ARCTIC JUNGLE - MY WAY
Ryan Sherman
chrominid@home.com
My interest in Dendrobatids began as a child fascinated by amphibians.  I always watched nature programmes and read magazines such as National Geographic with articles about Phyllobates terribilis which piqued my interest in these 'poison dart frogs'.  One article said that some individuals in Europe had started to keep these colourful frogs.  This idea of re-creating their habitat and keeping captive bred specimens interested me, but I was unsure of the specifics.

About three years ago, due to the increased use of the home computer and the Internet, I started researching my dream of keeping these fascinating and colourful animals.

Living in Canada, I was unfamiliar with how the hobby had progressed from the early 1980s.  I researched building vivaria, keeping food supplies, vitamin supplements, lighting, plant care and, of course, Dendrobatid care.  At the end of 1999 I still had not started keeping the frogs although my research into the hobby had become extensive.

In December 1999, I moved to the City of Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories of Canada with a population of about 17,500.  Situated in the Sub Arctic (6228'm and 11426'W) the environmental conditions and weather are variable.  In the middle of winter we have about 5 hours of daylight, whilst December and January is often a hazy ice-fog rather than bright sunshine with temperatures usually remaining at -35°C but often much colder with the wind-chill.  Towards the end of February the daylight begins to increase in brightness and length, leading to 24-hour days during the peak of summer (June-July) with temperatures reaching highs of +30°C.  In September, temperatures drop below zero in the evenings.  Humidity levels are low during most of the year with levels usually 10-15% in the winter.  These extreme environmental conditions and the isolation of Yellowknife lead to a variety of challenges in keeping Dendrobatids.

The supplies for building tanks (LECA, plants, glass aquariums) are difficult to get and need to be specially ordered and shipped to Yellowknife.  When available in local stores, the cost is usually much higher than in a major urban centre due to the cost of shipping costs and decreased supplier competition.  The nearest major centre is Edmonton, Alberta, which is a 17-hour drive south of Yellowknife (approximately 1500 km).  During certain times of the year the only way in or out of Yellowknife is by air.  There is only one road in and out with a crossing of the Mackenzie River, which is by ferry in the summer, and in the winter - ice bridges.  As ice formation occurs, or indeed at break-up, there is no ferry operation and the ice road is impassable by vehicle.

In January of 2000 I ordered and received many of my supplies and I began to set up the tanks, monitor the humidity levels, temperature, etc.  before acquiring any frogs.  I set up false-bottom tanks that drain - through bulkhead fittings in the bottom of the tanks - into a sump where the water is heated, filtered and then pumped back to the tanks.  The vivaria are planted with pothos, philodendrons and other plants that I am able to find and transport back to Yellowknife when I travel.  I hope to find some bromeliads and other air plants (Tillandsia spp.) during some of these trips.  So far, all but a few plants that I have tried to grow in the vivaria are thriving.  Most of my tanks are tall and approximately 20 US gallons in size, but I have a couple that are 30 US gallons and one that is 90 US gallons.  Fluorescent shop light fixtures, with tubes that supply both UVA and UVB are suspended above the tanks and set on a timer.  The tanks are misted four times a day by an automatic mister that has proved to be invaluable.

After what seemed an eternity, near the end of May, I purchased a pair (1.1) of Dendrobates tinctorius 'Sipaliwini' and in September 2000, I obtained a trio (0.0.3) of D. tinctorius 'powder blues'.  In March 2001 I added D. tinctorius 'cayennes5' 1.2), D. azureus (0.0.4) and Phyllobates terribilis (mint greens 0.0.4).  My 'sips' started breeding in the autumn of 2000.  Since then, they have laid six clutches, usually 6 eggs per clutch, but none for the past 5 months (I am beginning to worry).  The male has fertilised all clutches but only 2 tadpoles survived to metamorphosis and both had spindle-leg syndrome.  The tadpoles were fed mainly a diet of Spirulina flake fish food.  I hope that I will have more success in achieving healthy froglets once the little folks (or myself) get the 'hang of it'.  Coconut huts have been the primary egg deposition sites though they have sometimes used the film canisters.  Recently my 'Cayennes' have reached maturity and I have had 3 fertilised clutches laid.

Transportation and shipping costs of both the frogs and some supplies are the largest problems of keeping frogs in the northern isolated areas.  Due to the extreme fluctuations in temperatures, shipping frogs has been a concern as we can have a cold snap at any time of the year.  I do not want to be the proud owner of a set of 'frogsicles' and so I have had the supplier accommodate my frogs until a colleague or I can bring them back to Yellowknife in carry-on luggage.  I have been able to do this because many residents of Yellowknife have to travel to other parts of Canada and I can usually find someone to bring the frogs back for me.  I only know of a dozen people keeping Dendrobatids in Canada, so frog acquisition can be quite limited.  For now I will continue to fly to the various locations in order to bring my frogs back.

The number of Canadians who keep these Dendrobatids is slowly increasing, but the fascination by everyone is quite encouraging.  Since starting the hobby, many acquaintances have been interested in viewing the frogs in my home.  The biggest drawback to others appears to be the culturing of food bugs.  Currently, I am culturing and feeding my frogs a diet of fruit flies, waxworms and flour beetles, and infrequently crickets.  The crickets sold in Yellowknife are too big (1/2 to 3/4 adults), and are very expensive $7/50 (no matter what the size).  I do not breed them, as they are just too smelly in the house.

I look forward to the successful breeding of my current stock so that I can trade for other Dendrobatids that I would like to introduce to my arctic jungle.  I would also like to make one trip per year to Europe to have a 'holiday' and acquire new frogs, to import new species and bloodlines into this growing Canadian hobby.  I am eager to hear about anyone else's similar experiences or suggestions so please feel free to contact me.