Another Dart Frog Question

trinitywolf · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2003, 05:51 PM

For those that keep or have kept dart frogs, how ofter do/did you feed them? I have read things from 3-4 x wk to every day. What have your experiences been?
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telefrag · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2003, 06:12 PM

I tried to feed mine every other day when I had them.

but I have a friend who feeds daily.
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trinitywolf · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 03:51 AM

I knew you would be the first to post to this Matt. Thanks man. To me, that feeding schedule is a big difference. Of course, I don't know squat about amphibians, but that just seems to be a big variance.
For some reason, I don't think that we have a lot of experienced keepers of dart frogs here. Maybe I am mistaken and people just arn't very forthcoming here [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img], or they don't like me much [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] . I just don't want to go to that other site for advice. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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telefrag · #4 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 04:29 AM

anytime Mr.Ted

One thing I can say that I just got done talking with a buddy about, we talked a bit about small/slightly larger than pinhead crickets seem to fill them up and keep them full longer than Drosiphilla (sp?)
So you may want to see about securing a solid source for small (not pinhead) crickets.
I bet you can get away with feeding them on a friday before you leave work, then feeding them first thing monday.
I dont think they would be any worse for wear.
Just put in a few more than what they would normally eat in a sitting, so they can pick them off little by little over the weekend.

But I wouldnt go crazy or anything, I dont trust crickets with anything.
I have seen crickets do serious bodily injury to lizards before.

#5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 09:35 AM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>small/slightly larger than pinhead crickets seem to fill them up and keep them full longer than Drosiphilla (sp?) </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

That in itself could relate to a variance in feeding schedules for the Dendrobates. If the prey they eat is larger type , like the criks, then they can/will go for a longer period between feeds.
As a rule here, I go with their feeding habits they exhibit basically. I start out offering daily to new specimens. If the eat daily then I continue with that scheduling for them. If they eat every other day, then that is what I go by. I wouldn't go every 4 days though myself. I find the average with feeding them Drosiphilla (sp?) to be daily. With criks it is every other day that they tend to feed np.

I don't care to leave the criks in with them if they are not going to eat them in a short time span at all here. I remove [ actually have my kids do it. I do NOT touch any type of bugs lol] criks that are not eaten after about an hour - two hour time span. I just don't trust the criks and what they might do. They can be quite nasty lil critters towards their predators if not eaten in a short time span and left in the caging. The Drosiphilla (sp?) I have np leaving like that though. I would suggest for weekends feeding the Drosiphilla (sp?) on Friday and then offer the criks during the week. You would be giving them a variance by doing this and also not risking anything happening to them by leaving any criks in the caging with them for the weekend at all.

Which ones are you keeping btw ?

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trinitywolf · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 08:28 PM

I don't think that cirkets would be a problem...I live in KY, home of the redneck. What do you guys think we do on the weekend? Can you say FISH? LOL
Right now Lori, I don't even have a frog. I am seriously thinking about going with Dendrobates Tinctorius as they are the largest species, and also the most outgoing (from what I have read). I want to start by getting my vivarium and fruit fly cultures started, and doing well before I actually get the frog(s).
Won't these guys eat wax worms and some other kinds of bugs too? I really want to make sure that them being unattented (not fed) for the weekend will not result in a problem. If I had to take them home, it would not be a problem...just a disappointement.
Can anyone vouch for Black Jungle? I have been looking at ordering stuff from them to start the viv...anyone done business with them?
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#7 (**permalink**) 02-13-2003, 01:14 AM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>Can anyone vouch for Black Jungle? I have been looking at ordering stuff from them to start the viv...anyone done business with them? </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

YUP..NP with them as far as I am concerned at all. I have purchased viv supplies from them in the past and would do such in the future if I needed to also.

AHH.. That one, the Dendrobates Tinctorius is a larger specimen no doubt. It also is one of the mid-line ones in the cost area too. Seeing that it is slightly larger than the other ones, it most likely is not as shy like the others might tend to be. Thereby not spending as much time "hidden" among the foliage/items within it's viv. This one also , due to it's larger sizing , would carry less of a threat to it's health in being left with criks. From what I have read it can accomodate itself against criks that may try to "advance" upon it.

As for other food items for them... Tiny spiders can be used, but their slooow life cycling makes it a PITA to maintain a feed supply of them for the Dendrobates. The mealworms "skin" is way too tough for them to actually eat, no matter what size/how small they are. Basically that is why you see/hear of people feeding them the criks [ pins and micros] and the Drosiphilla (sp?).

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#8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 10:46 PM

hey trinitywolf ? Have you obtained some darts yet or what ? Show pics if ya did and let us know which ones ya got also please .
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trinitywolf · #9 (**permalink**) 03-19-2003, 03:42 AM

Lori,

I have not obtained any frogs as of yet. I am still working on it. I am still interested in them but have found that the set up I want will cost me quite a bit more than I currently have to spill on the project so for now at least, it is on hold.

I have to say, I have had no luck with Black Jungle. I have e-mailed them twice and called them personally once to no avail. They have not returned my call or my e-mails so I will go out of my way to go with someone else. Even if I have to pay more. I think it's the poorest kind of customer service to have someone call you and you don't return their calls. Add the e-mails and I would say their customer service is non-existant.
Must be nice to have all the customers you need. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
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skadiwolf · #10 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 10:58 AM

i have not yet kept them but have heard that daily or every other day is usually the norm. a big part of this is they often breed readily and so need a good, constant source of food to keep them plump (not fat) and healthy so they are not overly strained.

i would imagine the egg feeder types would need food even moreso since they'll lay dud eggs to feed their fertile eggs.
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melis · #11 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 08:47 PM

Depends on a lot of different things.

First, if I am low on food they can go to every other day.

If I want to induce them to breed I will power feed them 2-3 times a day if I have the food. I recommend feeding your frogs 1 to 2 times a day when you first get them and watch how much they eat. If they are eating voraciously each time, this is the right feeding schedule, if they are a ton of flies around and they could care less go to one a day.

Remember that too many flies in the cage can be stressful to the frogs.
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