Atelopus hoogmoedi - Vivarium

[clownonfire]

From Ed: The reason you are seeing such high sex ratios is that they are collecting from the streams as when the toads aren't ready to breed they are dispersed widely up and away from the streams. The females only approach the streams when they are ready to lay eggs. So you are going to see a high sex ratio.

[clownonfire]

On the vivarium build, I have met lots of wonderful and extremely helpful hobbyists on the Facebook group I'm on. One of them, Corey, suggests the following for the build:

These guys like a slightly lower humidity than most darts (open canopy over streams allow for a slightly drier/more airflow niche) so they are a little less forgiving about stagnant airflow. I don't go for specific numbers, but aim for spraying the tank down, and having the leaves of plants and the glass dry within 1-2 hours. This is more than just humidity, this is also air movement... you can have high humidity that does this as long as you MOVE it. Small computer fans are ideal for this.

I'd think a nice heavy mist/rain in the morning, let it dry out more around noon and into afternoon, and maybe another mist at night (tho turning the fan off a few hours before lights off can have a similar affect maybe?). This idea was recommended by Ed K the last time I could harass him in person.

The spotlights mentioned in past posts also seem like they are important. Ideally it would be a dry rock/plant leaf that is warmer, and gives them access to UV rays. I prefer rock (not wood, it won't totally be dry because it will wick water from other parts of the tank, and I tend to burn plants when I do this) and I won't allow anything to grow on that spot so they have a place with no moisture. This will help with some of the bacterial infections common to wet tanks. Also helps if this rock is near the fan.

h, and aim for a basking spot for each male - they will pick a territory and defend it, leaving the other male **** out of luck. Use a lot of nice chunky rocks (what most of our set ups have been missing) and when they have their ideal spots you'll know where to put your basking lights. If they seem to have a territory without a basking spot, move your lights.

Thank you Corey. You continue to be very helpful and i am looking forward to reading more on the care sheets you are getting ready on these.

[clownonfire]

Alright. The core of the tank is done. Hydro balls, soil, coconut husk and plants. I have chosen plants that have big leaves so that the Atelopus spumarius could perch on at night.

I have also build two basking areas, at two different poles of the tank. I've used medium to large rocks, all of them have been boiled. I have also used smaller rocks to fill up the cracks. I have also put a few branches (cooked) sticking out amongst the rocks. It was suggested to keep these sections dryer, and install basking lights over them. That is tomorrow's project.

Springtails will be seeded tomorrow.

[Grrrit]

Wow eric, thorough as always! This is awesome, you hardy see the depth of research in viv threads to a certain species. Builds los really nice as well

[clownonfire]

Thanks Garrett. I've built the top after gathering as much info as I could. I've cut two pieces of acrylic that are secured on the tank using tape on each extremities where the basking lights will be put on. I have then created a screen mesh from scratch and laid another piece of acrylic leaving 1.5'' on each side, for air circulation. (I have written 3'' on the pictures, but that is in total - sorry for the confusion). Now some say a computer fan should be added for more air circulation, but I don't know if I will go froward with that one.

I have installed the other Monsoon I had and it is programmed for 60 seconds, once a day in the morning.

Eric

[clownonfire]

I have made a few adjustments to the tank after talking with some other enthusiasts. First, I added bigger rocks as the basking area. I was told my rocks were puny. That the Atelopus needed big and strong rocks, like Dwayne Johnson. So... Check.

Because they need a humid but dry environment (I have managed so far to keep a dry tank at around 84% humidity), it was suggested to add ponds with fresh water. I have created two. Now in order to maintain clean and fresh water, I have located the ponds under the dripping Exo-Terra Monsoon nozzles. Yes, they drip. Quite a bit. But in this case, it's perfect. It fills the pond and the extra water falls into the substrate beneath the surrounding rocks which remain dry. Once the water is in the drainage area, it will either evaporate or I will siphon it out when I do my weekly cleaning.

I have added a Philodendron to the plants to make sure there were even more leaves to perch on.

I had a few exchanges today with Mark Pepper. He stated that these frogs were quite hardy once they settle. I'm counting the days.

[clownonfire]

Update

After a few weeks of research, group discussions, and pictures, I have learned from Corey W that we have Atelopus hoogmoedi and not Atelopus spumarius. "Hoogmoedi" is not a sub-species of A. spumarius but its own species. Quoting Corey: "Spumarius does not range into the Guyana Shield, all the formerly known as spumarius hoogmoedi and spumarius barbitini are now their own species. Just a case of relatives looking similar."

RE: Phylogeography and demography of Guianan harlequin toads (Atelopus): diversification within a refuge - Noonan and Gaucher

Eric