Dart Den
Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...
Dart Den

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

If you want CHEAP frogs - read this...
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If you want CHEAP frogs - read this...
#1
This is an exciting hobby dealing with exotic (for most peoples definition) animals, some of which are rare and hard to obtain and keep alive, and some are easy to find, purchase and care for.

There are BOTH extremes in this hobby for you to enjoy.

If you are on a budget and cannot spend a lot of $$....you can STILL enjoy dart frogs.

Here is your road map to "cost effective" frogging:

1. You must select a common, readily available species. Since there are a lot of these being bred, the cost is very reasonable. Auratus, Tinctorius and Leucomelas froglets are all commonly found and very affordable. Prices are @ $20- $30 each with discounts for buying more than one or haggling, for instance.

2. AVOID shipping. Unless you live in Montana or Alaska.....wait.....wait until there is a "Reptile Show" within driving distance or locate a fellow forum member here that lives close and DRIVE to pick up your frogs. Shipping costs at least $50.00, sometimes upwards of $100.00 in winter. AVOID shipping if you want to save money. I've owned well over 100 adult frogs and only 1 time did I have frogs shipped to me. In all other cases, I picked them up. You can easily avoid shipping and get exactly the frogs you want, if you have patience.

If you turn your nose up at the "common" stuff above and still complain about shipping or place the animals welfare at risk just because you want to save money by cutting corners for shipping....I would love for you to think about another hobby, other than living animals.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#2
Wow, i spent about £40 on my first leucomela (bought from a pet shop), roughly $60 or so. At the time, i wouldn't have imagined one for $30!
"Frog Shows" are great however. I got a breeding pair of leucomelas there for $32 ($48?) and would definitely wait until another exhibition before buying me next frogs.
Great thread as always there. Thanks!
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#3
This one's really gonna fry your noodle then....I've both given away and received free frogs at frogger gatherings and meets. You can get free auratus, vents ect. Leucs and Tincs for $10.00 each. All one needs to do, is keep attending the local meets and sooner or later - boom...someone is almost GIVING away frogs. Happens ALL the time.

again....the key here, is patience. If you are impatient and hurry to throw your credit card at some website...then you are always gonna miss out on the regional or local meets.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#4
Great post Phil. One does not have to be rich to keep darts...but trying to save money by looking for the best "deals" is not always the way to have a positive first experience in the hobby. Local frog friends are a great asset for both learning and keeping the hobby affordable. But even if there aren't any local froggers, you can still get great deals by making friends on the forums and at shows. I have been given great deals by some breeder friends (thus I have some frogs that I would not usually have been able to afford). Friends from the forums have given me free frogs and tads...even after paying for shipping it's still a great deal. I haven't gotten "cheap" frogs...but I have gotten frogs "cheaply", very different. Being on a budget is nothing to be ashamed of...improperly caring for frogs is. It seems that the people that are looking for the cheapest frogs are also the ones that don't take very good care of their frogs (is someone that is trying to save a few bucks on a frog the kind of a person that will buy new supplements every 6 months...often not).
-Field Smith
Some frogs...
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#5
Thanks. It's true right ? I had to use the word "Cheap" in the title instead of "inexpensive" to make my point. And you are so right....if someone is so dead set on cutting corners, supplements and food will almost assuredly be "cut" too.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#6
fieldsmith Wrote:Great post Phil. One does not have to be rich to keep darts...but trying to save money by looking for the best "deals" is not always the way to have a positive first experience in the hobby. Local frog friends are a great asset for both learning and keeping the hobby affordable. But even if there aren't any local froggers, you can still get great deals by making friends on the forums and at shows. I have been given great deals by some breeder friends (thus I have some frogs that I would not usually have been able to afford). Friends from the forums have given me free frogs and tads...even after paying for shipping it's still a great deal. I haven't gotten "cheap" frogs...but I have gotten frogs "cheaply", very different. Being on a budget is nothing to be ashamed of...improperly caring for frogs is. It seems that the people that are looking for the cheapest frogs are also the ones that don't take very good care of their frogs (is someone that is trying to save a few bucks on a frog the kind of a person that will buy new supplements every 6 months...often not).
i kinda ered on whether to read this thread,but its sound,my ering was very much based around what Field has said so well above.I have reservations about selling stock too cheeply to an unknown purchaser,i kinda think that the hobby needs to have a solid bottom price,becuase they are little animals that deserve and need a degree of care,and in our case a speck of disciplin,to keep those feeders cooking. Personnally I'd like to see the frogs themselves hold that price.I'm on a tiny budget,but that is not going to stop us having a room full of these....EVENTUALLY :lol: .Here are some ways to save a buck,make your vivs,it really is not that hard,by one plant take cuttings work at it same with the feeders buy one and be utterly disciplined about your culturing,over time both the latter lead one into a position where one can either swap what one has for something one doesn't or help a mate when that inevitable crash comes that we all dread. recycle fly cups use veggie scraps for iso and spring food instead of buying stuff.To illustrate this i have bought one culture of Hydei, and 2 mels which crashed,one culture of mel and one culture of a little fast moving iso were swapped for plants,mels still going.our springs we bought one which was always a fight and we eventually lost... a culture of dwarf white were swapped of another species of spring they are rocking,we have now been culturing for around 18 months,grub is all over the place cost maybe £15and we've been able to help a few folks out,and sell a bit too so one can scrub that cost back to 0.I think an extra bit of graft can easily outway that extra buck,but i'm still not sure that the frogs should go too cheep
Stu :
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#7
Just read this !

Would you happen to know if there are fellow frog keepers in the Carolinas ?

Thanks.

Juan
0.0.2 ‘Turquoise and Bronze’ D. Auratus (Michael Shrom line)
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#8
PM Kris...she is in Raleigh NC and has a good handle on frogs in the NC area. I bet she can help you...

member97694.html
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#9
well I as a newbie I need to brag..... I went to get 3 green and bronze auratus and came home with 6,a 20 gal tank, a brom and some ficus and vanilla clippings..all for $40!!! Ive done the same thing with my Harleys and spare parts. If i'm not using them and some one needs a part, I give it to them.
Larry
0.0.6 green and bronze auratus
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#10
I too am new to the whole dart frog expierence, I wish I had found the dart den before spending so much money online, I just thought that this hobby was just as expensive at salt water and dished out 250$ for 2 frogs which was told they were a breeding pair, not only are they not a pair, they've never seen each other in there life, and now I'm thinking there the same sex, I had to quarantine the week one before it died of starvation, Phil and other ppl on here really helped me. But that's the kind of thing you get when you deal with strangers. So I just wanted to add my experience in with this as to I don't mind spending money for something beautiful, but these online dealers are in it for the money, not the well being of the animal. I really hope to meet more of you guys on here and possibly locally, I live in Virginia, Chesapeake to be exact and if there's any local breeders or even a few hour drive, I'd love to hear from ya, starting this hobby has been great!
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#11
^^ Not completely your fault...very understandable issue to be in.

At the last MADS frogger meet in Philly...subadult Tincs could be had for @ $50.00 each and they would be fully backed /customer-serviced by a forum member with excellent feedback.

We'll get you hooked up and back on track. No worries.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#12
I am on a pretty tight budget, so I try to get my frogs as tadpoles. It's not only less expensive, but it's more rewarding for me to be able to witness the entire metamorphosis. I've picked up my tadpoles from local meets and local froggers homes. It's a great experience to meet and get to know others in your area interested in your hobby. Driving to meets eliminates shipping cost and maximizes socialization: win, win.
Despite my shallow pockets I never cut on care, or supplements. And I think those who feel the need to should reach out to the community. I was happy to send a new frogger home with supplements and several types of plants when he came to my house. I had some to spare, and he was in need.
There is plenty of opportunity for those of us involved in the community, to give and get, and it's wonderful.
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#13
does anyone know of any frog breeders or anyone that has any frogs around little rock Arkansas thank you Gage Garrett
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#14
Thanks you so much to show us your point of view. I totally agree with you. Great post. One does not have to be rich to keep darts...but trying to save money by looking for the best "deals" is not always the way to have a positive first experience in the hobby.
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#15
thank you but i was just wondering if there was any fellow dart hobbiest in the arkansas area
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#16
gage_187 Wrote:thank you but i was just wondering if there was any fellow dart hobbiest in the arkansas area

I left Benton about 2 years ago =(
Josh
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