Good beginner thumbnail

I am looking for info on hardy beginner thumbnail. I have kept auratus for the past year but I want a thumbnail species now also. Any info is greatly appreciated

[twisner]

i would recommend vents or imis, kept in a vertically oriented enclosure.
Others can elaborate more on this, i would also recommend doing a search, this question has been asked countless times before.

D.ventrimaculatus is relatively easy to keep if you want some info you can send me a PM

[Rain_Frog]

this really doesn't count 100% (as its not a quint) but a tricolor is a good choice. However, they are best kept in something larger than a 10 vert.

[defaced]

Like said above, either Vents or Imitators.

[kyle1745]

I have made this post a sticky as it is a common question that comes up from time to time.

[elmoisfive]

D. ventrimaculatus and D. imitator tend to be the first thumbnails that froggers take on for a few reasons. Compared to many other thumbnails they are relatively easy to obtain, less expensive, do well in group settings and acclimate to new surroundings without much difficulty. Both species are relatively straightforward to breed either as pairs or in groups although the sex ratio need to be considered in group settings. Eggs or tadpoles can be left in the viv for the parents to raise (provided there are adequate water sources for such a purpose) or pulled and raised outside the viv. The tadpoles are highly cannibalistic and are normally raised individually. Some frog hobbyists have experienced success in keeping these tadpoles in groups provided that adequate plant cover and food were available.

These frogs are arboreal and will be found up in the foliage and on the sides of the viv at most times. Items to be considered in successful husbandry of either species are a well planted viv with plenty of hiding spots and sufficient space for frogs to establish territories. The relative boldness of either vents or imis is the subject of much discussion and appears to be related to personal experience. Both species will make themselves visible within the viv provided that they feel secure in their surroundings and are especially visible when breeding.

D. imitator intermedius is closely related to D. imitator and is also a robust frog. However, they tend to be less available compared to vents or imis and more expensive.

Species that are not considered good beginner thumbnails include D. fantasticus, D. lamasi, D. quinquevittatus, D. castaneoticus and D. reticulatus for reasons of availability (compared to vents and imis), expense and in a few species/morphs, difficulty in acclimation to new surroundings. However, an experienced frogger should have no problems with these species. D. amazonicus are considered by many to be a form of vent as opposed to their own species but have a lower supply and higher price in the hobby.

Bill

[Frogtofall]

This is an excellent sticky. I found myself in this exact situation a week ago... wanting a good beginner thumbnail.

For elmoisfive: Not once did you mentino D. pumilio. Is there a reason you excluded this frog from your response? Is it a good beginner, not a good beginner or is it mixed between the varieties of the species?

[Jordan B]

Dendrobates Pumilio are not "true" thumbnails. A true thumbnail is a frog in the quinquevittatus group, like retics, fants, imitator, etc. Pumilio could be considered more difficult to breed than some of the frogs Bill mentioned, as they are obligate egg-feeders and raise their own young.

Jordan

[elmoisfive]

D. pumilio are also not recommended as starter frogs due to their expense and the fact that most pumilio in the hobby are farm raised with the concomitant concern about parasite load. In the absence of treatment, these animals can run into real health issues and pose a threat to your other frogs. Proper treatment in quarantine is time consuming, stresses the frogs to a certain extent and increases the expense.

However, parasite free adult pumilio are pretty hardy frogs in captivity.

Plus as Jordan mentions, pums are not considered thumbs in the strictest sense.

Bill