Mantella questions?

[Collide]

I have been thinking of getting some Mantellas latly, i have been doing some reading and i have a few questions hopfully someone can help me with them.

1, I have read that they need to be cleaned out regullarly, Im jsut wondering in a fully set up permant cage is completly removing everything weekly really nessessary. I have no issues cleaning the cage regularly im just wondering if a complete weely reconstruction is needed?

2, What would be a more hardy Mantella that is available here in canada.

3, I have heard they are not a good starter frog (I have never owned a frog b4) would it be a really bad idea to start with a Mantella as my first frog?

i hope someone can help.

[bistrobob85]

Never get mantellas or dendrobates from pet stores, thats my tip number 1. Get them from a breeder because CB frogs do MUCH better than WC... I work in a pet store and i'll never sell dendrobates or mantellas again that are not CB, because the WC die in your arms at a big 80% even with the right care. They need a lot of misting, and they are defenetly not a good starter frog. There is a lot of reading you can do about them, go ahead...

[joe55]

yah ill agree with that. Never get wild caught. GOldens and painted mantellas are good starters.

[Double J]

Originally posted by Collide
I have been thinking of getting some Mantellas lately, i have been doing some reading and i have a few questions hopfully someone can help me with them.

1, I have read that they need to be cleaned out regullarly, Im jsut wondering in a fully set up permant cage is completly removing everything weekly really nessessary. I have no issues cleaning the cage regularly im just wondering if a complete weely reconstruction is needed?

If a mantella tank is set up properly, it need NEVER be taken down or fully reconstructed. With a properly setup tank complete with a gravel drainage bed below the substrate, this is possible of course. Water should be entering the system regularly via misting, and water will be leaving the system regularly by sucking off the excess water wth a siphon or turkey baster before the water level reaches the soil. I have kept Mantellas and poison dart frogs for years, and I have tanks that have been running without being reconstructed since 2002. The frogs are doing fantastic. I know of others that have had tanks running for close to seven years. The key is setting up the tank and maintaining it properly. One of the biggest factors... PLANTS PLANTS and more PLANTS! Load it up! The plants will use up much of the wastes, and the frog poop is the only fertilizer needed. The only maintenance you need to do is misting, draining *some* of the water on a bi-weekly basis or so.

Originally posted by Collide

2, What would be a more hardy Mantella that is available here in canada.

Mantella viridis aka green mantellas are the ideal starter mantella if your purchase CB. Understory Enterprises produces a vast number of these frogs. They are hearty, can eat larger food than some Dendrobates, and grow to a healthy size. Here is a link to the site:

www.understoryenterprises.com

Originally posted by Collide

3, I have heard they are not a good starter frog (I have never owned a frog b4) would it be a really bad idea to start with a Mantella as my first frog?

CB mantellas are excellent starter frogs if their vivarium is set up properly. You should not have a problem with them as they can handle more beginner mistakes than many other frogs. Don't let anybody convince you that Mantellas and Dendrobates are difficult! If kept below 80 (low 70's are best for mantellas) , kept plenty humid, and fed properly with a good supplement such as rep-cal, the more common CB species make captives that are incredibly easy to care for and are very low maintenance. I am sure you have read some of the stuff online by Mark Staniszewski.. he has written some great stuff, but his caging techniques are rather old fashioned, far too sterile, and a little outdated.. though they have worked well for him through the years.
Now, most mantella keepers set up tanks glass tanks, with gravel dranage layers, soil, and live plants that are planted directly in the soil layer. If you need any further info regarding mantella setups, please feel free to ask.

[Collide]

Thanks thats exacally what i figered about the cage, now i ahve do do more reading and get a good cage set up, I keep chamleons soo im used to misting ect... thanks for the info. Im sure ill have more questions later that really helped.

[Double J]

I agree with Bob.... Stay away from wild caught (ie from a pet store). The medication regimes necessary are not worth it unless you are a serious breeder. You are far better off buying CB......especially if they are your first frogs. Understory Enterprises produces some excellent captive bred mantellas. They are comparably priced to WC, and the survival rate is essentially 100%. CB all the way for mantellas and darts.

[galad]

Would I be able to use dried alli fig leaves as leaf litter in my set ups for mantellas? I want to get a bunch of different types of leaves to use in the litter not just one. So could I use just about any non-toxic tropical leaves?

thanx

ws

[Double J]

Originally posted by galad
Would I be able to use dried alli fig leaves as leaf litter in my set ups for mantellas? I want to get a bunch of different types of leaves to use in the litter not just one. So could I use just about any non-toxic tropical leaves?

thanx

ws

Toxic/non-toxic plants with frogs........ frogs are not affected by plant toxicity the way chameleons and other reptiles are. The frogs will not be eating any of the leaves, and thus will suffer no ill effects. I, and every other dart/mantella keeper have all sorts of toxic plants in our tanks, and have done do for years. These plants often drop leaves that are free to decompose in the soil...... and nobody loses any sleep over it. Philodendrons, Dieffenbacchias, etc etc..... are all plants that are toxic if eaten, yet have no consequence on frogs whatsoever within a vivarium. Actually, many poison dart frogs actually breed and raise tadpoles *in* Dieffenbacchia plants.
As to what sorts of leaves to use...... I prefer oak leaves due to the fact that they rot rather slowly in comparison to other leaves, and leach a number of beneficial tannins into the soil. Many other types of leaves will rot rather quickly, and look like hell. Fig leaves..... do you mean leaves from a Ficus benjamina plant? If so, you could definitely gie them a try, though I would let them dry out first. I have never used ficus leaves on top of the substrate, but I beleive I have heard of a few that have. Give them a try if you like, but I swear by oak leaves, and magnolia leaves work incredibly well also though I don't use any personally due a to a lack of access to them.

Double J

[DragnDrop]

I love mangnolia and oak leaves for dart tanks. The mangolia leaves are big enough and curl 'just so' to make great hiding places for darts while waiting for springtails to wander past.

[galad]

Awsome. I geusse I will give them a try and see what happens. I will also be putting in oak leaves but want a bigger variety.

Also Im not good with scientific names of plants, or animals for that matter, lol.
What are the common names of the toxic plants you are talking about?

thanx again

ws

[Collide]

those are the common names they can be found at any walmart/homedepot/nersery look up thee name on google for a pic reference.