So.........I was thinking poison dart frogs(:

[berksmike]

In terms of beginner dart species I would say the following:

Dendrobates leucomelas - big, bold and good in groups
Dendrobates azureus - big, bold and good in sexed pairs or male dominated trios
Epipedobates anthonyi- smaller species but very bold and active and great in groups
Phyllobates terribilis or bicolor - big, bold and good in groups

Dendrobates auratus is also hardy too but I have never kept these and I do hear they generally are much shyer than the above species.

All the above will eat hatchling and 1st instar crickets but personally I prefer to feed mine on fruit flies, bean and grain weevils, whiteworms, aphids, springtails and tropical woodlice. Im not a fan of crickets - they can bite your frogs (had a black one bite an azureus), munch on your plants and if not eaten can grow to full size in your viv. Having said that I know a lot of people use them but I suppose its all down to your preference. I have started breeding milkweed bugs as an alternative - the first 4 instars are readily taken by frogs and they dont smell like crickets.

In terms of plants bromeliads are standard plants in most my vivs - either mounted on coco fibre background or mounted on branches as well as orchids (Phalaenopsis mainly). For climbing plants I use ficus pumila (although this can be a bit of a beast if not trimmed), ficus quercifolia (less rampant than pumila), cissus amazonica, philodendron scandens, scindapsus pictus and also various tradescantia species. Begonia shulzei is also great climber - lovely leaves, does very well in the warm humid environments and will produce lovely little pink flowers all year round.
You can use lots of other foliage plants like asplenium nidus, peperomia, pilea cadierei, fittonia, syngonium and soleirolia soleirolii. Riccia flutans is also great for covering moist rocks and any water areas.
Plus you can use various mosses for the bottom of your tank but it looks just as good with leaf litter and tropical seedpods.

When setting up your viv I would seed your substrate with springtails and tropical woodlice - they will breed in the tank and keep down any mould and debris plus will be a snack for the frogs!

Hope that has helped

[froglover27]

In terms of beginner dart species I would say the following:

Dendrobates leucomelas - big, bold and good in groups
Dendrobates azureus - big, bold and good in sexed pairs or male dominated trios
Epipedobates anthonyi- smaller species but very bold and active and great in groups
Phyllobates terribilis or bicolor - big, bold and good in groups

Dendrobates auratus is also hardy too but I have never kept these and I do hear they generally are much shyer than the above species.

All the above will eat hatchling and 1st instar crickets but personally I prefer to feed mine on fruit flies, bean and grain weevils, whiteworms, aphids, springtails and tropical woodlice. Im not a fan of crickets - they can bite your frogs (had a black one bite an azureus), munch on your plants and if not eaten can grow to full size in your viv. Having said that I know a lot of people use them but I suppose its all down to your preference. I have started breeding milkweed bugs as an alternative - the first 4 instars are readily taken by frogs and they dont smell like crickets.

In terms of plants bromeliads are standard plants in most my vivs - either mounted on coco fibre background or mounted on branches as well as orchids (Phalaenopsis mainly). For climbing plants I use ficus pumila (although this can be a bit of a beast if not trimmed), ficus quercifolia (less rampant than pumila), cissus amazonica, philodendron scandens, scindapsus pictus and also various tradescantia species. Begonia shulzei is also great climber - lovely leaves, does very well in the warm humid environments and will produce lovely little pink flowers all year round.
You can use lots of other foliage plants like asplenium nidus, peperomia, pilea cadierei, fittonia, syngonium and soleirolia soleirolii. Riccia flutans is also great for covering moist rocks and any water areas.
Plus you can use various mosses for the bottom of your tank but it looks just as good with leaf litter and tropical seedpods.

When setting up your viv I would seed your substrate with springtails and tropical woodlice - they will breed in the tank and keep down any mould and debris plus will be a snack for the frogs!

Hope that has helped

Thanks for ALL of that GREAT advice berksmike

[MikeM670]

In terms of beginner dart species I would say the following:

Dendrobates leucomelas - big, bold and good in groups
Dendrobates azureus - big, bold and good in sexed pairs or male dominated trios
Epipedobates anthonyi- smaller species but very bold and active and great in groups
Phyllobates terribilis or bicolor - big, bold and good in groups

Dendrobates auratus is also hardy too but I have never kept these and I do hear they generally are much shyer than the above species.

All the above will eat hatchling and 1st instar crickets but personally I prefer to feed mine on fruit flies, bean and grain weevils, whiteworms, aphids, springtails and tropical woodlice. Im not a fan of crickets - they can bite your frogs (had a black one bite an azureus), munch on your plants and if not eaten can grow to full size in your viv. Having said that I know a lot of people use them but I suppose its all down to your preference. I have started breeding milkweed bugs as an alternative - the first 4 instars are readily taken by frogs and they dont smell like crickets.

In terms of plants bromeliads are standard plants in most my vivs - either mounted on coco fibre background or mounted on branches as well as orchids (Phalaenopsis mainly). For climbing plants I use ficus pumila (although this can be a bit of a beast if not trimmed), ficus quercifolia (less rampant than pumila), cissus amazonica, philodendron scandens, scindapsus pictus and also various tradescantia species. Begonia shulzei is also great climber - lovely leaves, does very well in the warm humid environments and will produce lovely little pink flowers all year round.
You can use lots of other foliage plants like asplenium nidus, peperomia, pilea cadierei, fittonia, syngonium and soleirolia soleirolii. Riccia flutans is also great for covering moist rocks and any water areas.
Plus you can use various mosses for the bottom of your tank but it looks just as good with leaf litter and tropical seedpods.

When setting up your viv I would seed your substrate with springtails and tropical woodlice - they will breed in the tank and keep down any mould and debris plus will be a snack for the frogs!

Hope that has helped

I really liked your information of the plants. Great info for beginner or the more experiences vivarium keeper!

[JimO]

The only thing that I would add to Berkmike's advice (very good and concise) is to emphasize that a thicker leaf litter (3+ inches deep) will facilitate sustaining healthy populations of springtails, isopods/woodlice, and other microfauna. Not only do they provide a variety of food, but springtails feed on fungi and isos/woodlice will act as an effective cleanup crew - even consuming the frog droppings.

[berksmike]

Cheers guys.
Just to reiterate the point about leaf litter - not only does it provide great place for springs and isopods I have also found it can help increase boldness in shy frogs (particularly thumbnails). I use a mixture of oak leaves, which break down relatively quickly, as well as dried magnolia leaves which last a very long time and are very popular with springtails. Tropical seed pods also great - I use almond pods, savu pods and sapucuja shells

[froglover27]

Cheers guys.
Just to reiterate the point about leaf litter - not only does it provide great place for springs and isopods I have also found it can help increase boldness in shy frogs (particularly thumbnails). I use a mixture of oak leaves, which break down relatively quickly, as well as dried magnolia leaves which last a very long time and are very popular with springtails. Tropical seed pods also great - I use almond pods, savu pods and sapucuja shells

Thanks for your help!! Anywho does anyone know a cheap, easy, reliable place to buy springtails, etc? Also, can they be the staple diet for darts?? Thanks a bunch

[poison beauties]

In terms of beginner dart species I would say the following:

Dendrobates leucomelas - big, bold and good in groups
Dendrobates azureus - big, bold and good in sexed pairs or male dominated trios
Epipedobates anthonyi- smaller species but very bold and active and great in groups
Phyllobates terribilis or bicolor - big, bold and good in groups

Dendrobates auratus is also hardy too but I have never kept these and I do hear they generally are much shyer than the above species.

All the above will eat hatchling and 1st instar crickets but personally I prefer to feed mine on fruit flies, bean and grain weevils, whiteworms, aphids, springtails and tropical woodlice. Im not a fan of crickets - they can bite your frogs (had a black one bite an azureus), munch on your plants and if not eaten can grow to full size in your viv. Having said that I know a lot of people use them but I suppose its all down to your preference. I have started breeding milkweed bugs as an alternative - the first 4 instars are readily taken by frogs and they dont smell like crickets.

In terms of plants bromeliads are standard plants in most my vivs - either mounted on coco fibre background or mounted on branches as well as orchids (Phalaenopsis mainly). For climbing plants I use ficus pumila (although this can be a bit of a beast if not trimmed), ficus quercifolia (less rampant than pumila), cissus amazonica, philodendron scandens, scindapsus pictus and also various tradescantia species. Begonia shulzei is also great climber - lovely leaves, does very well in the warm humid environments and will produce lovely little pink flowers all year round.
You can use lots of other foliage plants like asplenium nidus, peperomia, pilea cadierei, fittonia, syngonium and soleirolia soleirolii. Riccia flutans is also great for covering moist rocks and any water areas.
Plus you can use various mosses for the bottom of your tank but it looks just as good with leaf litter and tropical seedpods.

When setting up your viv I would seed your substrate with springtails and tropical woodlice - they will breed in the tank and keep down any mould and debris plus will be a snack for the frogs!

Hope that has helped

I'd toss all Tinctorius morphs into this list of great starter darts.

As for Micro Fauna Josh isnt the greatest place to go as he had very limited species for sale. If you need it now I'd try Doug or ''Pumilio'' on DB as hes doing well and has a larger variety at a better price.

Michael

[froglover27]

Cool(: Any idea which ones would probably be the cheapest?? And/or most reliable and hardy? Thanks SOOOO MUCH for all the advice everyone has given(: