Froggy in my greenhouse

[No-Pro-mwa]

I bet he loves it in there.

[Laserbeak]

Awww, I'd love to put a few poison arrow frogs in my orchid display. But my cat would end up tearing up the whole thing and if he got one would probably die in the process.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Laserbeak

Awww, I'd love to put a few poison arrow frogs in my orchid display. But my cat would end up tearing up the whole thing and if he got one would probably die in the process.

Most species of "Poison Dart Frog" aren't very toxic to begin with, and even the really hot ones like P.terribilis and P. bicolor lose their extreme toxicity after a period in captivity. Offspring that they produce in captivity don't have the toxin.

[Paphluvr]

Most species of "Poison Dart Frog" aren't very toxic to begin with, and even the really hot ones like P.terribilis and P. bicolor lose their extreme toxicity after a period in captivity. Offspring that they produce in captivity don't have the toxin.

So is it something they eat in their natural environment that maintains their toxicity?

[Orchidbyte]

So I found a video of pacific tree frogs chirping, so I went and sat outside greenhouse the same day and played video, after about 30 seconds of sounds coming from my phone I got an answer, but not from greenhouse, but from another frog living in my Platy. Superbum, he was answering every call from my phone.

I saw frog in superbum, much smaller and looks like most of the pictures and also looks like one in video.

My question is: could the one in GH that I posted picture of not be a California tree frog? The one in picture is at least double the size of one living in superbum, and also did not chirp back to sounds in video.

I have played video since and every time I do the frog in staghorn chirps back, but no sounds from GH frog.

I set up a saucer with gravel and fresh water for both frogs just in case they need a drink and also as an invitation.

[Subrosa]

Females of most frogs are silent..........should probably leave it at that!

---------- Post added at 09:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:04 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Paphluvr

So is it something they eat in their natural environment that maintains their toxicity?

I believe that is the case. Some sort of nasty insect I think.

[Tindomul]

Awesome find.

[OfLeafandLimb]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Most species of "Poison Dart Frog" aren't very toxic to begin with, and even the really hot ones like P.terribilis and P. bicolor lose their extreme toxicity after a period in captivity. Offspring that they produce in captivity don't have the toxin.

That is true. Interestingly, however, I did read on a dart frog forum not too long ago that some goofball got curious about their toxicity, and licked his Phyllobates terribilis. He wound up laying on the bed in a fetal position, in severe pain, with a burning, dry, awful sensation in the back of his throat for several hours. Of course, he could have been fibbing just to get some chuckles, but I would bet that even without access to the ants/beetles (there's conflicting information on which insect gives them their toxicity) in their natural environment, some species may still have some degree of toxicity. That is more likely to be the case with LTCs, not CBs, but I wouldn't want to find out the hard way!

Some fun facts, for those curious: From what I've read, the source of dart frogs' toxicity is at least one, possibly more than one, type of insect that ingests leaves from a particularly toxic plant. Their toxins, batrachotoxins, I believe, are also found in some birds who also consume insects that eat poisonous plants. Additionally, there are some mammals, including at least one species of tropical rat, who possess toxins.

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by OfLeafandLimb

Some fun facts, for those curious: From what I've read, the source of dart frogs' toxicity is at least one, possibly more than one, type of insect that ingests leaves from a particularly toxic plant. Their toxins, batrachotoxins, I believe, are also found in some birds who also consume insects that eat poisonous plants. Additionally, there are some mammals, including at least one species of tropical rat, who possess toxins.

Thats cool!!!!