Hello everyone. Help much appreciated.

UKNanonoob · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 05:54 PM

Hi all im new too viv forum and also a complete noob to keeping a viv.

First let me begin by saying what a great site you all have here and also what incredible animals you all keep. They truely are amazing creatures.

Now i kept a plated lizard many moons ago when i was a young kid and absolutly loved this guy. Unfortunatly he died and for some strange reason i gave it all up ( think girls and partying had something to do with it). Anyway few years on and i decided to take up a hobby and found my self drwan to marine aquariums. This is a real big passion of mine and i spend as much time and money as i possibly can on this fantastic and rewarding hobby.

At present im in the proccess of moving property and once in my new home the first to do job on my list is im going to construct a building at the end of my garden. This is going to house a number of aquariums ranging from 3.5 gallons up to a 300 gallon reef system.

The building will have room for coral propogation but i would really like to get my teeth into something new and as interesting as the marine aquariums, which i can house in the building.

Im really taking a liking to the poison dart frogs, they look like something your child would draw and color, the patterns and colors are spectacular. I dont know anything about their husbandry needs and dont really know if they are a begginers frog. If you could all give me as much advice as possible to this and any relevant links to sites with info i would be very greatful. Money is obviously not growing on trees for me ut i do have a nice ammount placed aside for that speacial little something to house with my aquariums.

Look forward to hearing from you all and all the best.

monster · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 06:18 PM

Hi , welcome to the forum , well i starter frog would be the bumblebee poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas) or blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates azureus) these seem to be the best for begineer frogs. also for info i preferre these sites :
blackjungle.com
pollywog.co.uk
dartden.com
poison-frogs.com
dendroworld.com
these are all usfull sites and i hope these all help you an enjoy ..... . .

UKNanonoob · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 06:26 PM

Hi Monster thanks for the links im going to get on them right now.

Thanks again

brettlt · #4 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 08:23 AM

Auratus is also a commonly recommended first pdf. I would go with Costa Rican Green and Black, as they seem to be the most bold Auratus, if you want Auratus.
My first frogs are Leucomelas, which are a great first frog. They are also a great group frog.

Any of the tincs are good first frogs, but more than two do not usually work well together. Azureus care is the same as Tincs, so if you want more than two I would not recommend them.

Also, in terms of costs, salt water tanks are much more expensive to build and maintain than frog enclosures.

UKNanonoob · #5 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 02:37 PM

Ok so set up costs are going to be considerably cheaper to what im used too.

All these names of frog you are mentioning sound great im going too do a search on them all to gather some more info on them.

What is the blue frog at the top of this page? That looks awsome. Are they easy to care for?

brettlt · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 04:06 PM

The frog at the top of the page is Azureus. They have the same care as all of the tincs. They are a good first frog if you do not want a group.

Costs range from $100 or less to $$$$$, depending on size and complexity. I setup my 40 gallon for about $500, including tank and having no supplies on hand. The $500 included all supplies with lights and a wood canopy, false bottom, waterfall, broms, shipping, etc.

UKNanonoob · #7 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 04:31 PM

Wow only $500 that sounds tempting. Im from the UK and obviously the prices are going to be that bit more expensive but that is definatly an inviting price.

As far as the Azureus goes you say that they are a good first timer. Would it be possible to keep say 3 of these in a tank of may be 50g+. Also what are Broms? Im guessing some kind of plant or creature?

brettlt · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 07:43 AM

Sorry, broms are bromeliads. A plant that is included in most pdf tanks. Some species use the cup in the middle of the brom as an egg laying and tadpole rearing sight. That do well in humid environments, and the right type with the right light color up nicely in shades of red, pink, black, etc. The main type that we use is grown without soil, but there are types that grow in soil as well, but they tend to be too large for a small vivarium.

I made a journal, including tracking costs when I setup my vivarium, it was for fire belly toads originally, but I am making a few changes to get it ready for pdfs. It can be found here:
Construction Journal for 39 gal paladarium.

Wow, it has really grown in since then, and the broms on the left had to be moved because their roots were getting too wet.

This is not the only to make it, mearly my choices, there are many different ways to make them. I have come to find out most people do not put leca, expanded clay pellets, on top of the false bottom, they just start with the substrate. But I have not had any problems and the humidity stays high with two water features.

brettlt · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 07:46 AM

I just realized I never answered your question about azureus. Some people keep three together if you have one female and two males. The females are the aggresive ones, and have been known to kill other females so that they do not have any competition.

However, most frogs are sold as froglets or juvis, and it is not always known what sex they are until they are older. So if you end up with two females and a male, one of the females will probably need to be removed. Either traded for a male or sold, or kept in her own enclosure.

UKNanonoob · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 04:37 PM

Ok, so broms are a plant that is native to pdf,s. Is it a good idea to have these in a tank with frogs or will the frogs be fine without them?

What im after doing is creating a viv that is as near to the frogs natural habitat as possible. I would really like to have a different array of plants and also some water in the viv too. Im correct in saying that people have fog and mist machines in thier enclosures? Also some people replicate storms too with rain or am i being mis lead?

If these things are possible then this is the sort of set up i will be willing to invest alot of time and money into.