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

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

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Selling froglets to pet stores
#1
I was in the local reptile and amphibian shop today and the owner struck up a conversation as I was looking at the azureus (2 @ $85) and yellow galact (1 @ $95) froglets he had up for sale. They were housed side-by-side in 2.5 gallon tanks with hides and they seemed well fed. The owner asked if I was interested in purchasing and I said, no, that I had a pair that were breeding and I had a bunch of froglets to look after already. He was excited and asked if he could purchase them, that he always prefers sourcing locally. He showed my his melanogaster cultures and they looked clean and well started. He mentioned he had a "plant expert" and he had a pumilio viv setup out front (though I could not spot the frogs). Overall, he seemed well equipped for handling darts.

I am still months away from having froglets ready for sale, but it did get me thinking, is a specialty pet store a viable option? Don't have any answers or opinions yet. Thought it might be a good discussion for the group as to how you prefer to handle your subsequent generations.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#2
Jim,
My "subsequent generations" are still too small/young to do anything with yet, like yours. But I have been thinking about the same question, just in case. Let me say, you are so LUCKY to have a nice specialty pet store nearby! I'd have to drive 2-3 hours to get to one!
It sounds like a "nice" store, from what you say. Well fed, with hides, etc. I would want to know a few more things though. Is the whole store clean looking? ALL animals appear clean and well fed? I would want to have a good discussion with the owner about PDFs, to gauge his knowledge about their care. If he is telling people 2.5 gal containers are good, then NO! If he sounds knowledgable, great. I am sure many stores house animals in too-small containers, just as very temporary homes, for a quick sale (not great, but maybe understandable). Does he tell prospective buyers that they need a minimum of 10 gallons per frog? Does he tell them that dusted ffs are the base food, and is he knowledgable about alternate/extra food sources, and vitamins? Does he stock supplies/vitamins/foods that we who care for PDFs use? Just as important IMO--where did he purchase these frogs from??? Does he even know about quarantining?
I look forward to hearing what the seasoned froggers respond to this!
Thanks Jim,
Diane
P. Terribilis orange, R. Imitator Cainarachi Valley, D. Leucomelas, D. Auratus, D. Azureus, P. vittatus, D. cobalts, D.Oyapok, Bombina Orientalis
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#3
The place is tidy, but dark, so hard to really tell how clean it was. I'd say the 2.5 gallon tanks were simply holding tanks, similar to how his vast collection of tarantulas were housed. The dude stocks a wide variety of animals - he's got a 3 toed sloth in a big enclosure out front, and a few beautiful blue monitors across the way. They've all been there as long as I can remember, so I think he's got a good handle on exotics in general. Good point on discussing husbandry with him; I didn't get into a deep discussion on frog care with him since it was just a drive by to see what they had. Thanks!
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#4
Jim,

Be sure to ask your fellow Texas peeps what they think of the store...
https://www.facebook.com/dartden/

https://twitter.com/DartDen


"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#5
Thanks Phil. I know the guy I got mine from regularly sells froglets to them.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#6
Jim,
I know the store your talking about on Burnet Rd. I've spend many a day in there talking to the owner and he's a good guy IMO. In fact I've seen him turn away a sure sale just because he didn't think they buyer was ready for the animal. He should probably get a shout out in the local store thread. I remember hanging out there one morning after I got rained out at work and he asked me to bottle feed his two baby civets. That was quite a fun treat.
Jon
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#7
Thanks Jon - I'll post to the local shop area. I enjoy taking the kids there to see other critters - they really had fun watching a prairie dog once, and the blue monitors are eye catching. I have not purchased any animals from him, but everything always seems healthy. Thanks again, Jim
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#8
Jim
Great report. Actually, wish we had a store locally that would work responsibly w darts. In my opinion, this could be a viable way to wholesale darts, in fact, if it keeps them from importing wild caught, it could be a good thing.
Scott - North Dallas
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#9
Thanks Scott. The more I have thought about it the more comfortable I get with the idea. He seems solid and his staff has been responsive to my inquiries on supplies. I like the idea of a consistent channel. Funny how many times I was in that place and I never noticed the darts tucked away in the back of the store.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#10
AS good as selling him frogs is selling him excess Feeder insects. Bean Beetles, Flour beetles, FF, Iso's. They will sell them and then ask you for more.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#11
Selling to 'Pet Stores' is DEF the hardest route to go, other than selling to Zoos, IMO

They just won't pay squat for animals and most will either kill them or sell them to people who will kill them.

someone please tell the newb who wants to stuff 100, 60, or however many R. ventrimaculatus into a 'breeding group' and sell the offspring, that he is in for a rude awakening. He will have a TREMENDOUSLY hard time selling those vents.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#12
The fact he has cultures going is a good thing.He sounds knowledgeable and he probably draws the type of crowd that would be interested in darts and if he turned down a sale because he doesn't feel someone will take care of the animals then that might be a viable option.I've sold some frogs to a local shop(although they were usually preordered)but I knew he was able to take care of them because I know him personally.I like the idea that it prevents the need to import frogs to the store keeping the frogs local and without stress from shipping is a plus.Of course I would check up on my frogs regularly and would have pulled them if I felt they were not being taken care of.Unfortunately the bigger chain stores ran him out of business because he couldn't compete with their prices.I would say if you already know someone who sells to him on a regular basis with no issues then go for it.I would try local members first then wholesale them because you will definitely get beat up on price a little bit because they have to make a profit.The good side is it keeps the wild caughts out of the store.JMO
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#13
I have always been a FIRM exponent of 'conservation through captive breeding' Lou, but the pet stores seem to only be able to sell Tincs and other 'medium to heavy bodied" dart frogs. For some reason Vents never sell 'well' at stores or reptile shows.

I would encourage your friend towards a more 'entry level' / pet-shop friendly species to try to procreate. Vents are going to.....fail, I'm afraid.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#14
Philsuma Wrote:I have always been a FIRM exponent of 'conservation through captive breeding' Lou, but the pet stores seem to only be able to sell Tincs and other 'medium to heavy bodied" dart frogs. For some reason Vents never sell 'well' at stores or reptile shows.

I would encourage your friend towards a more 'entry level' / pet-shop friendly species to try to procreate. Vents are going to.....fail, I'm afraid.


Hey Phil,
I'm not sure where you are getting ''vents'' from,because I was commenting on the op's first thread and he only has azureus and galacts going by his signature.maybe I missed something as the only one that mentions vents in this thread was you.I'm sorry if I am misunderstanding your post.
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#15
oh..sorry dude....my bad. I was referring to someone that wanted to house 20-50 ranitomeya ventrimaculata in a large @ 100 gallon tank for the express purpose of breeding to sell to pet store. This was some other dude and not the O.P here.

....little confusion.

Bottom line, if someone asked my to recommend a Dart Frog species to 're-sell' or supply pet stores with, I would say:

1. Tincs
2. Auratus
3. Galacts, Bi colors or Terribs
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.
.
.
.
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pumilio
thumbnails
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#16
Phil I think in practical sense we could take that even a step further looking at the overall popularity of individual species and the fact that a majority of people who buy dart frogs in a pet store have never owned dart frogs before. I think the following would be the top 4 species.
1. D. leucomelas
2. D. azureus
3. D. tinctorious Cobalt
4. D. auratus; any of the "turquoise" morphs. I'm surprised I don't see more of the Green & Black morphs anymore.

What's sad is there are many other species that would do well in sales for pet stores as well, these include
1. P. bicolor, terribillis, vittatus
2. E. anthonyi, any morph
Jon
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#17
The people at ZooKeeper are good people, feel free to do biz with them.
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#18
Heh - been away on my build for a while and just getting back to this thread.

oddlot Wrote:I was commenting on the op's first thread and he only has azureus and galacts going by his signature.maybe I missed something as the only one that mentions vents in this thread was you.I'm sorry if I am misunderstanding your post.

Philsuma Wrote:oh..sorry dude....my bad. I was referring to someone that wanted to house 20-50 ranitomeya ventrimaculata in a large @ 100 gallon tank for the express purpose of breeding to sell to pet store. This was some other dude and not the O.P here.
Yup, 50 was not me - just a grand total of 2 azureus and 4 red galacts ... not including the froglets & tads Smile I'd have to convert a room into a full size viv for that - maybe Phil or Jon can take that on down in FL in one of those screened in pools...sipping cocktails poolside while a dart hops by... :wink:

Philsuma Wrote:1. Tincs
2. Auratus
3. Galacts, Bi colors or Terribs
.
.
.
.
.
.

pumilio
thumbnails
Yeah my interests right now are mostly in larger frogs, so they fit well with the list.

BluePumilio Wrote:The people at ZooKeeper are good people, feel free to do biz with them.
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. I have grown more comfortable with the idea over time. I like the more personal connection with this small local shop and the opportunity to further build a small local network. I'll swing by Zookeeper again to discuss further. Thanks for everyone weighing in!
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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