OK, I have a credit coming to me... now what should I get?

[PeterB]

Here's the list: http://gherp.com/gherp/pages/amphibstock.htm

[Paul F.]

This one...




Or the one in the list called the "Blue Poison Frog"... 'cause it sounds really cool...

[PeterB]

Paul, yes, I once had one A. callidryas (the Red Eyed Tree Frog)-- unfortunately, he didn't last long (I don't know why he died, he wasn't around long enough to figure it out, so it might have been something basic about my environment that he didn't like, or that he was already sick when I got him). They actually aren't particularly easy to keep: http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/species/redeye.html

... some things they don't generally tell you about this species:

1) very important to keep them warm and at high humidity, since they're native to jungles

2) they're almost entirely nocturnal, which means that you won't really get to see the coloration... since at night, they also tend to turn darker (lighter in daytime)... that's a shame, since the coloration is really spectacular. During the daytime, they completely retract into a bright green oval shape (perfect camouflage, like a knob of a tree).

Still, I might consider trying my hand at one again... the other two that I'm leaning toward are H. regilla (these guys are just really cute, those of you in CA and elsewhere on the West Coast have almost certainly heard or seen them), or possibly the P. resinifictrix (try saying THAT five times fast!)-- I had never seen one of those before, here's a pic:



... jeez, doesn't even look real!

[PeterB]

Oh, and here's a pic of the blue poison frog, really gorgeous:



... unfortunately, I have little experience with poison arrow (dart) frogs, and am not sure I'd be able to properly care for one... (care sheet here: http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/species/poison.html)

[Paul F.]

I'm guessin' that "do not lick" is probably on that care sheet some place, eh?


I just googled for "H. regilla"..
Yup.. around here they're kinda your basic little green frog! Saw one this afternoon, in fact...

[PeterB]

Paul, here's a great page on H. regilla, including lots of photos:

http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/frog/hylaregilla.html

on that page, there is even a movie of one calling, quite cute: http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/frog/c...egilla.MOV

... and here is a good page showing some color variations:

http://www.californiaherps.com/noncal/no...gilla.html

... I know, because I've had these guys before, that they come in all different colors, and can even easily change color themselves quickly (can be any shade of red, yellow, green, brown, or grey)... made it nearly impossible to tell who was who...

I had a friend out in CA who caught a bunch of them for me... and I'm also not quite sure how Glades Herp (a very reputable place) is able to sell them, as last I had heard, they were illegal to sell or ship outside of CA... curiously, they are one of the few species that is seemingly NOT on a major decline, or at least not as much as other species... it's been speculated that the reason for this is that this species has an enzyme which protects them from UV damage, which is a consideration with the ozone layer going.

[Don Kiyoti]

Peter,

The lizard I got a few years ago has grown and I no longer can care for him.

He's yours if you want to come pick him up!