Mantella Tank

Dryn · #1 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 04:11 PM

I know this is a dart frog forum, and mantellas are not really dart frogs, but close enough! I've set-up an exo-terra vivarium for three d. azureus that I'm getting in April, and am working out the kinks, but I was at the pet shop the other day and they had a tank full of mantellas for $20 each! They had painted mantellas, beautiful mantellas, and green/black mantellas. Considering they usually sell them for $49 each and no other pet shop carries any of the thumbnail frog species, I spontaneously decided to buy some. I put together a simple 10 gallon viv with a false bottom, moss and a few plants, and added three mantellas. (one painted and two beautiful). I know mixing is discouraged especially since they may interbreed, but I asked for three beautifuls and only realized one was a painted when I got home. They don't do refunds or exchanges, so oh well... The beautifuls only have a touch of brown on thier heads, otherwise, they look just like the painted. I'll have pictures later.

ubstrong · #2 (**permalink**) 04-07-2008, 10:52 PM

hi.. went thru the same thing. had the tank set up and waiting to buy my first dendros.. found these great little painted guys and had to have em. not having any frogs before, i don't know about the sizes. are these little guys thumbnail frogs, ??? and will the darts i get in the future be bigger.? i love the little guys. i'm afraid i won't be happy with anything bigger. have had the viv for only 3 months, but am already planning my 2nd, 60"x24"x18 for 2 species. (segregated )". !! :~) if a little is good, big is better right. ??

rudd03 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 12:41 AM

I think Mantella are dart frogs. If you google dart frog at least 50% of the hits are Mantella. I'm thinking hard on getting Mantellas. I can't wait to see the pic of yours.

bLue_reverie · #4 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 01:05 PM

mantellas aren't dart frogs. while their evolution is close, they do not derive from a common ancestor.

rudd03 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bLue_reverie

mantellas aren't dart frogs. while their evolution is close, they do not derive from a common ancestor.

Ok, thanks for the correction. I had thought "Dart Frog" to be a coomon name for all brilliant colored poison frog families. Sorry if I threw anyone off.

brettlt · #6 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 03:03 PM

Mantella are from the island of Madagascar off of Africa. While what are commonly called poison dart frogs come from central and south America.

Mantella tend to like temps a little lower than most dart frogs.

Rainfrog · #7 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 02:52 AM

Bigger is not always better. For beginners Smaller is better. Smaller vivaria let you monitor the animals easily and allows you to develope good husbandry. In a large tank it can de difficult to stabilize temps and humidity. It can be difficult to provide proper amounts of food for animals spread over a larger area. It is hard to resist going for broke but keep in mind some times it breaks.