mixing/multispecies exhibits.

[Mywebbedtoes]

Well go back and just read what Ed writes. You don't have to read every responce as some of it is trivial and arguing over pointless details as you brought out. Ed sums this up pretty well and you should have a good idea of the problems associated with mixing after reading his posts. As a self described begginer, almost everyone would tell you to stick with a single species tank, as an understanding of each species habits is benefitial should one take on the complexity of a multi-species tank. But read through all of Ed's posts, I think you will enjoy what you learn.

[eLisborg]

I think Ed brings up a really important point, the floor space is often the only part of the tank being used, at my local zoo there are enclosures that are 5 feet high, 3 feet long and 2 feet and the tanks are housing pac man frogs. I know we are talking about mixing species, but the space given to single species tanks is also important. The floor is covered half by fake tree roots leaving the pac mans about the floor space of a 7 gallon. What is the purpose of these exibits; to educate? if I knew nothing about frogs and saw this exibit I would see nothing wrong with it, not knowing pac mans do not climb and I would walk away thinking that they do based on what I had seen. But what are zoos teaching if they do things like this?

Also, there is also a tank in this exibit that houses D. tinctorius, D. azeurus and D. auratus. As part of my job as a volunteer at the zoo is to tell people about these frogs and I cannot count the times people have asked where to them and proceeded to tell me they were going to get a "blue one, a green one, and a yellow one." Of course then I tell them mixing is not such a good idea for most situatuions. But it's hard to provide an argument against mixing species when you are standing right in front of a tank at a zoo housing three different species. I think that if zoos are going to do this they should provide information about doing this at a private level.

About the reasons for mixing species; animals look exactly the same whether they are housed with other frogs or individually (per species), so what is the appeal of mixed specie tanks? Why not have separate tanks for each species? They will be smaller but still have the same amount of room per frog.

I am not saying mixed specie tanks cannot be done, I have seen many sucessful tanks at zoos, but for the average person it usually doesn't come out right. They can be done with a lot of research, funds, and space but a lot of people dont have all that stuff.


FwoGiZ- in response to your question, I suggest you read all the pages in this post as they will probably answer a lot of your questions, and keep in mind that Ed works at a Zoo and is pretty good at what he does. and I also suggest you rethink your mentality on "stupid gallons and stuffs" as you will find out that stuff matters, just a little.

[beachbabe18509]

So I just got through reading most of this, wil lgo back and fill in the blanks later but thought Ed did a great job and that this is an ideal place to put this. I have seen so many begginers come in and post how they plan to mix species, people tell them not to and the go ahead and do it anyway to the detriment of the frog.

Ed set this up nicely say it can be done, but it must be done right. Atleast now when those hard head noobs come blasting in with having to do things "their" way, maybe they can atleast do so with less harm to the frogs.

I personally still have no Desire to set up a multi species tank not unless one day I happen on some monter of a tank say some 3x3x5 or bigger, In that case I could see myself trying it but seeing at my biggest tank currently is a 29g... It's not gonna happen anytime soon