The Exo Terra® Coconut Cave is the perfect nesting and egg-laying hide for your poison dart frogs and various other amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. Its realistic look mimics a natural hiding place of reptiles and amphibians and will add a tropical touch to your terrarium set-up. In a constantly moist environment, its irregular surface will slowly start to overgrow with moss, adding to the natural look of the cave. Poison dart frogs are easily frightened creatures who hide rather quickly, at the slightest disturbance of their surroundings. Strangely enough, poison dart frogs will show up in the open much more if provided with ample secure hiding places, which will make them feel safe and secure knowing their comfort zone is within immediate reach.

 

A proper hiding area is an essential feature of a natural terrarium. Without a safe spot to hide and sleep reptiles and amphibians will easily develop stress that will affect their activity and appetite. In nature, dart frogs use all kinds of refuge to hide or lay their eggs; leaves, nut pods, coconut halves, hollow bamboo, decaying logs, etc. Unlike these natural hide-outs or egg-laying sites, like nut pods and coconut halves, the Coconut Cave will not deteriorate or rot and can be used over many years. The Exo Terra® Coconut Cave has the perfect dimensions for most poison dart frogs and due to the smooth surface of the bottom dish, dart frogs will readily accept the Coconut Cave as a breeding and egg-laying site. By placing the Coconut Cave slightly tilted, the water will be sloping to one side of the bottom dish, which is a requirement for various dart frog species to deposit their eggs. Additionally, the smooth surface of the bottom dish allows for an easy extraction of the eggs and for a thorough cleaning afterwards. Furthermore, since the Coconut top can be easily removed without disturbing the eggs, it is ideal to monitor the eggs.
When used as a hideout for reptiles, add Exo Terra’s Forest Moss to create a slightly moist microclimate, ideal for reptiles to soak up moisture via their skin as well as to deposit their eggs.