is mimic their natural environment. Michael Lawrence (PoisonBeauties) on this site is a great reference. In my dart frog vivs, I have bromeliads, oak leaf figs, creeping figs, orchids, and one that I like a lot, Blushing Philodendron.

[Teh Frog Whisperer]

Alright, a few more questions:

-How many D. Leucomelas can fit comfortably in a 20-gallon, long tank?
-How do I maintain 80-100% humidity?
-What kind of lighting do I use?

[Kisa]

This is a great thread, thanks for starting it, I'm really interested in this information as well and will be reading along. My personal favorite of darts frogs are the D. Auratus, I just love their blue to green and black coloration. I'll probably start thinking about getting a pair of these in the future.

[clownonfire]

Alright, a few more questions:

-How many D. Leucomelas can fit comfortably in a 20-gallon, long tank?
-How do I maintain 80-100% humidity?
-What kind of lighting do I use?

I would put a pair of leucs in a 20-gallon, perhaps a trio. I wouldn't go above that. Maintaining humidity will be achieve by:

Putting a sheet of glass over your terrarium cover. Glass keeps the humidity in. Hydroballs will also help keeping good humidity. And if you do not was to purchase an automatic mister such as the Exo-Terra Monsoon or the Mist King, you will need to spray your terrarium at least twice a day. What you want is a wet environment. So twice a day, and good sprays. I suggest getting a digital hydrometer to make sure you keep track of the humidity. For example, I have two of them in my 29 gallon to make sure humidity is kept on all sides of my viv.

Lighting in itself is not necessary for the frogs. However, it will be for the plants I have mentioned above, and for most plants you will be getting for a dart frog viv. In my 29 gallon, I use two Exo-Terra Glow Light fixtures with each a 13w Repti Glo 2.0 Compact Full Spectrum Terrarium Lamp. Some members here use 26w. My plants are doing fantastic with a 13w. Other members here will use T5s and/or T8s. Here's a thread on lighting I started a few weeks back: http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...art-frogs.html.

[Teh Frog Whisperer]

Thanks a lot for the info, everyone. By the way , what to the numbers and species names in your signatures mean?

[Kisa]

Thanks a lot for the info, everyone. By the way , what to the numbers and species names in your signatures mean?

Eric there informaed a little while ago that the numbers are "male.female.unknown frog name", you put the number of each category you have and then the frog's scientific name, to avoid confusion.

[Kisa]

I would put a pair of leucs in a 20-gallon, perhaps a trio. I wouldn't go above that. Maintaining humidity will be achieve by:

Putting a sheet of glass over your terrarium cover. Glass keeps the humidity in. Hydroballs will also help keeping good humidity. And if you do not was to purchase an automatic mister such as the Exo-Terra Monsoon or the Mist King, you will need to spray your terrarium at least twice a day. What you want is a wet environment. So twice a day, and good sprays. I suggest getting a digital hydrometer to make sure you keep track of the humidity. For example, I have two of them in my 29 gallon to make sure humidity is kept on all sides of my viv.

Lighting in itself is not necessary for the frogs. However, it will be for the plants I have mentioned above, and for most plants you will be getting for a dart frog viv. In my 29 gallon, I use two Exo-Terra Glow Light fixtures with each a 13w Repti Glo 2.0 Compact Full Spectrum Terrarium Lamp. Some members here use 26w. My plants are doing fantastic with a 13w. Other members here will use T5s and/or T8s. Here's a thread on lighting I started a few weeks back: http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...art-frogs.html.

So I'm assuming that dart frogs don't require the same amount of ventilation that tree frogs do then? Because of the piece of glass? I have seen someone I know do this for their bearded dragon tank, but I assume that was to keep the heat in, since bearded dragon's need a lot of dry heat.

[DonLisk]

So I'm assuming that dart frogs don't require the same amount of ventilation that tree frogs do then? Because of the piece of glass? I have seen someone I know do this for their bearded dragon tank, but I assume that was to keep the heat in, since bearded dragon's need a lot of dry heat.

Your guess is right on Kisa. You can pretty much completely close up the viv since when you open the top, that will be enough to change out some small amount of air. Also, the plants produce much of the needed oxygen and the viv maintains itself.

Biggest need to any air movement is some plants which require some type of circulation to thrive.

[Kisa]

Your guess is right on Kisa. You can pretty much completely close up the viv since when you open the top, that will be enough to change out some small amount of air. Also, the plants produce much of the needed oxygen and the viv maintains itself.

Biggest need to any air movement is some plants which require some type of circulation to thrive.

Alright thanks Don, that info is helpful. Right now I'm operating off my knowledge of tree frogs for deciding what I'm going to do with a pair of darts (hopefully some morph of D. Auratus, I LOVE those. ><). I've noticed that darts do like longer tanks, is that right? I have my small 10 gallon that I'm using right now for Mr. Wayne and wondering what I was going to do with it once he's big enough to join Bruce Campbell. Cheri suggested I modify it for a different pair of frogs. I was thinking turning it on it's side and manufacturing a door would be the best way to do it, but can I just leave it the way it is? I read somewhere that D. Auratus like to climb more than other darts, but they're mostly found on the ground. And is a ten gallon even big enough for two D. Auratus? O: (sorry for hijacking your thread Frog Whisperer, I didn't realize how many questions I actually had...>>)