I bought a Dindrobates Azureus Today

Est. 1983 · #1 07-18-2010, 12:43 PM

Hey guys, I just got back from a reptile show and ended up buying a dindrobates azureus...He is real small...like smaller than a dime...If you guys could chime in and tell me the best way to feed him, care for him and what not...the guy at the show wasn't the best advice giver...so lend a hand and help me out...I bought a canister of wingless fruitflies for him...Is there anything else i might need to know?

Grimm · #2 07-18-2010, 02:17 PM

Dendrobates arent exactly a "spur of the moment" purchase to be made. Typically a home should already be built, and let establish for a few months before a single frog is bought. The temps, humidity, and microfauna need to be established also. It is also recommended that several colonies of ff's or springtails should be kept 2-3 months prior to ensure there will always be a constant food source since ff's are harder to purchase in stores.

Do you have a viv ready? Does it have the essential items needed in a dart tank? (leaf litter, plants, microfauna, hides, ect...) A picture of the enclosure would be the best thing to post so I can give you advice on what you should add/remove.

Luckily for you it is a faily hardy species and one of the easier species of darts to care for....In the mean time...Here you go

http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/car...us-novice.html
Blue Dart Frog (Dendrobates azureus) Care Sheet

Est. 1983 · #3 07-18-2010, 02:50 PM

I do have a vivarium ready...And it has most of all the things you mentioned...it has leaf litter, plants, and hides...the only thing i do not have that you mentioned is microfauna...I don't even know what that is...I have read that quarantining the froglet until it is older is a good thing to do...but i don't know if i should do that...maybe you could answer that question for me...here is a picture of what "Mac" looks like and the vivarium...

Grimm · #4 07-18-2010, 05:55 PM

The fruit flies are a good food source. However some people typically have springtails and woodlice that are introduced into the substrate. They help with tank maintenance and act as additional snacks for your frog. They are especially important when trying to feed froglets since they require much smaller food. If a good layer of decomposing leaf litter is present, the micro fauna will be almost self sustaining. Given that you only have one froglet, it is safe to say their populations would bloom.

I’m fairly certain keeping your froglet in quarantine isn’t necessary unless you are worried about contaminating your enclosure, or more importantly, if you are planning to purchase additional azureus froglets. Typically they are kept in simple, easy to clean enclosures in case they carry disease or parasites. If a froglet dies from unknown causes, the tank can then be torn down and have its contents replaced with minimal effort and cost. Quarantine tanks are similar to grow-out tanks for froglets. They have micro fauna rich soil, tons of leaf litter at various stages of decomposition, and a few hides. Live plants aren’t usually added, however cutting are sometimes used to spruce the tank up a bit.

Est. 1983 · #5 07-18-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimm

The fruit flies are a good food source. However some people typically have springtails and woodlice that are introduced into the substrate. They help with tank maintenance and act as additional snacks for your frog. They are especially important when trying to feed froglets since they require much smaller food. If a good layer of decomposing leaf litter is present, the micro fauna will be almost self sustaining. Given that you only have one froglet, it is safe to say their populations would bloom.

I’m fairly certain keeping your froglet in quarantine isn’t necessary unless you are worried about contaminating your enclosure, or more importantly, if you are planning to purchase additional azureus froglets. Typically they are kept in simple, easy to clean enclosures in case they carry disease or parasites. If a froglet dies from unknown causes, the tank can then be torn down and have its contents replaced with minimal effort and cost. Quarantine tanks are similar to grow-out tanks for froglets. They have micro fauna rich soil, tons of leaf litter at various stages of decomposition, and a few hides. Live plants aren’t usually added, however cutting are sometimes used to spruce the tank up a bit.

so let me ask you this...should i put him in a quarantine enclosure(i've heard about the sterlite shoeboxes) and tear down his terrarium and build it up again and then reintroduce him to it when i get some woodlice and springtails...or should i just leave him like he is...and if i do...do you think he will find the fuitflies that i have put in there...and one last question about the fruitflies...how long do you think the fruit fly culture will last me...I sure hope you say about a month or more...i am not sure if anyone in my area sells them...I do know a place intown that sells dart frogs so they might carry them...but i do know of a pet shop by my house that sells pinhead, 1/8", 1/4" and other size crickets...i think he could eat the pinheads without a problem...and the last question i have is...If i do put him in a quarantine tank to redesign his home and let him get big enough for it...do i need a light to go on top of his sterlite container...

RecycledAgain · #6 07-19-2010, 03:08 PM

I would forgo the quarantine if you see the frog actively eating. You do however need to start working on the fruit flies, You will be making a new one a minimum of every two weeks. I would also discourage the pin head crickets, these frogs eat tiny food items even as adults. My azureus morph out almost as big as a dime, so this guy is very young and young frogs are not very hardy. READ THE CARE SHEETS.

Dan

Est. 1983 · #7 07-21-2010, 02:35 AM

Well I have already quarantined him...it was too hard to see if he was eating a healthy amount of fruit flies...you say read the care sheets...I have looked at many different different care sheets and none of them say anything about not feeding froglets pinhead crickets...plus i can get day old crickets that are just about the say size as the fruit flies...so this weekend i think i will try to feed my some crickets and see how those work for him...

Grimm · #8 07-21-2010, 10:02 AM

If you can get day old crickets that should be fine. But keep in mind they will outgrow your frogs mouth quickly so you will be returning to the pet store frequently.

Since the frog is in another quarantine tank, If I were you I would take the time to make any changes/additions to the tank now. Maybe a few broms??

RecycledAgain · #9 07-21-2010, 10:44 AM

The reason I discourage pin heads is that they are a unreliable feeder in most cases, day old crickets are fine but they grow quickly. In most cases they are also difficult to find reliably. There have also been posts about those pin heads hiding in the tanks and eating plants and even nibbling on frogs from time to time. I suggest you get some experience with culturing fruit flies as they will be generally the most reliable food source. I would use the pin heads as a supplemental feeder for variation in its diet.

Dan

Est. 1983 · #10 07-23-2010, 11:17 PM

here is are some better pictures of lil Mac...I believe he is about 7 weeks out of the water...If you think different...tell me...the guy i got him from told me to feed him about 20 fruit flies every day...but i am finding that some of the fruit flies are either drowning or just dying...I don't want to waste fruit flies because I don't have any idea how to make a culture...do you guys think I should feed him less fruit flies so the culture I have will last longer...