P. terribilis Comments

[sharpn2]

I can very easily see a terribilis lunging at someone. Whenever I go to feed mine, one or two of them will jump at the container and try to get the insects before they're even pouring out. And as completely fearless as they are, I doubt they'd think anything of going after something no matter what the size.

...but isn't that why we love these frogs? They fear nothing. When they eat, they practically slam themselves against their prey. (I swear that mine are determined to flatten their food before eating.) A finger isn't going to phase them. If something moves around them, it's just in their nature to try and eat it. It's what makes them so freaking cool.

[jdooley195]

Haha, yea I'm not sure what had happened, but his face definitely hit my finger...hard! Wasn't near a hide, nor was he. With my mints, it seems that as soon as they see something move, they strike at it. I absolutely love watching them eat!

Does anyone else's stare upward a lot? Mine are always out in the open looking up....I cant figure out why.

[Grrrit]

Originally Posted by jdooley195

Haha, yea I'm not sure what had happened, but his face definitely hit my finger...hard! Wasn't near a hide, nor was he. With my mints, it seems that as soon as they see something move, they strike at it. I absolutely love watching them eat!

Does anyone else's stare upward a lot? Mine are always out in the open looking up....I cant figure out why.

*blinded by staring at the lights for prolonged periods*

Jk I honestly have not a clue as to why they do it. My juvi mints do it from time to time. Seems more so as they age.

[khoff]

My large adult female mint has "bit" my finger before. It was like she was trying to gum my finger to death. She always jumps straight for the feeding cup and it's usually a game where I have to fake her out before I can drop in food; otherwise, she jumps right in the feeding cup. She knows the difference between feeding time and me just messing around in the tank. I can pull eggs, trim plants, etc and she minds her own business...if I have the feeding cup in hand, all bets are off.

As far as my experience goes, terribilis are the only dart frogs that will eat things that don't fit in their mouth (like an earthworm). They will actually push it in with their front arms if they can't swallow it in one bite.

Kevin

[sharpn2]

Originally Posted by jdooley195

Does anyone else's stare upward a lot? Mine are always out in the open looking up....I cant figure out why.

I think they're looking for food. Mine do it all the time, but noticeably more often if I've just fed them and they're hunting.

...and for some reason, when I see them like that, I always end up having dreams about giant terribilis invading Tokyo. I'm pretty sure that the person who came up with Godzilla had mints.

[jbherpin]

It had seemed so very unliekly to me.... I feel silly and thankful for the correction and the sharing of experiences. These are amazing gems! Mine are very young yet, and this is my first go with them.

I will add that mine, young as they are, do stare more upwards than the other darts I have when resting. I, after reading some other's experiences, would theorize they are glutinously waiting for the "manna from the sky"....

Keep the observations coming, it has been a very cool discussion thus far!

JBear

[jbherpin]

My only concern with this species' ability/desire to consume as big/much as possible is that people who care for them will overlook what is good for the frog to see what it will take.

In my opinion Chitin(as seen in crickets and mealworms, etc.) should not be offered too much. Earthworms, on the other hand, particuarly the garden worm variety, are a great addition to the diet as long as they come from untreated(pesticides, herbicides, etc.) soil.

I would reccomend moths, and small grubs. I think the moths would allow the frogs a good hunt, and be rather high quality as a supplemental feeder. The grubs can be harvested from the grass roots. Simply take a shovel and cut very shallow in the ground so that only a scraping of grass is lifted. if the grubs are present, and the lawn/land is untreated, these would be a good addition to the diet of P. terribilis, and would be a better option than mealworms IMHO. I used to collect grubs for Salamanders and Newts, so I have an inclination to suggest them.

I guess harvesting foods locally poses a risk of pathogen transmission, maybe some would not want to take that risk. Just to highlight some risks...

JBear

[randommind]

Sorry to digress back to the finger biting, but I found this link while posting on the "show off your terribilis" thread....
http://www.frognet.org/albums/mjm23-frogs/DSCN1999.mov

[bristles]

Originally Posted by cbreon

I've kept large breeding groups of yellow and orange terriblis and they both exhibited similar behavior. My oranges would hop right onto my hand, arm, whatever, they feared nothing. Their personality, boldness, call, and size makes them a great species to keep. However two big groups will eat you out of house and home!

I think that they fear nothing because they are the most poisonous frog in the world hence terrible frog....just saying

[nbutler]

They are the most bold I have worked with, especially mints but I have never had one lunge toward me, not move or approach me yes so I believe the hide opinion to be the most appropriate since when they eat although quick to it they do not lunge, they are like other darts and taking a lizard or anything bigger than a cricket I think is a big stretch, they do get big but come on now!