Need help choosing inhabitants! Suggestions?

Jamie · #1 07-08-2011, 09:54 PM

Hi folks! It's been a while since I've kept anything that would be at home in a viv (it's been mostly marine aquaria for the past several years) but I have a little 5.5 gallon going with just some plants that I've been thinking about stocking with some sort of vertebrate. The plants are pretty simple - bromeliads, jewel orchids, java moss - and it's been going for about a year. Here are a couple pics:

So, the big question: if I decide to add something, what should it be? I know it's a pretty small tank and there's probably not much that would fit, but do you guys have any suggestions? I love dart frogs, especially thumbnails, and I think this would be a great tank except for the size, but do you think they would be a possibility? Geckos also hold a special place in my heart (I bred Phelsuma laticauda for years before I got into aquaria), but I can't think of any small enough, except *maybe* a Lygodactylus sp., but I think even that would feel cramped. So yeah, I'm stuck, do you guys have any ideas? This seemed like a good place to ask.

BigWillieStyles · #2 07-09-2011, 12:14 AM

I reckon some dart frogs would look at home in there.

Unavailable · #3 07-09-2011, 12:35 AM

I was thinking maybe a type of small Tree Frog like a Gray Tree Frog or maybe a small Red Eyed Tree Frog.
Dart Frogs would be nice too like a Phyllobates vittatus

since they are not too expensive and I believe are easy to care for.

Jamie · #4 07-09-2011, 10:52 AM

Thanks for the input! Now I just need to find some.

Pavel · #5 07-09-2011, 11:46 AM

Check for herp shows in your area (or what you consider a reasonable driving distance). Google is often useful. The show I go to always has pdfs. This way you can not only talk to the breeder, but also check out the frogs or froglets in person before buying.

Jamie · #6 07-09-2011, 07:09 PM

Sounds like a good plan. I'm also going to ask at my local reptile store - they have some of the bigger species pretty often, but I'll see if they can get thumbnails.

Pavel · #7 07-11-2011, 11:52 AM

Oh, I forgot to mention -- typically getting critters at herp shows is a LOT cheaper than what you will find them for in a store. (For example, when I got my pueblan milksnake at a show, she cost me $35. The similar size at Petco -- $70.) And if you ever get into snakes and need feeder mice ..... Even including gas and show admitance fee ($5 at the show I attend), it still wound up costing me only about 1/2 what the same purchase of f/t mice would have been at a pet store.