Caring for Ranitomeya ventrimaculata

[tmkuroda]

I have 3 small Vents and they look too small for even the smallest FF although I still try to feed small FF to them every few days. I have been feeding them primarily springtails.

My questions are:

I have the Vents in moss and add the springtails with water into the container. The bottom is very wet and if I tilt the container to the side, I can see a little water build up. Is this too much water ?

If I feed primarily springtails, how do the frogs get vitamins I have bought for them? I dust the small FF, but never see the frogs eat them but I also don't see to many of them left in the tank either. I never see any springtails in the tank either, but since I am 46 I am almost blind and need reading glasses

[Cindy Dicken]

Hi Tina,

how old are your vents?

I would siphon off the excess water before it starts to foul.

More than likely they are eating the fruit flys, you are just not able to see them do it.

There is no way to dust the springtails, so it is important that you do offer tiny dusted fruit flys to avoid calcium/ vitamin deficiancies

[tmkuroda]

Thanks for replying Cindy. I have been soaking up the excess water with paper towels. They are about 1-2 mos old. Very tiny and very cute. I have been offering the small FF every 3rd day or there would be to many FF in the small enclosure. At what age can you put them into a viv? So far I have my Patricias, bronze auratus in Vivs and the leucs and reticulated auratus are going to in their respective vivs sometime this week.

[Cindy Dicken]

Tina,

what size tank are you planning on putting the vents in ?

Have you tried offering the vents fruit fly larva ?

Try feeding fewer fruit flys, but more often, and be sure they are dusted, it is very important that the froglets get their vitamins and calcium

[Philsuma]

Ranitomeya ventrimaculata, otherwise called "Vents" in the hobby, are usually a very reclusive dart frog species and I would recommend a generous amount of plantings, bromeliads and a medium to large wood feature. Smaller frogs and thumbnails in general, seem to do better in a larger vivarium with heavy plantings and places to hide. It may seem like the opposite, but frogs actually become more bold when they are provided with more living space and places to hide.

Some people skimp on plantings and are otherwise afraid of future plant growth and overcrowding of plants. My solution - Scissors.

It's also vital to the frogs health, that you obtain and use correct superfine vitamin supplements and calcium powders. Both are easily found at local Petsmart or Petco stores as well as online.

[dtfleming]

Very true. My vents and imis are out and about with lots of plants and wood in their vivs.