Dart frog food variety

[winyfrog1]

What are all of the foods that a Leuc should eat?

I don't think that I will be able to feed only fruit flies, to my leucs so what are some other good insects for them to eat, that will be good for them.

I know that fruit flies are their main staple for their diet. I have read about the springtails etc. that live in the viv with them is good variety for them. Would crickets that have been gut loaded efficient food?

Whats everyone's opinion?

[froggsong]

You would have to get pinhead crickets, they can be difficult to source in small quantities. You would have to get small quantities unless you are feeding something that needs larger ones because they will grow too quickly for the darts to eat them all. I'm sure there are other tiny bugs that you can culture yourself or catch outside (if you are in a pesticide free area). Check out this link for some of the outside bugs he fed his lizard: Wild Insects for Lizards

[RecycledAgain]

If you cant provide a steady supply of flies you are in trouble. Regardless of how big the dart looks it eats tiny food. You might as well dismiss any preconceptions you have about feeding frogs, because 98 % of the time it will be to big for darts. You can use a variety of foods,(in fact its recommended) but all of the alternatives will be more work than fruit flies. Bean Beatles, termites and isopods along with pin head crickets are standard alternatives used to supplement pdf's diet.

I don't know how many times I have driven to pick up Pin heads and find that stores idea of a pinhead is a 1/4 cricket. for perspective your looking for feeders that are in most cases 1/16 - 1/8 inch Max.

Dan

[momerath]

winyfrog1 - Just curious, why do you think you won't be able to feed just (or at least MOSTLY) fruit flies?

[themedic]

maybe he just wants a varirety for his frogs, i dont blame him.

they can eat new born crickets called pinheads, isopods which are little bugs that keep the terrarium clean, fruit flies, termites.

there main diet is supposed to be fruit flies you can dust them with D3 and Calcium every other feeding or every 2 feedings, some people do every feeding I wouldnt.

[winyfrog1]

Everyone, Thank you for your great advice. Frogsong thanks for the great link.

I have heard that culturing fruit flies can be a stinky matter, but if thats what needs to be done to keep my frogs healthy thats what I will do, what about ordering flies is this an option (I imagine it could get costly) but I am wanting to be completly prepared before I get my frogs. I keep several types of animals and most need a variety in their diets, so I was wanting to know what else was a good variety for them as themedic mentioned.

[themedic]

just get a culture of good flies, and keep them breeding taking cultures from the previous culture every two weeks, 1 culture can last a while from what I read. atleast a month, so maybe start with a culture and then breed at a rate which is best prefered by yourself or maybe breed both types of FFF and see which you like breeding and feeding your PDF's better?

[momerath]

Oh, I am all for variety! It is the spice of life! My auratus trio eat plenty of melanogaster ff's, hydei ff's, pinhead crickets and newborn roaches (blatta lateralis). And I'm sure they pick off some of the springtails living in their tank too But the fruit flies compose the bulk of their diet by far, and they are very healthy and breed like rabbits!

Now for stinky fruit fly cultures... As previously stated, it's a matter of starting with a healthy colony and using a good media to culture them. I've been using the medium from Josh's frogs for a couple years now and I highly recommend it. It doesn't stink, and produces lots of robust flies quickly. I've tried MANY others, both at home and at work, and it seems to be the best pre-made mix by far. And if you use canning jars and plastic crafting mesh (instead of flimsy plastic containers and excelsior) you can re-use them indefinitely and the only thing you'll have to buy again is the media! (unless your cultures crash... which can happen... but that's another story... and it doesn't happen very often.... but I digress...)

[RecycledAgain]

I would recommend the media from Josh as well, The smell is almost nonexistent on month old cultures.

I do question the reusing cups or jars .. I by no means question the value of reusing for a few ,, why reuse at all if its work, its 32 cents a cup for a hobbyist. The cost is even less in bulk..How much is your time worth to wash out funk with maggots in it in to your home sink ? never mind sterilizing and the lids are a whole new post.

I will continue to try an nail down the brown maple oatmeal mix.. but in the mean time if you buy media I would second momerath.

Dan

[winyfrog1]

Where do you suggest to get my first batch of FF I think that I would like to start with the flightless ones.

Is there a good link for how to's on culturing etc.?

Also what about the springtails or isopods?

Thank you everyone for your great suggestions and help.