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

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

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Feeding Frogs / amount of food ?
#1
OK, as you can tell from what I'm about to ask, I'm NEW to this forum and frogs in general. I've seen all kinds of information about frogs and their care but what I haven't seen is the "amount" of flies you feed them in a feeding? Coming from a lizard/snake background where "over feeding" can be a major health issue, and under feeding stunts growth. I've also read, daily feedings and every other day feedings? What do you prefer?

Just FYI, I have one young tinctorius "patricia" and a young leucomelas
0.0.1 D.Leucomelas
0.0.1 D.Tinctorius "Patricia"
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#2
There is absolutely no prescribed routine for feeding.

As a rule, you should feed, or make sure, smaller frogs and froglets have acess to more food, but large adult dart frogs can actually be feed every 3-4 days OR feed smaller amounts every day or two. There is no right or wrong as long as your frogs are not skinny or obese.

Another rule of thumb is checking the day AFTER feeding. If you see a lot of un-eaten flies....then you can be sure you have overfeed to some degree.

There are 5-6 really good threads here on feedings/ dusting /amounts. Take a gander when you can.
https://www.facebook.com/dartden/

https://twitter.com/DartDen


"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#3
Thanks Philsuma for the response. I thought pythons and lizards were cool and addicting. They don't compare to these guys.
0.0.1 D.Leucomelas
0.0.1 D.Tinctorius "Patricia"
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#4
Welcome, Haugen!
There are lots of helpful people here on DD, so ask whatever questions you have!
You should post your location, cause you may have people here on DD who are close, and can help you out.
How did you come into dart frogs?
Again, welcome!
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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#5
We've done the huge pythons, etc. when we were younger. Wanted to have something that can be showcased (not just put in an enclosure and fed once a week) and something that I can also get into that is multifaceted; the culturing flies and building vivariums interests me greatly. I also work in a fish and exotic pet store that is also a full service scuba dive center. The only frog/toads we carry at the store are fire-bellies. Would like to change that in the future. And have been doing a lot of research on the dart frogs for a while.
0.0.1 D.Leucomelas
0.0.1 D.Tinctorius "Patricia"
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#6
Again, welcome!
You are in southwest Wisconsin, and I am in Northwest Illinois. I'm in Galena, how far away are you? I am trying to figure out where there would be a scuba dive center in southwest wisconsin!?
That is awesome that you work in an exotic pet store, how fun!
How did you come to have 1 leuc and 1 patricia? That's odd, most people, when they get started, order at least 2, or more often, several.
Anyway, if we aren't too far apart, keep me in mind for cultures, etc, if you ever get in a bind. Feeders do crash sometimes! I have fruit flies, flour beetles, isopods, and springtails at all times, sometimes other stuff too. (I usually have some crickets for my colony of fire bellied toads, also). If yours crashes, get ahold of me, I always have extras!
I am also a newbie, only had frogs for 7 months. I feed every day, for my small/young frogs. Older/larger frogs can go more days, depending on how heavily your viv is seeded with feeders.
So are your leuc and patricia older or still growing? More details, please.
Again, welcome to DD!
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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#7
I went to a store in Madison with my daughters, and they couldn't agree on color-so we got both to get started. I started out with two setups, a little on the small side (12" cube exo terras), but I figured they won't go to waste when they move up to larger ones and in groups. I could always use small ones for babies down the road. The two are young,maybe half grown. Here are some terrible photos. The leaves that the Patricia is sitting on are about 1 1/4" wide, wider at the base. I'm already planning on going to a Baker Rack and Protean terrariums when I get groups. Next time when we're in Madison, we'll probably get another of each.

La Crosse/Onalaska, WI. Marineland is the store. There's also another location in Black River Falls that's open in the summer for diving in Lake Wazee. We're one of the only full service dive shops in WI. We carry fish, small animals, and reptiles on the "pet" side of the store. Being a "newer" employee, I'm going through my training currently for dive certification.
0.0.1 D.Leucomelas
0.0.1 D.Tinctorius "Patricia"
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#8
Nice frogs! I have a pair of leucs, Patricia's are definitely on my "want" list!
Your job sounds really fun!
As for darts,you're doing the right thing, reading and learning, cause there's a lot to know! I read for months and months before I got my first frogs. I continue to read and research, along with getting experience now that I have real frogs. And they are sooo enjoyable! I have frogs laying eggs, I have a froglet that we've had since we saw the dad transporting the tad--way cool.
As for feeding-what are you doing? How often are you feeding, and how often dusting, and with what supps? Before you got the frogs, did you seed the tanks?
The day after you feed them, do you have left over ffs? If you do, you over fed a bit. If the ffs are all gone, and the frogs are out hunting, they are hungry--may need to feed a bit more. Since yours are young, and not full grown, it won't hurt to feed every day, just try not to over-feed. Don't want so many extra flies that they are crawling on your frogs!
How long have you had the frogs? They look good now, if you've had them a few months it looks like you're feeding them appropriately. I assume you know that the "staple" food for darts is dusted fruit flies. Variety is very good though, so having isopods, springtails, flour beetles, non-hard shelled worms, etc is good. Pin-head crickets are controversial--some like them, others hate them and would never use them.
Dusting with supps is essential. Which supps is also somewhat controversial. They need calcium, and they need a mult-vitamin. Super-fine is best. Some people also feed color-enhancers, others don't. Brand names are also controversial. Many swear by Repashy, others aren't big fans. Vitamin A is also controversial--it can kill them if given too much, but SOME may be essential for breeding.
Of course temp and humidity are key--high humidity and temps in the right range--most top out at 85 degrees, preferring 75 or 80. 90 degrees can stress them terribly, or even kill them, so don't go there! I personally keep mine at house temps, 65 at night, 70 or 72 during the day this time of year, 78 tops in the summer, and I haven't had any problems.
Look forward to hearing more from you--send pix of your vivs! (Your pix weren't bad at all!)
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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#9
I've had them for a week, been researching for a couple of months. The terrariums aren't "seeded". They're currently composed of 2"-2 1/2" of Exo Terra's Tree Fern bedding and I've added a layer (1") of Exo's moss on top of that. The photos were before the moss. When I go up in size, I want to use some of the clay drainage balls under a egg-crate frame work, with a liner and then the layers of organic substrate. Dust, I'm using repcal's Calcium with Vit. D and Herptivite. I've always used repcal since I've had geckos. Feeding once a day with 10-12 flies dusted (alternating between the two every other day) in each Viv. Not seeing barely any at all-if any, maybe one under a leaf-but rarely, extra flies the next day and they're not hunting. Seem pretty comfortable. Temp is 76 during the day and 73 at night (gains a few degrees during the from the bulb). I have a repti glo 2.0 in each hood on a 10 hour timer. They're in a temp. controlled room that is set to 73. Lots of foliage (plastic for now-when I do bigger terrariums, I want to go with live plants-learning the frogs first), also have bigger leaves on the floor of the terrariums for hides as well as a cork bark ledge and a coconut hut.
0.0.1 D.Leucomelas
0.0.1 D.Tinctorius "Patricia"
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#10
Sounds pretty good so far! How often do you mist? I usually mist 2-3 times a day, not only for the frogs benefit but also the plants--they are spreading and growing like crazy. If I were you, I'd increase flies to about 20 a day each, and see how it goes. If there are leftovers the next day, routinely, then you could back off a few. When the frogs are growing, I hate to think of them possibly not having enough.
I really recommend that you get some bugs and some live plants. Doesn't have to be lots--even 1 bromeliad in each tank would help, and seed the tanks with some bugs--springtails would be best, to start. My local Walmart and Lowe's have broms for sale this time of year on clearance, so only $4 or $5 each. That way your tanks can start getting a biological "clean up crew" going. Right now your frogs poop, but there is nothing to clear it except bacteria. Once you have bugs and plants, they all create a little ecosystem, which cleans itself somewhat.
Your temps and supps sound good.
When you are ready to build new, larger vivs, keep in mind--you do either leca balls OR egg-crate, the two don't go together.
Couldn't quite tell from your post if you have leaf litter? A nice thick layer of leaf litter is really important! Magnolia, oak, sea grape, large, small, doesn't matter. As long as it is vivarium safe (not chemically treated) and thick, to give your frogs a nice safe place to hide.
Sounds great so far Haugen, keep posting!
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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