How do we keep our frogs?

[celticstarb]

That is great information. And, I agree with it 100%. When breeding, I put my frogs into a DIY rack system that is bare bottom with a piece of PVC cut in half to form a cave. These are the only frog tanks that have a heater. That is all they have for "decoration." My rack system is in the warmest room in the house, and the lights are on a timer and the rack receives more light than the display tanks. The display tanks I keep my frogs in when not breeding are in our living areas, and the lights are on when we require light, not based on the frogs requirements (I do keep a small led light on each tank that is on a timer jut to make transitioning to indirect lighting when we turn on lights.) I almost never have eggs in the DT.

What I find most interesting is that temperature variations, either up or down, can trigger spawning. Most aquatic amphibians require a temperature drop to breed, but clawed frogs will breed with a temp increase. In fact, I have had better luck with an increase.

[Geoff]

What I find most interesting is that temperature variations, either up or down, can trigger spawning. Most aquatic amphibians require a temperature drop to breed, but clawed frogs will breed with a temp increase. In fact, I have had better luck with an increase.

It's not so surprising really. You have to bear in mind that most species of Xenopus don't originate from tropical regions of Africa but from regions that have more of a Mediterranean zone climate, similar to parts of California, with a seasonal variation of dry, hot summers and mild but cool and wet winters.

The description I gave above of my own experience of breeding them strongly suggests that what stimulated them to breed was the seasonal fluctuation in ambient air temperature and hours of daylight, which were more or less natural and not controlled. Hence, the onset of spring, with warmer temperatures and increasing hours of daylight, created the right conditions to trigger egg laying.

[spotfin]

I keep 6 laevis in a 40 breeder tank; 1 male albino, 2 female albino, 1 male pigmented, and 2 female pigmented. The tank is filtered with an Aquaclear 50 hob filter. I perform two 20% water changes a week. Temp is around 70 F in the cooler months, and mid-70s in the summer. Decor is sand substrate with a few drift wood pieces, some rooted plants (which usually get dug up), and floating hornwort. There are also several pothos vines on top of the tank with roots in the tank.
I feed them a menu of red worms, shrimp, krill, squid, scallops, silversides, tilapia, and Reptomin sticks. No set feeding schedule, will feed them heavy and then skip a couple of days before their next meal.

[celticstarb]

I like the varied diet you give them. I believe a good varied diet is great for long term health. And a 40 breeder is great for a large volume and footprint!

[spotfin]

Thanks.