Keeping dart frogs with day geckos ???

jujubbe · #1 02-19-2010, 12:15 PM

I've read that you can keep day geckos (gold dust day geckos / peacock day geckos) with dart frogs (something like dendrobates auratus) and i would like some advise on this before i go and buy a large terrarium..... if it is possible I'll probably order a custom terrarium and build a set up like RudeReefer with water features, plant , .....

Epiphile · #2 02-19-2010, 12:26 PM

I've heard the same thing, but from someone with lots of experience with both of these animals. I don't think it's recommended for a beginner, and I'm sure that either species on their own will give you lots of enjoyment.

beckdg · #3 02-19-2010, 12:48 PM

it's best to house them separately for some time and do fecals, swabs, lab testing, chytrid treatment, get to know their habits, quirks, personalities, preferred peripherals (temps, etc.) and judge for yourself if YOUR SPECIFIC animals would do well with each other. making sure they're both completely healthy and happy for MINIMUM a couple months would help out severely. also keep in mind you'll have to culture your own foods for these species keeping containers of flies (and maggots) handy for feeding time. if you are not familiar with this practice it's best to give yourself a couple months before you even buy your animals to get cultures of at least 3 feeders going strong and healthy reliably before you even purchase your animals.

this will be quite a daunting and time consuming tedious task for someone new to either species maybe even if you're familiar with breeding other feeders and housing other herps already.

think about it. if you'd still like to continue after you've done enough research into everything they'd need start at the beginning (breeding feeders). once you've conquered that much and you have 2 setups and 2 ready for quarantine setups then take the next step (buy them and start quarantine, treatment, testing, etc.). once everything is worked out and you're confident there's no issues and think they'll be happy together then do so... but keep in mind the whole process will take months MINIMUM and you'll want your tanks already setup with plants growing in throughout the whole ordeal idealistically.

i know it's a lot to swallow, but there's a lot to consider and think about... good luck and welcome to the site.

also keep in mind i'm one of very few people who are not going to come off as if mixing species will deteriorate the earth at it's crust. we try to keep an open mind around here... but things happen.

good luck... god's speed and welcome to the site.

jujubbe · #4 02-22-2010, 02:24 PM

Before i buy any dart frogs or day geckos i'm gonna try to build a terrarium in my 10 gallon tank using RudeReefer method and if it goes well and end up nice i'll do my little crested gecko too and after that i'll buy a new tank and build it for little dart frog... and i'll look in the petshop if they can get me some fruit fly.... finally after that i'm gonna try to find a dartfrog breeder near me (i live in Quebec)

Epiphile · #5 02-22-2010, 02:44 PM

Canadart.org might get you in the right direction as far as a breeder...

Didn't mean to come off as short on the subject- I find it's easier to give a slightly less than unequivocal "no" rather than the longer-winded (and probably a lot more helpful) explanation that Beck was so kind as to lay out above.

WindWalker · #6 02-25-2010, 11:15 AM

I have a viv. that is pretty decent size that has a jackson chemelion, a crested gecko, eastern newt, and one dart frog. This seems to be running jus' fine as they all share the space equally and the two lizards will actually sleep together at that early morning time when one is falling asleep and the other is waking up. I have noticed with any multi-animal situation that the key factor is food. Keep your bugs and such around so that none are hungry, once you lose that balance and competition starts up then you have teritorial issues and fighting. As always tho these types of setups require much attention and the ability to seperate animals if need be.

D3monic · #7 02-25-2010, 12:09 PM

My local store has a really small species of day gecko in their dart frog tank. They called it electric blue or something like that. Dont know the actual name. It looks like it gets along with a group of pomellos just fine. I am contemplating getting one. I would be concerned about froglets though. If you are letting the parents raise them they may become accidental meals.

WindWalker · #8 02-25-2010, 02:56 PM

Yes, electric blue geckkos are very neat and colorfull. They also grow to about 3 inches or so(small.) Never getting large enough to think your dart frog could be food. If you are breeding that may be trouble as lil' froglets could be a meal.

jujubbe · #9 02-25-2010, 03:50 PM

yeah i've heard of them but they call them blue cave geckos or wiliamsis gecko in my area ... they might be a better choice.... windwalker is your crested gecko a male or a female and do you have any picture of your vivarium???

WindWalker · #10 02-26-2010, 12:25 AM

yes i have pic's of both and will actually be updating this week end as i have made several changes to it. there are starter pics in my album too. the crested is a male named valentino as it was what my wife wanted for valentine's day. i will have to say my viv. started as a simple idea and now, i am addicted and out of control.
someone really needs to stop me, hehe.