P. Vittatus - OOW Jan 12

[GrandmasterTree]

P Vittatus
OOW Jan 12


Start to Finish:

[GrandmasterTree]

Pics from the group that are OOW Jan 12

[Philsuma]

Beautiful frogs Tony ! You captured the electric copper stripe really well with your photo too.

One of my FAV dart frogs and such an excellent hearty ' community '-able frog. 3-4 different sounds / calls to include the females making noise. So glad you have luck and enjoyment with them.

[GrandmasterTree]

Thanks Phil, they keep me busy and their calls are nice.

[RanaVenenosa]

Hey Tony
Great pic series - any notes or random thoughts about your tad raising experience? I saw they were kept together? yes? Any observation about morph time variance? Food used? I am curious as best practice sharing.

Thx
Scott

[GrandmasterTree]

Hi Scott,
Thanks

These are the first that I have had, but I'll tell you what I did. I pulled one clutch when I first noticed them and lost about 25% of the tads. So I started leaving them in the Viv and added 2 small tubs with just a bit of water for the parent to drop them into. I give them 3 days in Viv once i find them in the tub, maybe adding a tad bite though not all the time. I then move the new tads to a small communal 5x8 container. I have a two stage system so that i am not putting new tads in with half grown tads. At some point, maybe 2 weeks, they are moved to the larger holding tank and left there until they pop 1 or 2 front legs. I will then take that froglet out and put it into its own 4oz cup with a leaf for cover. I take the cup right to the grow out tank and place it at an angle so they can crawl out when they are ready. I used RO water from start to finish with Indian Almond leaves. I did not lose any tads once i had them in the group tank. Water changes/adjustments were about once a week. I checked on them every day and cleaned if needed. This is also a must so that you can catch the tads with front legs before its too late.

Since i keep them communal its hard to give you a time frame to morph, but would say 6-8weeks.

Food:
I use tad bites, blood worms and krill (they love this and I think it has helped to really pop their color, though I am a new guy) and I also use some fish flake food but not much.

I have not noticed any stunting of growth, one thing I read about as a downside to keeping them communal

[RanaVenenosa]

This is really great info Tony. Appreciate you taking the time to type up and share! I dont keep any Vitattus yet, but one day I plan to get some. I tried to buy Phil's old group, but the fellow refused to ship. Anyway, glad your able to have success with these nice animals. I will keep your experience in mind when my Aurotaenia start to breed.

Regards
Scott

[GrandmasterTree]

NP Scott,

I picked up my pair from Frogs-n-Things ( http://www.frogsnthings.com/frogs4sale.html ) Keith is a great guy. Any way the female that Keith has in his pair is from Phil's group - offspring. So I like to think that mine are a close kin to what Phil had.


Tony

[Philsuma]

Mine were from Aaron H (frogfarm) - upstate NY. I transfered my large group of 11 breeders to Michael White from Baltimore.

This frog is listed as Endangered in Costa Rica and probably never will be available as new blood...E.U stuff notwithstanding

[frogfreak]

Very nice, Tony! One of our favorite frogs!