Mixing Dart Frogs?

SerpentLust · 07-10-03, 03:46 PM

I'm very new to the amphibian hobbyist community. Sticking mainly to snakes and such for a while.

I saw little poison dart frogs at the expo and this was the second time that I was really compelled to buy them.

My question is, how many dart frogs can you keep in one enclosure? For arguments sake, we'll say a 3 foot long enclosure.

And my second question is whether or not you can mix them. Like if I wanted a Dendrobates azureus (Blue Dart Frog), a Dendrobates auratus (Turquoise) and a Dendrobates pumilio, just for example. Would they be allowed in the same enclosure? Or would I have to stick to one of them like a group of three Dendrobates azureus?

Thanks in advance,
Jenn

Dozer · 07-10-03, 09:45 PM

Honestly speaking, I've seen people mixing up Dend. species, but I aint no pro at darts.

As for enclosures, 2 frogs fit snuggly in a 10-15 gallon. So a 3 foot tank would be plent of space

SerpentLust · 07-10-03, 11:08 PM

Thanks Dozer

At least SOMEONE replied! lol

Jenn

drewlowe · 07-11-03, 10:06 AM

why reply if you don't know the answer. But i'm watching this tread cause i would like to know the answer also.

DragnDrop · 07-11-03, 10:39 AM

D. azureus and D. auratus will crossbreed readily. It's not recommended to keep different Dendrobates together because they don't mind mixing and matching their genes. I'm not sure about pumilio, since I have no personal experience with them, sorry. However, I do know that auratus can be assertive when it comes to food (it's MINE, all MINE, get lost), leaving little for others if they can help it. Azureus isn't far behind them. How the smaller pumilio will fare in that situation will have to be answered by someone else, but I know they are not for the beginner hobbyist.

Even Dendrobates and Phyllobates for example, can't always be mixed successfully - their needs and moods are just too extreme to get along, though the interbreeding isn't a problem there. It's best to keep one species and 'morph' per tank, or do a lot of research and find 2 species that inhabit different levels (arboreal vs terrestrial), have the same temperament, and possibly eat different foods (e.g. fruit flies for one, crickets for the other).

I keep mine in separate species set-ups. There's nothing like seeing 10 azureus interact, or 6 leucomelas acting naturally, watching them do their mating rituals. You won't likely see that if they are too suppressed by a more assertive species bullying them around.

Laurier · 07-28-03, 05:06 PM

I have mixed different types of tinc's together and they never breed. keep different species together if you would like, it makes an excellent show tank and if your not the "hardcore" breeder and you don't care about breeding the same species than just don't give about others opinion. sure some species will breed readily as hilde said but thats only if you keep them in breeding conditions