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.

Poison dart frog standing beside shallow water in a planted vivarium illustrating frog drowning risk

Can Dart Frogs Drown? Why Even Shallow Water Can Be Dangerous

Surprising frog fact 🐸

Dart frogs aren’t strong swimmers.

Even

Poison dart frog sitting in a petri dish demonstrating how frogs absorb water through their skin

Dart Frogs Do Not Drink Like We Do: How They Absorb Water Through Their Skin

Weird frog fact 🐸

Dart frogs don’t actually drink water

Do Dart Frogs Swallow With Their Eyes? The Strange Feeding Fact That Is Actually True

If you keep dart frogs for long enough, you start

Diagram showing convergent evolution of bradykinin-like pain toxins in frogs and wasps, illustrating how different species evolved similar defensive peptides.

Scientists Discover Frogs Evolved Pain-Causing Toxins Like Wasps

Every now and then, a piece of frog research comes

Close-up of a Rio Calibre dart frog resting on a bromeliad inside a captive vivarium.

The Role of Responsible Breeders in Dart Frog Conservation

There is a persistent narrative that private keeping undermines conservation.

Two blue and black dart frogs photographed inside a glass vivarium enclosure in the UK.

Are Dart Frogs Really “High Risk” Exotic Pets?

Dart frogs are often grouped under the label “exotic pets,”

Infographic showing the dangers of overfeeding dart frogs with dusted fruit flies, explaining how supplement powder rubs off or is washed away by misting systems.

Overfeeding Dart Frogs (And Other Live-Food Reptiles & Amphibians): The Hidden Risk No One Talks About

If you keep dart frogs, geckos, mantids, spiderlings, or any species that relies on dusted live food, there’s one mistake

Frogfather self-dusting fruit fly feeder lid on deli cup

Automatic Self-Dusting Fruit Fly Feeder for Dart Frogs – Why I Designed It & How It Works

Introducing the Frogfather Self-Dusting Fruit Fly Feeder 🐸✨

I finally built the feeder I always wanted — one that feeds your dart frogs AND dusts the flies for you. No shaking, no powders going soggy, no “can you feed my frogs while I’m away?” panic.

Flies hatch inside the culture → climb up → walk through the vitamin maze → come out fully dusted and ready to be eaten.
Automatic feeding + automatic supplementing.
Not just for holidays — this can stay in your viv full-time until the culture is empty.

🔹 Works with any fruit fly culture (melanogaster or hydei)
🔹 Dust stays dry in misting systems
🔹 Frogs can’t get into the culture
🔹 Use with my All-in-1 supplement for full nutrition

👉 Live now at Frogfather.co.uk
Would you use this in your tank?
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Screengrab of version 4 fruit fly feeding system for dart frogs showing mason jar lid with airlock and ventilation.

A New Way to Feed Fruit Flies to Dart Frogs – Version 4 Prototype

I’ve been tinkering away at a new design for fruit fly culture lids, and I’m excited to share version 4

Fresh live insects in UK delivery tubs for dart frogs

Livefood in the UK: Receiving, Reviving & Storing

What to do when feeder insects arrive in rough shape; how to revive fruit flies, springtails and more; and simple storage that keeps cultures rolling in UK homes.