new to dart frogs

[steveoo]

i am starting my firs viv. it is 24x24x24 acrylic with gs and coco fiber background. it also has a water fall going into a small pond. i have a # of bromeliads and tillandsia. i also have one fern and some pillow moss. i am looking for suggestions on some kind of plants with foliage other than just green. i am having trouble deciding on a frog. i really am interested in thumbnails or what seems to be the ones that are not recommended for beginners. any suggestions? i should add that i have experience with baby red eye tree frogs and baby panther chameleon if that helps any.

[Pumilo]

Hey Steveoo, If thumbnails are your passion, then just make sure you do your research first. People have started with thumbnails, and done it well. You just want to make sure you are prepared for them. Do plenty of research first and then do it. Some of the things you'll want to remember are that they are very small and sooner or later will find and squeeze their way into every tiny crack and crevasse in your viv. They can escape through cracks that you wouldn't believe! They are lightning fast so make sure that you don't startle them when opening the door. Not that they will purposely try to escape, but if they are facing the door and you startle them with the door open, they will be out of the viv, across the floor, and under the couch before you can finish saying, "OH No!"
My personal choice is to not use water features with thumbnails, but if you decide to, make sure they can climb out very easily, with a sloped bank.
They are not as forgiving when it comes to feeding. By that I mean they are a small frog and can lose weight quickly if you don't have your fruit fly culturing perfected. So start your fruit fly culturing early and make sure you are confident that you can always supply enough. Don't rely on picking up cultures at the pet shop. You will want to control your own food supply.
I like to supply a nice variety of microfauna, like springtails and isopods, to all of my thumbnails. Besides, microfauna can help keep the tank fresh and clean, by eating dead leaves, dead flies, frog waste, etc.
Is it true that thumbnails are not the best choice for a beginner frog? Yes, but it can and has been done. In my opinion, follow your passion, just make sure you are prepared for it. And yes, obviously, thumbnails are my passion.
I think you'll find that any of the Imitators can make a lovely first thumbnail.

[srrrio]

Hi there,
Doug gave you a great scoop on thumbnails and I agree that there is really no reason you cannot start with them. I will only add that if you can go see some imitators, vents ..just to get an idea of their looks/size in person. I know, from being a board member for awhile, that people see the fantastic pictures posted and are a bit disappointed when their beautiful.. but itty bitty frogs arrive. The only downside for me is that they are champion poopers on glass.

As for plants, this thread should be of help:

A Guide to Popular Terrarium Plants

Sally

[steveoo]

thank you for all the information, it has been very helpful.

[sdlyager]

Quite sneaky as well, one little crack to feed them and I have one of my vents waiting for the instant to jump out the door. If that isn't bad enough he can jump several feet, making it really difficult to find him and hoping kids and/or dogs don't trample him.

[Pumilo]

Good point Sally. Here is a size comparison pic. Remember too that thumbnails are typically shyer than the big boys.

[Shinosuke]

Originally Posted by Pumilo

Good point Sally. Here is a size comparison pic. Remember too that thumbnails are typically shyer than the big boys.

Holy crap, is that a full grown thumbnail? I knew they were small but didn't know they were THAT small!

[Pumilo]

Originally Posted by Shinosuke

Holy crap, is that a full grown thumbnail? I knew they were small but didn't know they were THAT small!

Oh, sorry, no that is a fairly fresh froglet.

[iminuru]

@pumilo - would you happen to have picture of a side by side comparison of an adult thumbnail to a froglet?