Veteran fish keeper.... Rookie reptile, amphibian keeper?????

[titansfever83]

Been in the fish hobby for several years and would like a little change for once!


I went to my LFS recently; it is half fish and half reptiles. I NEVER go to the reptile side until this time. I was looking around and became very interested in setting up SOMETHING!?!?!?! Like the title says, I know my fish but not my reptiles/amphibians. They had some Lygodactylus williamsi(which I fell in love with!). I also became interested in their frog setups. I really liked the red-eyed tree frogs and some black/yellow, black/blue frogs(don't recall their names, maybe poison dart frog???)

Anyway, I have a few questions.....

*Are the Lygodactylus williamsi nocturnal?
~anyone here keep them?


probably a stupid question, but,
*Are there types of frogs that you should not keep with others?
~can the gecko and frogs I mentioned be housed together?

BTW, my tank is 3'x3'x20"tall, haven't taken any pics yet (tank is new to me)but here are a few pics of it when the guy put it on craigslist

http://bgky.craigslist.org/grd/996938010.html


*What are some die hard websites (like MFK) that have tons of info on reptiles/amphibians?



Jamie

 

[dde1878]

welcome to the reptile side of life, not a frog guy but be patient a frog guy will help you as soon as he is done with the previous frog ?

 

[andyjs]

That is a sweet tank! Many possibilities for that. I'm by no means even close to a herp expert, but they are a close second to my love of fish. I'll answer your questions as best I can.

-First, about the Lygodactylus williamsi-they are a day gecko. Most geckos are nocturnal with the exception of a group in Madagascar/Africa, and a few others. I've never kept them though...

-And for the frogs-There are definitely many species that you shouldn't mix. Actually as a general rule, it's a bad idea to mix most herps. For example, dart frogs need pretty specific setups and if mixed at all, should only be done in specific situations if you know what you're doing. Also, there are very large species of frogs that should be kept by themselves. Then, there are some frogs I've had some success keeping together, but they have to have basically the same requirements and all be similarly sized individuals (and be monitored to make sure everyone gets their share of the food). For a while I had a setup with a pair of barking, pair of green, and pair of gray treefrogs all together and they did well, but especially starting out, I wouldn't recommend it.

-Also, I wouldn't mix the geckos with frogs. I've heard of mixes like anoles and green treefrogs, but again, wouldn't reccomend it, especially to someone new to herps.

With that tank, I'd do a big desert display with a group of leopard geckos or something, but that's just me...
Ooh, or a bog setup with some spotted turtles (if I had the money). Man, I would love to have that tank...

 

[kearth]

The yellow and black and blue and black were probably Leucomelas and Azureus.

Dart frogs for the most part are easy to take care of. They should not be mixed with other frogs or geckos There is some people that have a decent amount of "reptile/ amphin experience) but being new to that side I would avoid it for now.

i can help you out with darnnear everything you need to know if you go the dart frog approach. Ask away and I will do what i can

Oh it it might be the auratus

 

[Colubrids&Boids]

I wouldnt Reccomend getting the lygodactylus geckos unless you were sure that you were going to breed them,and your tank would be too big for them i think.

a pair of tokay geckos might be okay but they are straight from hell and hate people.
bearded dragons.

as for frogs,im not sure, big frogs like pyxies and pacmans wouldnt use all the space.dart frogs would be awesome.

 

[varanio]

The williamsi are relatively easy to keep, so if youre keen on them I say go for it. Ive never had frogs other than red eyes, so cant help you there.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=31&de=647013

 

[Noto]

I always recommend green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) as a great beginner herp. They are inexpensive, hardy, and beautiful. They can thrive in a lush planted vivarium or a simple bare-bones setup, so you can invest as much or as little time in the setup as you like. They don't require special heating or lighting equipment. They're big enough to eat most feeder insects, which is a plus when you don't want to raise fruit flies.

Petstore H. cinerea are not always in great shape, but unfortunately Tennessee law prevents you from collecting locally (the species does occur in various parts of TN, including Nashville). I've considered breeding them, but wild-caughts are so cheap it doesn't make monetary sense.

 

[titansfever83]

With that tank, I'd do a big desert display with a group of leopard geckos or something, but that's just me...
Ooh, or a bog setup with some spotted turtles (if I had the money). Man, I would love to have that tank...

Leopards are nocturnal, right? Thought about a turtle tank, but Tennessee laws are a little funny so not gonna go that route.

I wouldnt Reccomend getting the lygodactylus geckos unless you were sure that you were going to breed them,and your tank would be too big for them i think.

I would love to try my hand at breeding them! That is a large part of my interest in the fish hobby.

The williamsi are relatively easy to keep, so if youre keen on them I say go for it. Ive never had frogs other than red eyes, so cant help you there.

Thanks varanio!

I always recommend green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) as a great beginner herp. They are inexpensive, hardy, and beautiful. They can thrive in a lush planted vivarium or a simple bare-bones setup, so you can invest as much or as little time in the setup as you like. They don't require special heating or lighting equipment. They're big enough to eat most feeder insects, which is a plus when you don't want to raise fruit flies.

Petstore H. cinerea are not always in great shape, but unfortunately Tennessee law prevents you from collecting locally (the species does occur in various parts of TN, including Nashville). I've considered breeding them, but wild-caughts are so cheap it doesn't make monetary sense.

Good to see another Tennessean!!! Can the treefrogs be housed in the same tank as the dart frogs??

 

[titansfever83]

The yellow and black and blue and black were probably Leucomelas and Azureus.

Dart frogs for the most part are easy to take care of. They should not be mixed with other frogs or geckos There is some people that have a decent amount of "reptile/ amphin experience) but being new to that side I would avoid it for now.

i can help you out with darnnear everything you need to know if you go the dart frog approach. Ask away and I will do what i can

My LFS had one that has yellow markings on its back, the front legs and belly was black and the back legs faded from black to a dark blue. Very neat looking!