Help with first frog

[ReptiNut]

Could a single D. leucomella be kept in a vertical 10 gallon vivarium? I heard they like to climb, and if two are ok in a horizontal, and each one would get half the area, which is about the same as the floor space of a vertical, so would it work out like that? or could someone reccomend a frog that would work in that setup? (besides a real "thumbnail" that is) thanks!

[clintosaurus rex]

2 leucomela would do fine in a ten gallon, as many recommend 5 gallons per frog, but I would do more research on whether they are arboreal or terrestrial. Good luck!

[ReptiNut]

2 leucomela would do fine in a ten gallon, as many recommend 5 gallons per frog, but I would do more research on whether they are arboreal or terrestrial. Good luck!

I read in multiple places that they will utilize upright space if you give it to them, so I may try it and if it turns out it needs more room or doesn't use the space, I can use a regular horizontal setup. But it will still be awhile before I get a frog. I need to hardscape the viv today, have greatstuff foam and everything on-hand, and order an AAAfrogs conversion kit. Has anyone had experience using mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) in a vivarium? the green wood is toxic to mammals but once dry the poison is gone and the wood is very dense and rot resistant. it also comes in a variety of shapes perfect to mount broms and other plants. just wanted to ask because I have tons of the wood around my house.

[John]

I've never even heard of that wood so I can't comment specifically on it. However, if you know it to be toxic to mammals, it would seem like a bad choice for amphibians, don't you think?

On the subject of space, in reality you can't take the floor space and "divide" it per frog. I know basic care articles sort of imply that you can, but that's not how the frogs work. 4 leucomelas in twice as much floor space as 2 leucomelas is actually a far superior situation.

Now to your specific situation. Please do not try to keep a leuc in a 10 gallon vert. These frogs are large (for darts) and they need a good amount of space. A 10 gallon vert for a frog that large is definitely too small in my opinion. Not that this is an ideal suggestion, but you would be much better off keeping that one frog in a 10 gallon horizontal - this species climbs, but they spend a lot of time on the ground too, and the quality and availability of vertical space is generally inferior, especially when the terrarium is put together by a newcomer (no offense intended, just being factual).

[ReptiNut]

While I have not kept darts, I have setup multiple vivariums for reptiles and other amphibians. but I will do a horizontal if a vertical will not work. And I said the wood is toxic when green. dry, it is used as bowls for pipes, and if there are any toxins left, burning should release them. so I think it should be safe. Is there anyone here who has kept a large viv. with a pair of frogs and have them breed and rear young without intervention? (artificial incubation, etc)? just was curious about that.

[guppygal]

While I have not kept darts, I have setup multiple vivariums for reptiles and other amphibians. but I will do a horizontal if a vertical will not work. And I said the wood is toxic when green. dry, it is used as bowls for pipes, and if there are any toxins left, burning should release them. so I think it should be safe. Is there anyone here who has kept a large viv. with a pair of frogs and have them breed and rear young without intervention? (artificial incubation, etc)? just was curious about that.

Sure. Tank breeding is very easy, especially with Leucs. If you decide to go this route, I would suggest a minimum of a 50g tank with about 70/30 land vs water. I have a tank that I call the 'swamp' because the water is not circulated and there is ton of detritus in it. When I was breeding Leucs, I had several bromeliads overhanging the water. The Leucs laid their eggs on the leaves and when the tads hatched, they dropped into the water. The only issue is that the tads are cannibalistic and even though several went into the water, only the strongest survived and morphed out. I always worried about all the rotting plant matter and dead flies in the water, but it turned out to be a good thing for the tads. They survived on algae and dead flies and the other rotten stuff. I ended up with a bunch of strong, healthy Leucs after awhile.

I'm now using the swamp to raise blue/bronze auratus. The parents reside in another tank and I pull the eggs. I keep the eggs in the same petri dish they were laid in and seal them up in a tupperware container lined with moist paper towels. After a couple weeks or so, the tadpoles have hatched and are ready to be moved to the swamp. What surprised me the most is that the auratus tads were not cannibalistic and they get along just fine. I have all ages of young blue/bronze auratus juvies in the swamp with more to come.

Most breeders go to great lengths to make sure that each tad has its own cup and is fed how ever many times they feed them per day or week. I look at it this way - frogs in the wild usually lay their eggs in a puddle or small pond of water. Except for obligate egg-feeders, the tads are left to fend for themselves. Odds are that they're eating algae, dead insects, and other detritus. So, it's really up to you about how you want to raise tads - tank method or cups.