[jbeetle]

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for making a tank for Epipedobates hahneli? I was thinking that leaf litter would be great, and then some perchs for the males to call from... but not sure what else?
Like if they would use/prefer bromeliads or should I just use film canisters? If I use the canisters, what angles and placement has worked best for people? Do they prefer a more planted tank so they feel more secure (making them more bold), and will they hide if it isn't planted heavily? I have some ideas, but was looking for any good info from anyone else that has breed/worked with this species.

Also, I have heard they have a couple different calls (terretorial & courting for example). Does anyone know if any of these calls can be found online?

 

[Guest]

I had them in a simple tank, leaf litter, Philodendron clippings, roots, larger water feature, and some inverted fish food containers with a hole for breeding. I gave them to a friend as a gift then and he had them breed in it. I anticipated them breeding earlier than they did (I thought around six months), but it took a little over a year for them to go.
J

 

[Scott]

The Leaf litter and Perch are good.

I use film cannisters angled in the dirt and they do lay in them (got my first eggs in quite awhile this week).

The call is a weird little "Click, click, click". They call quite a bit after being misted.

s

 

[jbeetle]

Thanks guys. I was hoping you 2 would say something. Is the "Click, click, click" the mating call? Also is it a fast tempo (like leucs, tricolors, etc) or are they spaced out a little more? One of mine is calling, but it isn't very loud. It sounds more like peeps then clicks... but that could just be me lol. It reminds me of the same sound a tricolor makes, but just individual peeps instead of the rolling peeps (trilling) of a tricolor.

Scott, does your tank have a water feature (moving/still)? Also, congrats on the new eggs Scott. Very cool. How big was the clutch? I have heard that they can lay large clutches, like a lot of the other Epipedobates.

Justin, so you basically used the inverted fish food containers like smaller coco huts... right? What did you put underneath them to lay on?

 

[4thecrue]

re

I keep the 2 that I have in a ten gal tank . Lots of leaf litter and small low level plants are used. Try to make lots of little hidding spots out of rocks and wood also as they seem to like this. Also how many do you have and do you knowthe sexes? It sounded like you knew you had a male. I have what appears to be 2 females. If you happen to have 2 males I would be interested in talkin to you.

Damon

 

[EricM]

Jon,

The suggested tank set ups are great for hahneli and most Epipes. I've worked with many and used a very similar set up to what Justin described with successful breeding. I use chicken crocks as water bowls, basically large flat saucers about an inch deep, put a small piece of driftwood in them, some java moss and anubias plant. Most species of Epipes will deposit tads so you don't have to deal with eggs. The angled film canisters is great, I've only recently added these to all my setups, as a way to increase the spawning site choices.

The vocalizations of Epipes are definately more diverse than others dendrobatids I've worked with. I've heard the "clicking" in azureventris, boulengeri, billinguis and zaparo as well as the trill calls the males make.

Trivittatus make a large array of chirping type sounds when they are posturing with each other, I have one that guards the feeding spot and she chases the others away, usually while the other frogs are eating, so she ends up with less food.

Just watch them close, if you have a dominant male, which will be obvious; be mindful of the other males, they may be intimidated enough by the dominant male that they stop feeding. Make sure your tank is large enough for the species and group size you are keeping, this is obviously going to be an extremely variable factor which is why keeping your head in the tank is important.

Epipes also change color intensity, at least males; I have seen this in azureventris and bassleri. I had a male bassleri that looked like a "better than average female" but it was only because the dominant male bassleri's presence somehow depressed the intensity of his coloration.

Most epipes are shy and flighty so keep a good arrangement of "duck and cover" decor available.

Thanks
eRic

 

[jbeetle]

Scott, does your tank have a water feature (moving/still)? How big was the clutch you just got? I have heard that they can lay large clutches, like a lot of the other Epipedobates.

Justin, so you basically used the inverted fish food containers like smaller coco huts... right? What did you put underneath them to lay on?