Atelopus eggs!!!!

[clownonfire]

For the past few weeks, I have been working with other hobbyists in a Facebook group called The Captive Reproduction of Atelopus Project (****), created by Corey Wickliffe. The group includes Atelopus enthusiasts Ray Coderre (stemcellular), Colin Clark, Jason Soo-Juchems, Dennis Nilsson (he's behind Atelopus.com) and Dendroboard's moderator Shawn Harrington (sports_doc). As you can see, I'm the junior of the bunch...

Well ----->Egg mass was laid underwater by Shawn's female just outside the spray zone of the waterfall in his breeding tank, amongst the roots of the floating plants, after just one week.

Now for the feeding of tadpoles if they develop. His tank is only three weeks, thus no algae has developed yet... But this is another ball game.

I asked Shawn if I could share this with you. He welcomes all comments and/or suggestions.

Eric

[bshmerlie]

How long does it take for the eggs to hatch and how long as tad poles?

[clownonfire]

How long does it take for the eggs to hatch and how long as tad poles?

I'll try and have Shawn answer himself...

[berksmike]

Good luck with these - love the paludarium setup.
Must admit have been fascinated by this genus after watching the waving behaviour of Atelopus zeteki on David Attenborough's Life in Cold Blood - unfortunately the last film of this frog in the wild.

[clownonfire]

Good luck with these - love the paludarium setup.
Must admit have been fascinated by this genus after watching the waving behaviour of Atelopus zeteki on David Attenborough's Life in Cold Blood - unfortunately the last film of this frog in the wild.

That is a great segment, and sad at the same time. The Atelopus hoogmoedi do not have the same semaphoring behaviour as the A. zeteki. But they are still fascinating to watch.

[berksmike]

Gorgeous toads tho nevertheless - what sort of m/f ratios you keep them in?

[clownonfire]

Gorgeous toads tho nevertheless - what sort of m/f ratios you keep them in?

Personally I have 2 males : 1 female in the breeding tank. If a couple starts amplexus, I'll transfer the other male back to the tank to avoid distraction.

[Eric Walker]

that deserves a big WOOHOO

[5280]

Awesome, that would be so cool if he gets some healthy young toadlets.

[kerokero]

Following the trend of zeteki (which is the species we have the best data on), it will likely follow the time line of 2-6 days to hatch, and around 120-240 days to develop into toadlets. The variability depends a lot on water temperature and quality, as well as their food when tadpoles.

[clownonfire]

Everyone, Corey.
Corey, everyone.

Well. There were eggs. And came back home to this tonight. The male was beside the "female" when we came back. The "female" perched herself on a leaf. Seems they have been in amplexus for over an hour...



Any thoughts?

Eric

[bshmerlie]

He looks a little heavy. Now...are these your frogs?

[SethD]

Everyone, Corey.
Corey, everyone.

Well. There were eggs. And came back home to this tonight. The male was beside the "female" when we came back. The "female" perched herself on a leaf. Seems they have been in amplexus for over an hour...


Any thoughts?

Eric

As to the eggs, cool, hope they do well. As to your frogs in the pic, are you sure they are in amplexus? It doesn't look like it to me, it just looks like one is sitting on top of the other one because they want the same spot for what ever reason.

[clownonfire]

As to the eggs, cool, hope they do well. As to your frogs in the pic, are you sure they are in amplexus? It doesn't look like it to me, it just looks like one is sitting on top of the other one because they want the same spot for what ever reason.

Hi Seth. You are right. I have watched them for awhile after, and this was the higher leaf. I think it might have been a territorial thing. The top frog moved a long a few moments after. There were never any arms under the bottom frogs, etc... I'm starting to think I might have all males, even if we have been thinking one of them was a female. But then again, more observation and more time will tell.

[clownonfire]

He looks a little heavy. Now...are these your frogs?

Yes. These are mine.

[clownonfire]

As to the eggs, cool, hope they do well. As to your frogs in the pic, are you sure they are in amplexus? It doesn't look like it to me, it just looks like one is sitting on top of the other one because they want the same spot for what ever reason.

There's a thread going on DB about Shawn's eggs and my toads, and both Ray (Coderre) and Shawn think it is indeed a female because of the amount of speckles on her belly. One of the hypothesis would be that it is a young female, and simply not ready. I'm thinking about reintroducing the toads in their housing tank. I'll keep you posted.

[kerokero]

I'd still leave them in there for a while, tossing them between different tanks continuously will just stress them out more. The sitting on top of another is a territorial display, but if he keeps following "her" around (or even better, the other way!) they may just be still feeling each other out. Since "she" didn't say yes immediately he may just be treating her as a male.

[clownonfire]

I'd still leave them in there for a while, tossing them between different tanks continuously will just stress them out more. The sitting on top of another is a territorial display, but if he keeps following "her" around (or even better, the other way!) they may just be still feeling each other out. Since "she" didn't say yes immediately he may just be treating her as a male.

Thank you, Corey. Your expertise has been truly helpful.

[Kurt]

Nice. I have been to Shawn's house and the frog room is very impressive. Better than a lot of zoo collections I have seen/worked with.

[clownonfire]

Nice. I have been to Shawn's house and the frog room is very impressive. Better than a lot of zoo collections I have seen/worked with.

I've read today Shawn mentioning his frog room as the "frog pit"... I can just imagine.