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
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
