[JimO]

Could you insert a subtle glass barrier and divide it into two vivs that look like one?

 

[JimO]

First let me be clear that I do not support mixing. However, logic must prevail when someone asks why. Would there not be the same risk with putting two frogs of the same species/morph from different vivs together? Any two darts frogs that did not grow up together could exchange parasites or diseases. There is no greater risk of this, that I am aware of, between species that between two Green Sips or two Leucs, etc.

If I was new to the hobby and was given that as the sole reason not to put two males of different species together, then I'd be confused. As I understand it, a logical reason not to mix, even if it is safe for the frogs and no breeding will occur, is that it can confuse others new to the hobby into thinking it's ok when they come to your house and see the viv. Most people automatically think of it in terms of a fish tank. That is why zoos that display darts in mixed tanks do not help the hobby IMHO.

I don't understand why the fact that they are both males would somehow stop the spreading of parasites or chytrid.

 

[JimO]

These are all very good and logical points. We probably should have a sticky thread entitled "The Problems with Mixing Frogs" or something and lay out all the reasons in one place. Then if someone posts a question, we can post the sticky thread link.

Sometimes I've seen (not on this particular thread) a genuinely interested new person essentially told (paraphrasing here) "Don't mix because I said so."

On the other hand, the veterans shouldn't have to explain all the technical reasons every time there is a question.

I think that most of the time, with someone new to the hobby, when they get two frogs of the same species, they are going to have been raised together. They are going to purchase them from the same source. Why would they want to pay for shipping twice in order to get them from 2 different bloodlines? Especially if they are not interested in breeding. So generally, putting two frogs of the same species together will mean that they were raised together. But putting two frogs from different species together pretty much assures that you are grouping frogs that were NOT raised together. i.e. different pathogens and parasites.
Plus, and maybe this is old school, but I was always told that putting frogs together from different locations, could introduce frog A, to a pathogen or parasite from Location B. Frog A's population could have little or no natural defense against said pathogen.
I thought it was good advice that Michael gave him but in his next post the op completely ignored and discarded it.

 

[JimO]

Actually, Michael mentioned it first, but I'm always willing to accept a compliment.

Jim I think youve had the best idea so far. Maybe a chat at some point in DB Chat people can start getting ideas together in a mature logical manner without it becoming a headache to the main portion of the board?

 

[JimO]

I don't understand why large vivs divided by glass aren't more popular for those who want to see several species or morphs in one scene. I believe it was on DB, but I remember someone who had three Exos side by side and created backgrounds and even branches that were designed to give the appearance that it was one continuous viv. He/she cut a sizeable branch and then glued the cut ends to match up between the two vivs. It looked spectacular. Someone could glue two sheets of glass into a 75, for example, and have three decent sized separate sub-vivs. They could even share a misting system and have a common drainage feature.