[thenerdwithin]

I introduced my first 1.1 pair of R. imitators (Varadero) in September, and am looking for a little input on calling/breeding behavior. First, a few relevant details. The pair is in a well established 12x12x18 viv. I'm not actively trying to promote breeding, but was hoping they might raise some clutches on their own. They have four broms as possible laying/rearing sites. I mist twice daily and generally keep the humidity above 75%. Average temps are 69-74 this time of year and 70-78 in the summer.

As I mentioned, they've been together in this tank since September, and early on the male was calling a lot and exhibiting what I took to be mating behavior (following the female around very actively, and I'd catch them huddled up in broms together.) Since I plan to let them raise any tads, I have not looked for clutches very invasively, but haven't seen any. After several months of frequent calling, the male has become very quiet. I still see both frogs regularly, but I don't see the mating behavior I did before, and almost never hear calls.

I'm wondering how typical this kind of cyclical change in mating behavior is. Is it a seasonal thing related to temps etc? Or could there be other causes for the lack of calling? I haven't seen any egg feeding or other behavior that would make me believe they're raising tads, but I suppose that's a possibility? Just looking for any observations from folks who have raised and bred imitators. I'm not in a big hurry for them to mate, but would like to get an idea of the reasons behind this behavior. Thanks!

 

[kimcmich]

Greetings,

I have never seen a clutch of eggs in my Varadero viv and I've only ever found one tadpole in a brom but the frogs have produced 15+ froglets.

It takes 6-9 months for froglets to emerge from the water so you are nowhere near time to see babies yet. And if you've only had the frogs since Sept, the male called for several months and has stopped recently then his cessation couldn't have been going on for more than a few weeks, right? I wouldn't worry just yet.

In my case, I added a large groups of Varadero to my big viv and had babies running around 10 months after I heard the oldest male start calling. I'd wait a while longer without active calling before you worry - and that's really only if you spend enough time around your viv that you are unlikely to miss calling sessions. If you have a job or school outside the home your male might be calling while you are away.