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

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

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Former lurker from MO
#1
After lurking for some time and reading, researching, re-reading and going back and reading more I have decided to go ahead and join this forum. I've been researching for quite some time and this forum seems very informative with lots of great information. And possibly saved me from a huge mistake as I had bookmarked the USA Dart Frogs as a site I had planned on buying my frogs from, when I get to that point. It seems that would perhaps not be the best choice after reading the vendor feedback forum.

I live in Springfield, Missouri. I've called the local pet stores and of course they don't have frogs nor the fly cultures. Is there anyone near me that has frogs? I see the ReptiCon is coming to our city in April but I've been told to not get my hopes up as usually there isn't much there other than a few lizards and some snakes. If anyone has any information on local froggers I would certainly appreciate it.

I will be starting on my first vivarium probably in the next couple weeks. I've ditched the water feature that I just thought I needed to have, at least for a first time vivarium. I haven't settled 100% on which frog yet although I'm leaning towards one of the leucs or auratus, both of which seem to be not only great beginner frogs but also better group frogs as well. First I'll concentrate on the build and getting the vivarium done and stable for a month or so before I get the frogs, so obviously am a couple months from purchasing frogs yet.

Am looking forward to learning more and becoming an active member.
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#2
Welcome to Dart Den and thanks for the kind words !!

We try very hard to be useful and relevant to the hobby. Please take your time and read up. Also post often - there's no such thing as a lame or bad question. If you can find an existing thread with relevant info to your query, then go ahead and tack your questions onto it. If not, don't hesitate to make up a new thread and we will help you ASAP, sometimes within an hour!

You are in a decent area for fellow froggers and support. Here's Patrick Nabors and his company 'Saurian Enterprises' in St louis. I'd shoot him an email and maybe he can offer to show you some stuff.

http://saurian.net/about-us.html

Looking forward to hearing about your build and frogs.

~Phil
https://www.facebook.com/dartden/

https://twitter.com/DartDen


"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#3
Thank you Phil. I will contact Patrick, thank you for the link. He's on the other side of the state from me. Springfield is several hours from pretty much anywhere, Kansas City, St. Louis and Tulsa, yet we have nothing here. :lol:

I've been an avid freshwater fish keeper for several years mostly with various cichlids. I have a 29 gallon standard aquarium that is empty and will build my vivarium in it. I'm using the KISS (keep it simple stupid) method, especially for this first one. I will ask questions as I go.

Thank you for the warm welcome.

~Terri
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#4
Welcome! Looking forward to your build thread!
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#5
Hey Terri,
I am also here in Spfd. Let me know if you need any help with anything.
Scott Bryant
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#6
Thank you Scott. I very much appreciate that. Do you know of any local breeders? Or do we have to do mail order if we don't drive to KC, St. Louis or Tulsa? I've tried to search around locally, even called both Pet Warehouse, they said nobody locally carries them because they can't feed them.
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#7
Don't buy from Pet Warehouse. The one on Kearney had some cobalts awhile back that they were feeding crickets to that were way too large. What are you looking for? I have a good frog buddy in StL that usually has several different frogs available. I can get you set up with some flies and whatever else you need.
Scott Bryant
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#8
Thank you for your reply. Pet Warehouse, I never have liked the place myself and the one on Kearney has swung over to mostly salt water as far as aquaria so I usually don't bother going there. I have freshwater fish and all have been mail ordered. At any rate they said they could special order for me but it was only two species, which I can't remember what were and they said they would be $65 each.

To be honest I still haven't decided fully on which frog specifically. I was first attracted to the Dendrobates tinctorius 'Azureus' or the Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' but after researching I find out that the females tend to be aggressive, or at best a "crap shoot" as one breeder told me, as to whether or not multiple females can or will get along. So I think for first starting out it appears perhaps the Dendrobates auratus 'El Cope' or the Dendrobates leucomelas are more what I'm leaning towards. I have been in contact with Patrick Nabors at Saurian Enterprises and he has been absolutely great with several hints, tips and words of advice. A very nice man. So it's that whole decision making process. I guess I'm playing the I keep changing my mind game. LOL

It is extremely comforting to know you're around, thank you so much. It's nice to have a backup for flies and such in emergencies. You mentioned the Kearney store, are you close to there? I don't live too far off Scenic and Chestnut Expressway.
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#9
Make sure you tell Patrick that Dart Den recommended him to you !
https://www.facebook.com/dartden/

https://twitter.com/DartDen


"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#10
Indeed I did, Phil in my initial contact with him. I told him that Phil at Dart Den recommended I might contact him. Big Grin
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#11
Hey Terri,
Yeah, you can't go wrong with Patrick, great guy.
I live south of town, in Battlefield, but my work is downtown and I get to the Kearney store every once in awhile. Let me know if you need any, I can set up a springtail and isopod culture for you. It's always good to get your tank seeded with these before you get your frogs.
Scott Bryant
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#12
Thank you so much Scott. It will probably be a month or so yet. I still have to build the vivarium as I want them to have a nice stable home when I get them, assuming they're big enough to go into their vivarium when I get them. Or should they go in a temporary home regardless? The vivarium build I'm still researching as well. All while watching for deals on frogs. Smile I most definitely planned on seeding the vivarium when built with springtails, hadn't thought about isopods. You would recommend both? Any help is appreciated, thank you!
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#13
You may want to look at QT and testing. It's a good habit to get into with incoming frogs. It's generally recommended to QT your frogs in a temporary container so you can test for parasites, BD and RV, and treat if needed. That way you don't infect you permanent enclosure and subsequently reinfect a treated frog. Phil has an informative sticky here on QT procedures:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4656

Patrick is great and I am in no way suggesting his frogs are not healthy. It's just a good practice to get into as a defensive measure to protect your collection. It's also a lot easier to monitor new animals in the confines of a temporary enclosure than in a typical densely planted viv.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#14
Thanks for the link, I missed that discussion. Very nice! Patrick as well recommended keeping in a quarantine for several reasons. One of them being to make sure they transition well and are eating well before I turn them into a vivarium where it is harder to watch. I actually hadn't thought it would be necessary since they were going into a vivarium that has never been used, actually quite silly of me now that I read that thread. If per chance I end up with a less than healthy one it could infect the vivarium. (one of those duh moments) He said they actually could be in the sweater box container long enough that I could build my vivarium even after getting them, I thought he was rather exaggerating but I see now he was not. Smile

I haven't decided fully on even what species, let alone a breeder. I look at the trade forum as well to see if anything pops up there.

Again, thank you very, very much. I appreciate your advice and it is well heeded.
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#15
Glad to help. There's a lot of information at DD and sometimes it's hard to find it coming in from google. I'd go through each forum and read the stickies (blue thumbtacks) which generally are good threads to read. The beginner and health sections have really good stickies to get you going.

Selecting a morph is tough! I started with azureus and stuck with tincs. Everyone has their preference. I was quite happy with azureus since they are always out Smile. Over time I've taken to "indoor gardening" and find that equally rewarding as frog keeping. Good luck and don't forget to start a build thread when you get started!
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#16
The tincs are initially what drew me. I really love the guy in your avatar, but then I read about the females being pretty territorial with other females and that possibly then having to remove all but one female. So then I fell for the Oyapok to find the same thing and the Powder Grey Legged. Sad But those are most definitely my favorite of all. I'm converting a 29 gallon aquarium into a vivarium so should be plenty of room for a decent grouping of 3 or 4 frogs. If I let go on the tincs for now because I do want a larger group then it has been recommended the auratus are great group/beginner frogs. And also the Bumble Bee leucomelas. Patrick said he has a great group of Yellow P. terribilis but I've not researched them at all yet. Then I think well maybe the tincs would be okay but what if I get that female that is just ornery, then what? Sometimes I feel like it's that old one step forward and two steps back dance. LOL But patience and research and kind nudging from members such as yourself help get me that extra step forward.

I'll check out those stickies, I appear to have missed that entire group, probably as I was concentrating more on the morphs themselves and the design and building of the vivarium. Then getting into the whole water feature or no. Think I've decided no on that.
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#17
How's the St Louis froggers getting on?
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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