Hymenochirus bottgeri breeding.

[jake96]

Hi i have a pair of H.bottgeri in a five gallon tank and for the past three nights the male has been calling. Tonight he was amplexing her. Does anyone know how to care for their eggs? Or tadpoles? Any help would be great.

Sincerly,
Jake

[tgampper]

Hi i have a pair of H.bottgeri in a five gallon tank and for the past three nights the male has been calling. Tonight he was amplexing her. Does anyone know how to care for their eggs? Or tadpoles? Any help would be great.

Sincerly,
Jake

The care of the eggs is fairly easy. Make sure you remove the adults now to prevent any disasters. Keep the temperature around 80 (F) and the eggs will hatch in 2-6 days. The tadpoles will be quite small, about 4 mm. They are carnivorous - feeding on microscopic protozoans. Have plenty of infusoria ready to go. As they get older progress to larger aquatic invertebrates. Metamorphosis usually takes place in about 6 weeks. Survival rate is about 20%.

Even though these frogs are similar to their larger cousins, the African clawed frogs (Xenopus), their tadpoles are very different. They have big heads with upward turning mouths (Xenopus tadpoles look like small fish). As the tadpoles progress, you will be able to determine which species they are. H. boettgeri has a long, pigmented tail; while H. curtipes has a broad, unpigmented tip. H. curtipes seems to be more difficult to raise. After a month or so, they will be able to feed on tubiflex and brine shrimp. Keep the water level low (about 3 inches), so the froglets can easily get to the surface to breathe. Once the froglets reach a half inch, they are hardy and the critical period is over. Sexual maturity takes place in a year and their lifespan is 4-5 years.

Hind legs appear in 20 days, front legs 15 days later; then metamorphosis takes place about 16 days after all four legs appear. Good luck as raising tadpoles can be a bit tricky.

[John]

Wow, Terry, your answers are golden.

[Kurt]

Yeah, lets turn them into an article.

[jake96]

Thank you terry for the advise, most of the eggs were unfertile(No suprise there)only 2 were fertile, and i will hopefully keep those going.

[Wyomingite]

...After a month or so, they will be able to feed on tubiflex and brine shrimp...

Don't ya worry 'bout parasites with the tubifex? I stopped feedin' em to my fish long ago, due to parasite problems. Unless ya raise 'em yourself, it's nearly impossible to guarantee they're clean.

Not bein' contradictory or argumentative, I was just surprised to see tubifex mentioned.

WYite