Can Dart Frogs be kept in a Greenhouse ?

[DartFrog]

I was wondering if anyone knew of someone who keeps darts in a greenhouse. I am planning on building a green house that is attached to my house (still several years from now) and was wondering about keeping darts in it. I was thinking of an open air area where they could stay and be observed. The area would be quite large, at least 6ft by 6ft or bigger. There are some obvious challenges with this idea.

One is how to keep the frogs in without a top, is there some sort of small wall you could put around the area that the frogs could not climb over? If they could be contained then it could be done.

Thanks for your input.

Mike

[The Haj]

Mike


I do believe the new"Professional Breeder Series"has a section on keeping pdf in a greenhouse!Hope this helps This book is well worth the $40.00

[DartFrog]

Haj,

I tried to buy the book from blackjungle but it did not come out on the proposed date. Do you have the book now? I did see that it had a part about that topic. I will get it if I can find it.

Thanks

Mike

[The Haj]

I ordered 2 more copies yesterday and got a ups notification today so they are in stock.....If you cant get it let me know...

[waretrop]

Well Mike, I realize you started this post last fall but I have to add something here. I have a very serious greenhouse that is not attached to my house. I would never never just let these frogs just run wild. You need to get your greenhouse established, once you have built it, and learn about things. It's an experience. How would you get rid of bugs if your greenhouse got something? You could get infested. Rarely do natural cures work. The bugs will run wild and eat your plants up. Or if you spray for bugs it will kill your lil frogs. Also if you have a furnace, will they get to close to it and dry out, or just get into the thing and cook.

These are just a few of my thoughts about that. Barb

[DartFrog]

Thanks for the reply, yes there are lots of concerns but it has been done. You of course you would have to isolate them somehow. I want to get the breeder series book and see what they say.

Mike

[waretrop]

Mike, When would you be doing this greenhouse and what size would it be? Barb

[DartFrog]

Barb,

Well I have thought about experimenting with a smaller greenhouse in about a year or so. The idea could only work if the frogs could be contained in a certain area. I don't know if that can be done or not. I was thinking of a small 6-8 inchs acyrlic wall that had some design along the top that the frogs could not get over. I would have experiment with it.

Mike

[waretrop]

Yup, ya have to experiment. I will warn you....I have a 15X26 and plan on one more maybe attached to the one I have. I have one more thing to boot....I have a 14X14 hottub attached to the front of the greenhouse now. It becomes a sickness. We love our world.

I must mention that I do have wild type frogs. Li'l grey and green frogs in my greenhouse and I am definitely not a natural nut when it comes to bugs. I use chemicals to get rid of them. The wild frogs seem fine with it. I do use the chemicals discretely. Barb

[Mantella Guy]

I am building a greenhouse for rasing plants and things. I was wondering since it will be hand-made if I could put dart frogs in it. It will be fairly small ( 6'x4'x8') and will have ventalation at the very top so the frogs won't get out. Haeting and cooling will be no issuse as it will be a lean-to greenhouse. So all in all it will be like a big terrarium. What do you think.
Brooks

[DartFrog]

So you wil be able to walk into the green house? Will the frogs allowed to go anywhere in the green house, or are you talking about putting them in tanks inside the green house?

[Mantella Guy]

yes, you can walk into it and yes the frogs will roam out in the open. I will cover the sides with coco fiber and tree fern fiber for epiphytes and bromeliads - this way the frogs can go yup to.
Brooks

[DartFrog]

How will you keep them from getting in front of the door, or will it open out. How will you prevent from stepping on them?

[Mantella Guy]

The door will open out, like you said and for not stepping on , well just being careful. I think that it would work, but not for thumbnails
Brooks

[DartFrog]

Yea I think you could make it work but it will need some planning. I would like to find a way to keep the frogs in a certain area of the greenhouse. I dont know how to do that with out a cage.

[Mantella Guy]

You could build a concrete wall about 2-3 feet high and I don't think they will get out. Since this is so big, where can I get enough dart frogs for (30-40) at a good price?
Brooks

[DartFrog]

I think they could climb over the wall if they wanted to. I think you could design something that they couldnt climb over. Sounds like you need to start a breeding program to stock that thing.

[waretrop]

I am starting my collection of frogs now and they live in a terrarium in my greenhouse.After thinking about this for a while I still can't see where it's logical to allow them to run free but I will think of a way to do it if I ever start to breed them.You would have to protect them from the fans,watering systems,and,furnace.You would have to be careful where you set a plant or dug into a pot.You couldn't use poisons for bugs and that is difficult if you were to keep many plants.Origionally I was going to be the one to not use bug sprays.That only lasted one season for my plants were stripped.Not only is a greenhouse condition great for plants but for their bugs also.Good luckon your greenhouse an please keep us posted.You will enjoy it.I'll bet I spend 5 hours each day out there in mine.I love it there.Barb

[Mantella Guy]

All of the things you said I though about, I will make a case for the furnace so they can't get in it. As for the bugs, well I would take the frogs out and spray it wait a while and put the back in. And when you dig a hole you just have to look out. Does any body else have any suggestions? Thanks for all the help.
Brooks

[geckguy]

Setting frogs up in a greenhouse takes alot of planning, and in your climate it will cost a small fortune to keep the temperature within acceptable ranges. I am currently designing a few greenhouses for hard to breed egg feeders, but I am in Florida and will not need heating or cooling. Dart frogs can climb over concrete, after all they can climb glass, even large tincs. I suggest doing alot more research before even attempting to build a greenhouse for frogs. As for a door, you will need double doors. You go through one door, shut it behind you, then open a second door to enter the greenhouse this prevents frogs from jumping out when you open the door. If you removed the frogs to spray for bugs, the residue will still be on the plants and will kill your frogs.