Frogsitter turned tadsitter - help!

mtundu · #1 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 02:03 AM

I'm keeping a pair of D. imitator for a friend while he is away-I have never kept dendrobatids before so please forgive any silly questions I pose below. I've had the frogs in their usual terrarium for about 1.5 weeks and today noticed them together for the first time. I just shined a flashlight into the the film canister they've been hanging out in and saw two eggs on the ceiling (the canister is at about a 45' angle with a little water in the bottom). I know that this pair has produced a number of offspring in the past 6 months, all of which were taken out and raised in a tadpole farm. I'm not sure if I'm up for such a task, and to tell the truth, despite reading posts here and elsewhere, I'm not even certain what it would involve. Can I leave the eggs with the parents? Or are the chances of survival better if I take them out? Is there an easy, cheap and effective way to rear the tadpoles if I do remove them? And if I do this when should I pull them from the terrarium? Practically, how could I take the eggs out of the film can? Any advice would be appreciated, and the more detailed the better.

defaced · #2 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 02:23 AM

Here's the excellent egg care sheet we have here. http://dendroboard.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17845
It'll give better instructions on how to care for them than I could.

When will the person be back? The eggs won't be ready to hatch for another 14 days or so. If you're going to be back before then, I'd just make sure the eggs stay hydrated and wait for the owner to get back and take care of the tads.

Excellent job finding the forum!

Curt61 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 02:26 AM

Hey, well it sounds like your friend normally takes the eggs out to raise them. How long until the owner will be back? The eggs should be just fine in the tank unless it is over 2 weeks. I am not sure how long Imitators take to turn into tads, is there a pool of water or something in the tank that a tad could live in? If he normally pulls the eggs out then he probley has it all set up at his house, probley all you would have to do is go pick up his stuff.

This is about all the help I can give you until you answer some of the questions, as I said, if it is over 2 weeks then you might have to do something with them, if he isn't going to be gone for that long dont' be worried.

Curt.

mtundu · #4 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 04:39 AM

I will be caring for these frogs for about two more months, so there may be several breeding attempts. I know that the owner has a tadpole farm that he has used to raise other offspring, but I believe that someone else has been given the responsibility of maintaining that. If possible and easy, I'd like to try to rear the tads myself, even if that means leaving it up to the parents.

The tadpole care sheet posted on this site was helpful-thanks.

Dancing frogs · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 05:40 AM

If you can get into contact what the person wishes you to do would be best...
Unless you were given specific instructions to pull and raise tads, you could just let them take care of the tads themselves...they can and will, raise their own tads by feeding them eggs...all you would have to do is make sure there is always some water in the film cans, and feed the pair...the parents will do the rest, and it is a great show.