Frogfather Advice and News

Welcome to the Frogfather blog — your UK guide to dart frog care, mossy frog setups, bioactive vivariums, and rare isopods. Discover expert tips, breeding advice, and naturalistic enclosure inspiration for exotic amphibian keepers.

Very dark-coloured dart frog resting on leaf, illustrating natural pigmentation variation in dart frogs

Black Dart Frogs: Do “Pure Black” Poison Dart Frogs Exist, and What Causes the Dark Colour?

“Black dart frog” is one of those search phrases that

Comparison showing a typical brightly coloured dart frog alongside a melanistic dart frog, illustrating natural genetic variation rather than selective line breeding

Melanistic Dart Frogs, Morphs, and Selective Breeding: Ethics, Genetics, and the Reality of Nature

Melanistic Dart Frogs & Morphs: Ethics, Genetics & Natural Variation

Different dart frog species shown in a planted UK bioactive vivarium to illustrate price differences

Dart Frog Prices in the UK: Why Some Frogs Cost £60 and Others £200+

If you’re new to dart frogs, pricing can feel… random.

Loud and quiet dart frogs shown side by side in a planted UK bioactive vivarium

Loud vs Quiet Dart Frogs: What You Need to Know Before Buying

This is one of those topics people don’t always think

Visible dart frogs shown confidently in a planted UK bioactive vivarium

Dart Frogs You’ll Actually See (Not Shy!)

Let’s be brutally honest for a second. One of the

Best beginner dart frogs in the UK shown in a planted bioactive vivarium

Best Dart Frogs for Beginners (UK Guide)

Right. If you’re new to dart frogs, you’ve probably already

Hands rinsing tropical terrarium plant roots before adding to a bioactive vivarium

🌿 Why You Should Quarantine Plants Before Adding Them to a Vivarium

Before adding any new plants to your vivarium, give them a mini quarantine. 🌱
It’s the easiest way to stop snails, slugs, and mites from sneaking into your setup — and your frogs will thank you later!
Learn how to clean, soak, and prepare plants safely (without chemicals) in today’s new post at Frogfather.co.uk 🐸
#dartfrogvivarium #bioactive #terrariumplants #vivariumsetup #frogfather #snailsinvivarium #terrariumcare #bioactivelife #frogkeepersuk

Ranitomeya variabilis dart frog resting on a mossy bromeliad in a misty rainforest vivarium, captured in BBC documentary style with soft natural light and gentle mist.

Beneath the Canopy – The Secret Life of Dart Frogs

Beneath the canopy, the rainforest wakes. 🌿
Mist curls through bromeliads and droplets glint on moss as a Ranitomeya variabilis steps into the light.
Every movement, every breath, every shimmer of dew is part of a living symphony — the hidden world of dart frogs brought to life in a bioactive rainforest recreated at home.

🐸 Step beneath the canopy → Frogfather.co.uk

#dartfrogs #frogfatheruk #bioactivevivarium #bbcstyle #rainforestvibes #ranitomeyavariabilis #frogkeepersuk #froglife #amphibiansofinstagram #vivariumlife #ecoenclosure #naturecinematography #wildlifefilm

Close-up of a dart frog’s eye showing reflections of light and leaves inside a vivarium.

What Dart Frogs See That You Don’t – A Look at Frog Vision

What if you could see the world the way your dart frogs do? 👁️
Every flicker, every droplet, every beam of UV light tells a story your eyes can’t read.
From the shimmer of a bromeliad to the pulse of light through mist, their world glows in ultraviolet. 🌿

Discover the hidden science behind dart frog sight — and how the right lighting reveals a rainforest in every vivarium.

🐸 Read more → Frogfather.co.uk

#dartfrogs #frogvision #frogfatheruk #vivariumlighting #bioactivevivarium #arcadiajungledawn #ranitomeyavariabilis #frogfacts #amphibianvision #frogsight #ecoenclosure #vivariumdesign #frogkeepersuk #froglife #rainforestvibes #wildlifescience

Ranitomeya variabilis dart frog in a misted vivarium, morning light refracting through droplets.

Through the Frog’s Eyes – A Morning in the Vivarium

The mist rolls in and the glass hums with light. To Ray — a Ranitomeya variabilis — the world glows in colours we’ll never see. Every droplet, every flicker, every hum of a misting system is part of his song.
🐸 Step inside his world — Through the Frog’s Eyes.

See how Ray experiences his rainforest home — link in bio 🌿

#dartfrogs #frogvision #frogfatheruk #bioactivevivarium #ranitomeyavariabilis #vivariumdesign #amphibiansofinstagram #frogkeepersuk #rainforestvibes #frogsarelife #vivariumsetup #frogphotography #ecoenclosure #mistyscene #ukherps

Close-up of a mossy vivarium branch with white text reading “White fuzz? Sour smell? Swarming mites? Don’t nuke it — balance it,” promoting the Frogfather UK bioactive vivarium recovery guide.

The Hidden Dangers in Your Vivarium: Mould, Mites & Microbes — When “Bioactive” Goes Bad (UK Guide)

White fuzz on your wood? Sour smell creeping up? Tiny mites everywhere? 😬
Don’t tear your vivarium apart — balance it. 🌿

This UK keeper’s guide shows how to fix mould, mites & microbes naturally — no chemicals, no full tear-down.
Learn how to:
✅ Read early warning signs before things crash
✅ Rebuild the biome with airflow, leaf litter & microfauna
✅ Regrow moss naturally using Paint-On Tropical Moss Starter

💚 Full step-by-step now live at Frogfather.co.uk
🛒 Shop the fix: Dried Oak Leaves • Bioactive Cleanup Crew Kit • Paint-On Tropical Moss Starter

#BioactiveVivarium #FrogfatherUK #DartFrogCare #VivariumUK #BioactiveSetup #DartFrogVivarium #TerrariumCare #VivariumMould #SpringtailsUK #Microfauna #DartFrogHusbandry #UKFrogs #HerpetologyUK #VivariumMaintenance #ReptileRoom #BioactiveCommunity #VivariumTips #FrogCareUK #EcoVivarium #PaintOnMoss #Frogfather #BioactiveBalance

Close-up of a cobalt dart frog sitting near a curtain hem on a wooden floor, with an open vivarium in the background — captured just after an escape in a UK frog room.

My Frog Escaped. Here’s Exactly What I Did (And How You Can Stop It Happening to You)

You’ll know the sound when it happens. That sickening little plop followed by silence. One of my dart frogs had escaped — and I had no idea where he’d gone.\n\nThis blog is your step-by-step guide to finding a missing frog, keeping them alive during recovery, and frog-proofing your viv for good. Don’t wait until it happens to you.\n\n🔗 Link in bio to read it all.
🐸 #dartfrog #vivariumfail #bioactivevivarium #frogkeeperuk #ukherpetology #poisonfrog #exoticanimalsuk #dartfrogsuk #vivariumsetup #escapedfrog #amphibiansofinstagram #frogfatheruk

Tiny tadpole floating in a small deli cup with tinted water and an Indian almond leaf, part of a rescue setup in a UK dart frog keeper’s room.

This Tiny Tadpole Was Doomed. Here’s How I Saved It (Full UK Guide)

Everyone said to cull it. He wasn’t moving. Barely grew. Curled tail. No feeding response. But something in me said,

Dark jungle graphic with bold white text: How Much to Feed Dart Frogs – UK Guide

How Much to Feed a Dart Frog (UK Guide)

New to dart frogs? 🐸 Wondering how much and how often to feed them?
Too little = stress and weight loss.
Too much = fruit fly chaos.
We’ve put together the UK keeper’s guide to proper feeding, dusting, species differences, and even UVB use.
#dartfrogs #frogfeeding #vivariumlife #amphibians #froglife #dartfrogcare #ukfrogs #bioactivevivarium

Lush jungle-style vivarium with bold white text: Replicating Microclimates In Your Vivarium

Beyond the Vitrine: How to Replicate Microclimates Inside a UK Dart Frog Vivarium

Your vivarium isn’t one box — it’s a whole jungle squeezed into glass. Want to level up your dart frog setup? Start building microclimates: damp retreats, warm basking zones, cooler hideaways. We show you how 🐸🌡️💧

#dartfrogs #vivariumdesign #microclimate #bioactiveuk #dartfrogvivarium #frogkeepersofinstagram #vivariumlife #ukfrogs #frogtanksetup #bioactivezone #ukfrogkeeper #reptileroomgoals #humidhabitat #frogroomdesign

My First Frog Room – What I Got Right, What I Buggered Up

New frog room? Dreamy. Until the walls mould, the heat dips, and your ‘cohab-friendly’ froglets go rogue. Here’s what I got right — and what properly bit me in the arse. 🤦‍♂️🐸🔌
#frogroom #dartfrogsUK #vivariumsetup #frogtank #bioactive #misting #froghobbyist #amphibiansofinstagram #ukreptiles #frogkeeperfail #vivariumhumidity #reptileroom #frogblog