Choosing a species/your favorite species discussion

[visionteacher]

So, the million dollar question. Which species to start? Here's the thing, I'm really not interested in having 30 frogs in the house, *ha! I say this now...* so I'd like a species that is going to be good for the long term in terms of keeping my interest. A frog that's out and about would be nice, don't want to have to search all the time for them.

I'd like nice colors, I've been liking the the cobalt tincs and the azureus. Used to be really in favor of the azureus, but the cobalts are starting to grow on me. The Leucs look nice too, but not a FAVORITE, is there anything just super cool about them?

Any great frogs I'm overlooking? I know everyone has their favorites, its like picking the best fish, or coolest flower, but I'd love for you to take a minute and tell me what you really like, and why you like it, if you wouldn't mind. You can have more than one too if you want Smile We were recently in Costa Rica and saw all their darts, we liked the blue jeans a lot, I've not seen them in the hobby though, are they available? I've heard they're harder to keep, is this true, or is it more that they are harder to breed? Thanks, and looking forward to great discussion.

~Mickey

[SmackoftheGods]

All frogs are great. Cobalts, azureus and leucs are all great starter frogs and are all bold and should keep your interest. If it were me, though, I'd go with leucs. My leucs are more arboreal than either of my tincs (I have cobalts and azureus), they utilize the ground and the upper branches about 50/50, leucs can be kept in groups where tincs shouldn't be, so if you want to set up a 150 gal display tank leucs would be perfect, also, it is a rare occurance to be able to hear a tinc call (although I have on occasion), but a leuc call fills up my whole basement, it's bright cheerful and loud.

I'm a philosophy major... I shouldn't have run-on sentences like that....

[visionteacher]

I've got a 30 gallon that's going to go to the frogs. How many leucs would be comfortable in there? The call does sound cool, is it annoying?

[lebanik]

Have you considered the Costa rican auratus. My trio is constantly out in plain sight, are a bright green, and are fairly easy to breed, if thats something you want in the future.

I keep my trio in a 18x18x24 exo terra and they use every bit of the space. The call is a little hard to hear, but you can hear it in a quiet room.

just something to consider

brian

Originally Posted by visionteacher

So, the million dollar question. Which species to start? Here's the thing, I'm really not interested in having 30 frogs in the house, *ha! I say this now...* so I'd like a species that is going to be good for the long term in terms of keeping my interest. A frog that's out and about would be nice, don't want to have to search all the time for them.

I'd like nice colors, I've been liking the the cobalt tincs and the azureus. Used to be really in favor of the azureus, but the cobalts are starting to grow on me. The Leucs look nice too, but not a FAVORITE, is there anything just super cool about them?

Any great frogs I'm overlooking? I know everyone has their favorites, its like picking the best fish, or coolest flower, but I'd love for you to take a minute and tell me what you really like, and why you like it, if you wouldn't mind. You can have more than one too if you want Smile We were recently in Costa Rica and saw all their darts, we liked the blue jeans a lot, I've not seen them in the hobby though, are they available? I've heard they're harder to keep, is this true, or is it more that they are harder to breed? Thanks, and looking forward to great discussion.

~Mickey

[rollei]

Once you get a species of frog, you will want more. You can casually 2-3 species without a huge change to your life.

[airplanenut]

I came in really wanting the Green and Black auratus... I love bright green and I love colors that contrast with shiny black. Through some research, I found that leucs are bolder than many auratus breeds, but that there is one Costa Rican G&B auratus that is similarly bold, which put me back to where I had planned on starting.

That said, I haven't gotten them yet, but should have them soon... and boy I can't wait!

While I could say I'd be happy with just these frogs, I know that it won't be long before I want another species, and then I'll probably go to leucs, whose colors I also really like.

Jeremy

[lebanik]

I have several differant morphs/locals of D.auratus and the costa ricans are the boldest followed pretty close by the "el cope" ones. The costa ricans are pretty funny to watch.

I think their a good frog to start with.

brian

Originally Posted by airplanenut

I came in really wanting the Green and Black auratus... I love bright green and I love colors that contrast with shiny black. Through some research, I found that leucs are bolder than many auratus breeds, but that there is one Costa Rican G&B auratus that is similarly bold, which put me back to where I had planned on starting.

That said, I haven't gotten them yet, but should have them soon... and boy I can't wait!

While I could say I'd be happy with just these frogs, I know that it won't be long before I want another species, and then I'll probably go to leucs, whose colors I also really like.

Jeremy

[visionteacher]

I'll post this in its own topic, but I recently, last week, came back from a trip to Costa Rica. I got a decent amount of photos of dart frogs there including the auratus. They were indeed bold, actually common, when we were in the jungle. They'd just hope along the ground, the ticans said they're like immigrant frogs, always moving, and never in the same place for long. This certainly seemed true of the ones we observed. Here's the link: Picasa Web Albums - Mickey - Dart Frogs

[Dragonfly]

My first frogs were tinc cobalts. They are amazing, but I have to admit that this week when the first frog with a really audible call could be heard I was rapt with attention. I now have leucs who are too young to call, but wow will it be wonderful (they better not be all girls).

My vote is go with what suits your fancy, but being able to hear a call is such a joy.

[visionteacher]

The leucs definitely seem interesting after all the cool things I'm reading about them. How many do you think I can comfortably house in a 30 gallon? Do you need to add all the frogs at once, or can I add a couple more later? I appreciate the help!

~Mickey