Beginner Frogs?

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Posted by andy on September 23, 2001 at 22:51:30:

I have been recently amused at the prospect of owning some kind of tropical frog. I have experience with bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and russian tortoises (russians are NOT an easy species), and I read a lot about reptiles and amphibians, so I'm not a beginner to the world of herping.

However, I have never owned a frog or any amphibian before (the closest thing was a green anole). I know about gut-loading, UV lighting, heating, stress, feeding, etc. But I have never built a complex tropical enclosure.

This morning I read an article in the October issue of Reptiles Magazine about creating a bog vivarium. This piqued my interest, as a bog vivarium seems incredibly easy to maintain. The hardest part is picking out the proper plants. Basically, you set up a humid enclosure with some shallow water and lots of semi-aquatic plants, mix in some substrate and moss, and the vivarium takes care of itself. The feces and water are recycled by the plants, so there is little cleaning to be done. All that is needed is a monthly check of the water pH, and compensating for evaporated water.

Pictured in the vivarium were several golden mantellas. I had read a few things about mantellas before, but I didn't feel ready to care for them. But today I read several caresheets and learned quite a bit about them.

Now for my question. Are yellow mantellas (the species that seems easiest) hardy captives? I plan on getting only CB animals. What about the various species of dart frogs? Are they any easier?

Throughout the year, the temperature in my house fluctuates between 68-82 degrees. I read that mantellas are mountain dwellers and therefore like cooler temps. Will a yellow mantella thrive in these conditions? If not, what will?

And last but not least, do I need to worry about maintaining exact humidity in an enclosure with a shallow 'pool' of water? Can mantellas swim?

This may seem like a lot to ask, but I would greatly appreciate any replies.

Thanks in advance!

-Andy

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Re: Beginner Frogs? dan w. 09/24/01 (0)

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: I have been recently amused at the prospect of owning some kind of tropical frog. I have experience with bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and russian tortoises (russians are NOT an easy species), and I read a lot about reptiles and amphibians, so I'm not a beginner to the world of herping. : However, I have never owned a frog or any amphibian before (the closest thing was a green anole). I know about gut-loading, UV lighting, heating, stress, feeding, etc. But I have never built a complex tropical enclosure. : This morning I read an article in the October issue of Reptiles Magazine about creating a bog vivarium. This piqued my interest, as a bog vivarium seems incredibly easy to maintain. The hardest part is picking out the proper plants. Basically, you set up a humid enclosure with some shallow water and lots of semi-aquatic plants, mix in some substrate and moss, and the vivarium takes care of itself. The feces and water are recycled by the plants, so there is little cleaning to be done. All that is needed is a monthly check of the water pH, and compensating for evaporated water. : Pictured in the vivarium were several golden mantellas. I had read a few things about mantellas before, but I didn't feel ready to care for them. But today I read several caresheets and learned quite a bit about them. : Now for my question. Are yellow mantellas (the species that seems easiest) hardy captives? I plan on getting only CB animals. What about the various species of dart frogs? Are they any easier? : Throughout the year, the temperature in my house fluctuates between 68-82 degrees. I read that mantellas are mountain dwellers and therefore like cooler temps. Will a yellow mantella thrive in these conditions? If not, what will? : And last but not least, do I need to worry about maintaining exact humidity in an enclosure with a shallow 'pool' of water? Can mantellas swim? : This may seem like a lot to ask, but I would greatly appreciate any replies. : Thanks in advance! : -Andy

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