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New Member
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Last Login: 8/29/2009 4:53:34 PM
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I might be getting some dart frogs but I was wondering what would happen with them when I was gone on vacation . Should I ask a friend to help me or something similar. Please give me some input.
Current owner of:
2.0.0 Crested Gecko
1.0.0 Gold Dust Day Gecko
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 10/17/2009 6:42:55 PM
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I would find a friend you trust the most to take care of them.Till them how to take care of them and how much to feed them and stuff.Make sure you till the person how to take care of them and if there is others thing you want him/her to do in detale and maybe right a note or something so they don't forget.
_____________________________________________Don't get "telling it how it is" and "mean" confused.They are two different things. I am in training as a veterinary technician for cats, dogs and exotics. Reptiles I own:
4.2.0 Green Iguanas (Godzilla, Charmilion, Larz, Esperonza,Izzy and Blaze.)
1.0.0 Cuban Rock Iguana (Socks)
1.0.0 Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Sombra)
0.1.0 Rhinoceros Iguana (Molisha)
1.1.0 Desert Iguanas (No names)
0.0.2 New Caledonian Giant Gecko (Silver)
1.1.0 Electric Blue Geckos (No names)
1.1.0 Eastern Box Turtles (Speedy and Shelly)
0.2.1 Common Snapping Turtles (Miss.Snappy,Blade and Radaga)
0.1.1 Red-Eared Slider (Rae and Nieve)
1.0.0 Ball Python (Spikles)
0.2.0 Amazon Tree Boas (No names)
0.1.0 Hoggs Island Boa. (No name)
1.0.0 Borneo Short-Tailed Python (No name) Other animals I want to Own: Hyacinth Macaw and a Savannah Cat
Animals I own:
0.1.0 Maine Coon (Kova)
0.1.0 Yellow Lab (Mia)
1.2.0 Sugar Gliders (Tejano,Blanca and Larissa)
1.1.0 Hidgehogs (Spike and Des'ree)
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 3/10/2009 5:54:22 PM
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I will give some sound advice: Don't go with pet sitters unless they have experience with herps or list herps as some of the pets they sit. Trust me, pet sitters can be your WORST choice when it comes to herps. Often they think they can do it, and then they find out it is "An ugly animal". If you live in a non-herpy area, definitely not herps. Like, I live in northern Idaho, and I only know one other person who is a herp keeper, and I see parents all the time in Petco lying to their kids about herps. This is the kind of people up here that would kill snakes for no good reason. I'm lucky that one of my friends is an experienced herp keeper because he watches my herps when I'm away, and vice versa. I feel much more comfortable with someone with alot of herp experience, including some with the same kind or similiar species that I have taking care of my herps, than a person that is probably just trying to make money in a place where herps are 70% of the time unwelcome. The point is, most pet-sitters SUCK when it comes to herps.
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Average Member
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Last Login: 7/20/2009 3:41:21 PM
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I agree; get a friend. And as another tip, keep it simple. We all have a lot of special little things that we do for our herps when we're around, but someone watching them over vacation doesn't have to do these things. The herps will be just fine with basic maintenance while you are gone, and giving pages and pages of info on how to do things exactly right is an invitation for your friend to mess up.  Basically, the fewer things the keeper has to do, the less chance of accidents or mistakes.So I'd say, sit back and think of the most basic needs that these guys have. You'll want them to turn on the light and manage the heat if applicable. So there's a couple instructions right there. If there's an area of water in the enclosure, is he or she going to have to do water changes? It's safer if not, so do everything you can to keep the water clean before leaving. What about feeding? If you have a complicated food regimen with 56 varieties of food and 17 treats, forget it. Herps will be just fine with a more limited diet for a couple days to weeks. Pick a couple of foods to rotate and write a basic schedule. Put example portions out for them to go by, and reduce the amount of food if you are keeping aquatic herps. It won't harm them over your vacation, and will help keep the enclosure clean. With the dart frogs, be really precise about their food since I'm assuming these guys are eating livefoods. If live or refrigerated food items require any special care, make note of that too. Write detailed instructions. You're not making the keeper do too much (as little as possible is best), but what they do have to do should be well-explained to 'em. Don't leave anything up to chance. Leave phone numbers. Cell phone numbers and your parents' numbers would be good - if anything happens, you don't want your friend to be unable to contact you. That's pretty much it - it's what I do whenever I have to leave pets with other people. Except for the time one of the fish took a flying leap out of the tank, in 10 years there haven't been any accidents! I hope it helps you too. 
At Home with the Wild: Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute 
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 3/10/2009 5:54:22 PM
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Like I said, I'm fortunate to have a friend that keeps herps. He finds my collection a piece of cake compared to what he's got. I enjoy watching after his collection because he's got so many herps that I like, and they are all so interesting. His "crown jewel" is a 26 foot female reticulated python, which is quite an impressive display in her 20'L x 18'W cage.
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New Member
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Last Login: 8/29/2009 4:53:34 PM
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Thank you for the advice but my only friend that keeps herps only has a corn snake and might not undertsand how to take care of them. He understands the basic care for my geckos but I doubt he could handle dart frogs. What should I do about that?
Current owner of:
2.0.0 Crested Gecko
1.0.0 Gold Dust Day Gecko
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Average Member
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Last Login: 7/20/2009 3:41:21 PM
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Did you read what I posted above? This guy doesn't have to have a degree in herpetology. The point is that he doesn't know everything that's going on with your pets - you have to write him instructions that are simple but clear enough for him to follow them and keep them healthy. The post I wrote above explains that well enough, I think.
At Home with the Wild: Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 3/10/2009 5:54:22 PM
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I agree; Don't you feel better about a friend (Who obviously knows you well and you get along fine) taking care of your pets than a complete stranger that is probably just trying to make a fast buck who you may or may not get along with?
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Average Member
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Last Login: 7/20/2009 3:41:21 PM
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| Seth has a good point that I forgot to mention - your friend knows you, and a stranger/pet sitter doesn't. So your friend would be more likely to do things your way, listen to your instructions, and understand any quirks of yours that go into their care. You just have to lay out the guidelines. Since most pet sitters or relatives have no herp knowledge anyway, you're on equal ground with a friend - but the friend knows who you and and what you're about, which definitely factors into the care of your herps. So don't stress that your friend isn't a huge dart frog expert. Just write directions well and give them your numbers, and don't stress. Everything will turn out fine; it almost always does.
At Home with the Wild: Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/29/2009 4:53:34 PM
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Good point! Thanks for the advice again.
Current owner of:
2.0.0 Crested Gecko
1.0.0 Gold Dust Day Gecko
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