Scaphiophryne Gottlebei

[SethD]

I have kept them in the past but never bred them though I imagine it would be similar to other explosive breeders. Typical methods will get amplexus. They are not terribly hard to keep and are able to eat quite large food items for their size. The "Red" parts of their coloration can vary from bright red to a dull pink depending on their mood and the temperature. They spend a fair bit of time buried, but they do come out and move around from time to time, they are not completely inactive during daylight hours. I believe they are now considered "critically endangered" primarily due to localized habitat but are not particularly rare or uncommon within that habitat. As long as they are not heavily over collected( and with the quotas now in place I don't think that is a serious issue) or the habitat somehow destroyed(which is always possible in Madagascar) I suspect they will be able to sustain the current level of importation indefinitely or until political issues change importation laws. You might talk to "poison beauties" about them and see if he has got anywhere, last fall if I recall I think he was saying he was getting twenty or so and was going to try to breed them though I assume he has not done so(the breeding part anyway). I remember a year or two ago this was one of the species that a number of TWI/ASN members were talking about and were going to attempt to breed and start up a "species management plan" for. I don't think any of them have had any breeding success at this time though since I haven't seen any CB specimens or heard any more about it.

[clownonfire]

I have kept them in the past but never bred them though I imagine it would be similar to other explosive breeders. Typical methods will get amplexus. They are not terribly hard to keep and are able to eat quite large food items for their size. The "Red" parts of their coloration can vary from bright red to a dull pink depending on their mood and the temperature. They spend a fair bit of time buried, but they do come out and move around from time to time, they are not completely inactive during daylight hours. I believe they are now considered "critically endangered" primarily due to localized habitat but are not particularly rare or uncommon within that habitat. As long as they are not heavily over collected( and with the quotas now in place I don't think that is a serious issue) or the habitat somehow destroyed(which is always possible in Madagascar) I suspect they will be able to sustain the current level of importation indefinitely or until political issues change importation laws. You might talk to "poison beauties" about them and see if he has got anywhere, last fall if I recall I think he was saying he was getting twenty or so and was going to try to breed them though I assume he has not done so(the breeding part anyway). I remember a year or two ago this was one of the species that a number of TWI/ASN members were talking about and were going to attempt to breed and start up a "species management plan" for. I don't think any of them have had any breeding success at this time though since I haven't seen any CB specimens or heard any more about it.

Thank you Seth. When I mentioned that certain someone earlier in the thread, I was referring to Michael (Poison Beauties). He's away until the end of July. We'll catch up when he comes back.

I did contact Valerie C Clark also because of her work in Madasgascar. She has shown interest in working with them too but has not being able to put her hands on them either.

I've also been contacted on a Canadian board closer to home for a Scaphiophryne marmorata. The offer is interesting, I'm considering it, but really want to put my efforts on Ornate hoppers.

Eric

[SethD]

I did contact Valerie C Clark also because of her work in Madasgascar. She has shown interest in working with them too but has not being able to put her hands on them either.

Well if someone is in the USA and really wants some it shouldn't be that hard to get them provided you are willing to pay 60-100$ ea.(gone are the days when these were 20$ ea.) and jump on the opportunity quickly without hesitation. I have seen them for sale several times in the last year or so and expect they will continue to be available sporadically in small numbers over the next 12 months.

I've also been contacted on a Canadian board closer to home for a Scaphiophryne marmorata. The offer is interesting, I'm considering it, but really want to put my efforts on Ornate hoppers.

Those are cool too and are cheaper. I think my favorite scaphiophryne species is madagascariensis, but I haven't seen any of those in a couple years, just some pustulosa and marmorata mislabeled as madagascariensis. Actually, I take that back, I saw a small group for sale on kingsnake.com mislabeled as marmorata a month or two ago. Assuming the pic's were of the actual frogs of course. Right now it looks like there are only some pustulosa on kingsnake being sold under the generic name of "Madagascan marbled hoppers". Still, for someone wanting to get started with the genus 5 for a hundred is a lot more reasonable than what gottlebei now costs when you can find them.

[clownonfire]

Well if someone is in the USA and really wants some it shouldn't be that hard to get them provided you are willing to pay 60-100$ ea.(gone are the days when these were 20$ ea.) and jump on the opportunity quickly without hesitation.

I can't speak entirely for Valerie, but from our discussions, I know she would not get any if they didn't come with CITES papers. It's a position I respect.

Right now it looks like there are only some pustulosa on kingsnake being sold under the generic name of "Madagascan marbled hoppers". Still, for someone wanting to get started with the genus 5 for a hundred is a lot more reasonable than what gottlebei now costs when you can find them.

Prices in the US are cheaper than in Canada, not by much though. The offers have been ranging from $35-$45. For Ornate hoppers, in the higher range. Weren't they being sold on kingsnake for $100/each a month or two ago?

Eric

[SethD]

I can't speak entirely for Valerie, but from our discussions, I know she would not get any if they didn't come with CITES papers. It's a position I respect.

I tend to figure the ones in the hobby are legit as the prices while high are not high enough nor is the demand great enough for most importers to risk being caught with a CITES violation. It isn't like we are talking about animals in the 1000$ plus range like certain snakes and lizards or even 500$+ frogs like certain occasionally smuggled dart frogs.

Prices in the US are cheaper than in Canada, not by much though. The offers have been ranging from $35-$45. For Ornate hoppers, in the higher range. Weren't they being sold on kingsnake for $100/each a month or two ago?

Yes. 100$ each is on the high side for gottlebei in the states at the moment but I have seen some for sale for that. If I was wanting gottlebei in the states I would wait till I could get a better deal than that as I am pretty confident I could do better and do not anticipate them becoming completely unavailable for a while though I suppose you never know.

[clownonfire]

If I was wanting gottlebei in the states I would wait till I could get a better deal than that as I am pretty confident I could do better and do not anticipate them becoming completely unavailable for a while though I suppose you never know.

I have sent a link to Corey for this thread. According to her, and I quote: "looks like the CITES quota has been reduced even more... the quota in 2010 was only 250."

Wouldn't it be fair to say they might be more difficult to get, and consequently, again raising the price of the frog?

Thank you Seth for your input on this.

Eric

[SethD]

I have sent a link to
Wouldn't it be fair to say they might be more difficult to get, and consequently, again rising the price of the frog?

Yes, that is possible, however demand isn't really terribly great and ironically smaller numbers being imported probably increases the chances of them being CB and established in the hobby due to the "rare" factor. All small numbers at high prices means is that the frogs will more likely go to enthusiasts who will then attempt breeding rather than to more general pet stores.