Are Dart Frogs Good For Beginners?
Are Dart Frogs Good for Beginners?
Amphibians are beautiful sensuous creatures to own, but they can also be very demanding to care for. This is particularly true of poisonous animals like dart frogs.
There are many different types of dart frogs and they can all have differing requirements, so it is important to find out about each type before you purchase one to make sure it is suitable for your home.
The Green and Black Poison Dart Frog, also known as the Dendrobates auratus, is a very small frog with striking colouring. These are very hardy and will do well in a small tank, but they can get quite territorial. They are also a little less tolerant of temperature changes than some other species on this list, so if you’re planning to keep these frogs in a warmer room it might be worth investing in a larger tank!
They can be housed in tanks of 10 – 20 gallon size. They are sociable but can get territorial and will fight if they feel threatened. They do not need to be fed regularly, but they should have access to fresh water daily and a substrate to hide in.
You can keep a mixture of species together in the same enclosure but only if you have a large enough tank and can provide enough space for them both. It is important to have the proper environmental conditions for each animal as they will thrive best in their natural environment.
Captive bred dart frogs are not as toxic as wild ones, and they can be bought from breeders directly, rather than at reptile expos where wild-caught stock is often sold. You will want to ask the breeder as many questions as possible and be careful about any frogs you buy.
Unlike other reptiles, dart frogs can be kept in very small tanks as long as they have adequate space to move around. A 10 gallon tank will house a single frog, and a 20 gallon tank will house two or three.
They are insectivores, and they eat almost any insect you can feed them. You can provide them with a varied diet of fruit flies, crickets, and isopods. You can also provide a few calci worms, phoenix worms, and springtails to ensure they have a balanced diet.
In addition to these foods, you will need to provide a suitable habitat. They are accustomed to living in rainforests, so they prefer to be kept in moist environments. This means ensuring that the tank has sufficient ventilation to allow them to breathe comfortably.
These frogs can be easily housed in terrariums or containers with a porous bottom. This will help them avoid drowning in the event of a leak in the terrarium, and it can provide a natural substrate for them to hide in.
A variety of plants can also be used to create a natural rainforest environment. Some of these plants can be purchased from the pet store or you could try growing them yourself.
