[Zoomie]

Yesterday I was over helping a friend do frog chores and learning all I could. Two adult Reginas were brought together in a 55. While feeding tads, I looked down to see one of the Reginas race from one side of the tank to the other. Jumped on the other Regina's back, threw a choke hold and would not let go.

Frog was immeditately pulled and put with another Regina in a diferent tank. We watched the tank like a hawk. Within 2 minutes, they moved to the center of the tank nose to nose for a stare down at the OK Corral. The owner didn't want to risk it and pulled the frog yet again. Now all three are housed seperately.

I was shocked at the viciousness of the attack. Worse, it took place less than six inches from a water feature. From someone who has never witness blatant aggression, it was quite surprising. We tend to think of our frogs as these cute, happy-go-lucky pets. It's clear that they can be stone cold killers!

And I tip my hat to anyone that accurately sexes Reginas. I would have bet big money that two of these were male and one a female. Toe pads are huge on both.

 

[saruchan]

Lol, may still be a male I have an azureus male that would be a great contender in your ring.

 

[Zoomie]

Maybe he/she just wants to show up on a bad episode of Cops.

 

[Boondoggle]

I have had that happen with galacts. I have a proven pair that I had in a 10 gallon temp tank for months. When their much larger tank was finished and had grown in I introduced them too it. Prior to this, I would call the female dominant, but not necessarily a bully. As soon as they hit the substrate the male hurled himself at her and they flipped around the tank Matix-style. I watched them for a few minutes and eventually she put him in his place.

It's been over a year now, and even though they cohabitate still, I would have to say she is a bigger bully now than she ever was in the small tank. It's funny how a new territory can completely change the social dynamic of frogs, sexual pair or not.

 

[epiphytes etc.]

I have a male citronella that killed a female a full month after being introduced together in a new tank. There was courting, then one day, I found her dead on her back in a small pool. He had been very assertive prior to this, but I never observed any real aggression like wrestling. They would sit together, eating side by side. And the female was a good 20% bigger than him.

 

[Ed]

Frog was immeditately pulled and put with another Regina in a diferent tank. We watched the tank like a hawk. Within 2 minutes, they moved to the center of the tank nose to nose for a stare down at the OK Corral. The owner didn't want to risk it and pulled the frog yet again. Now all three are housed seperately.

I was shocked at the viciousness of the attack. Worse, it took place less than six inches from a water feature. From someone who has never witness blatant aggression, it was quite surprising. We tend to think of our frogs as these cute, happy-go-lucky pets. It's clear that they can be stone cold killers!

People often forget that under severe stress or excitement behavioral communication often breaks down resulting in abnormal behaviors in captive animals. As an example, there have been anecdotal reports for a long time from people working with groups of toads where feeding would excite the males enough that they would initiate amplexus (I've seen this with both Wyoming toads and Southern Toads) attempts.

Anytime you deal with a species that defends reproductive resources and add a new animal to the group you have to expect aggressive behaviors as the animals work out home ranges. If the goal is to have them together then removing the animals and housing them together for awhile can help but you have to able to do this long enough that the territorial cues for the resident animal is lost.

Ed

 

[billschwinn]

Hey Zoomie, I heard about that showdown. What you observed is what I have advised before as a good way to use as a tool for sexing, under supervision of course. You got to see it first hand.

 

[Zoomie]

Hey Zoomie, I heard about that showdown. What you observed is what I have advised before as a good way to use as a tool for sexing, under supervision of course. You got to see it first hand.

Bill, it was interesting. Stressed me out and they weren't even my frogs!
As weird as it sounds, I was glad I was there to witness it but not particularly happy that it happened.

I guess that is one way to sex frogs. I prefer looking at toe pads and checking for high heels.

 

[Dendroguy]

Hey,I think I saw those guys on wwe last night,it was either them or those cobalts that knocked eachother out,either way it was pretty rough