Pumilio aggression toward offspring?

stemcellular · #1 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 05:14 PM

Hi all,

Hopefully some of you more experienced pumilio folks will chime in. The first group of froglets from my pair of San Cristobals (SNDF 10) recently came oow. While I would normally leave them in the tank, I noticed that both the male and female were showing aggression to the first few offspring. On the advice of another frogger, I removed them and they appear to be doing fine. I witnessed the same behavior with the second trio of froglets and followed similar action. And now, just today, I watched as another froglet (which I didn't previously see) was accosted by my male cristobal. The behavior can be described as the following: bulldogging, where the male/female steps over the froglet and then chases it away, often while the male is calling. I've also watched the male and female try to eat the froglets. For the most part the froglets didn't appear too phased by the whole ordeal but like I said I have removed them to their own springtail sanctuary.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has seen this type of aggression before.

ChrisK · #2 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 05:19 PM

Trying to eat them, wow. What size tank are they in?

stemcellular · #3 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 05:22 PM

18" cube (in my office).

I know, right? They were going after them like they were ffs. The reason I noticed the newest froglet is that the male was going crazy, standing on top of it on the edge of a brom leaf, while calling. I mean, I understand, kids annoy me as well, but damn, I was ready to call child services.

ChrisK · #4 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 05:26 PM

Haha yeah definite abuse. Yeah that's probably too small for more than a WC pair, 7+ pumilio in there would definitely freak them out

Philsuma · #5 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 05:55 PM

Viv is too small. Stepping on frogelts I've seen, but never trying to eat them. Seperate is def best for that small of a viv

jeffdart · #6 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 07:10 PM

My basti male has done that a few times. He doesn't do it anymore. I'm thinking it has to do with being fr/wc. He did it to the first two groups but now understands they are his children. He would stand on them and call like crazy. I've even seen the female wrestle him off of a froglet.

stemcellular · #7 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 07:22 PM

interesting, thanks for the input.

jfehr232 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-29-2010, 12:10 AM

Yeah same here, found my male basti all over my one froglet (out of 5) and the froglet seems to just have hid away and does fine.

I resort to already having springtail vivs ready for the froglets....but I do leave them in just to let the parents know they did a good job lol..( maybe my way of comforting myself)

frogmanroth · #9 (**permalink**) 07-30-2010, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffdart

My basti male has done that a few times. He doesn't do it anymore. I'm thinking it has to do with being fr/wc. He did it to the first two groups but now understands they are his children. He would stand on them and call like crazy. I've even seen the female wrestle him off of a froglet.

I have seen this also a little, but for the most part none of my WC pairs have ever done that that I've seen. I've had a trio 1.2 bastis in a 55 with 7-8 froglets-juvies. A 10 vert WC basti with a 8 month old juvie and several other froglets(no aggression seen at all). So it just depends. It sounds like it will pass.

Phyllobates · #10 (**permalink**) 07-30-2010, 04:35 AM

I have this problem too, also with Bastis but only with my female. She will sit on the froglets and chase them away. The froglets don't seem to mind though as mine will continue to feed and act normally even when the female is acting aggressive.