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Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

Tads deposited & 'backpack' thoughts
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Tads deposited & 'backpack' thoughts
#1
I spent this morning watching two successful tad drop-offs! Yay! Two tanks two dads, one in a white film can, one in the center cup of a brom.

Interesting thing, the one dad came out of the brom with a literal dent in his back where the tad had been (since at least yesterday afternoon when I spotted it). Once tad was deposited and he called a couple times, it quickly went away.

It made me think though. Possibly it was just to create a more secure spot for the tad.

While the tad is on his back, do they exchange nutrients (or anything else) through the permeable skin? So many things I wish I knew Smile I swear this tad grew between when I first spotted it on dad's back and seeing it in the brom after dad left...
Lisa
In central NY

R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' 2.3.0
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' Froglets 8 and counting.
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#2
wow....excellent question and I wish I could provide some insight.

The indentation is interesting - would help the tad 'hold on' , but I don't think it was actually feeding.

Could be wrong though.
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#3
I didn't notice an indent on the other dad, of course the viewing angle was different and more distant.
I'll have to see if any of my pics show it, because I noticed it when the tad was still on there. To my knowledge this tad was on the dad less than 24 hours, where I think the non dented dad carried his for possibly two days + (I can't be sure he didn't deposit and pick up a new one though).

I didn't really think it was feeding exactly, but I wonder if a tad had a deficiency of some sort, if the dad would pass it through the skin... or maybe just moisture. The tank is good and humid, no gauge in there, but the side and top are always covered in condensation, so I don't think it would need extra moisture.
I'm also not sure how the one tad would have a deficiency that the other didn't, just because all the frogs get fed the exact same flies & supps every time. in other words, I don't have to refill the feeding cup with new supps and flies for each viv, since I have just the two, so proportions should be basically the same.
Lisa
In central NY

R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' 2.3.0
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' Froglets 8 and counting.
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#4
Wow how cool Lisa!!! The indent on the male is a very interesting observation. I've not read anything on the physiology of the frogs that accounts for the indent. But if you think about it, it does seem like a natural place for the tad to hitch a ride without worry of falling off.
Your tad probably did grow while he was on Dad's back for 48 hours. Tads usually have some reserve of yolk when they hatch. It may take an additional 3 - 4 days to absorb the remaining yolk before starting normal feeding.
Jon
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#5
Ah, ok Jon, thanks for the info on the yolk, that makes sense.

This pic doesn't really show the dent, but I liked it. Not too bad for through the glass.

[Image: CarsonTransportingtad.jpg]


Link to see the pic larger:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s27/L...gg/024.jpg
Lisa
In central NY

R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' 2.3.0
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' Froglets 8 and counting.
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#6
This pic is the best one I got that shows the dent. He was behind a section of glass, that has a thin film of fungus or something growing on it.

[Image: Carsondentpic.jpg]


Link to see the pic bigger is: http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s27/L...entpic.jpg
Lisa
In central NY

R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' 2.3.0
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' Froglets 8 and counting.
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#7
It could be he was arching his back in preparation to deposit the tad. You know, like trying to create a bit of seperation for an easier deposition. Congrats on some beautiful frogs and tads! Great pics too, thanks for sharing!
JBear

"A fool thinks himself to be wise; A wise man knows himself to be a fool"

R. sirensis-P. terribilis-P. bicolor-E. anthonyi
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#8
Thanks JBear, yes, he did arch his back once in the water, (and I wondered what that was about) the pic I posted was right near where he picked up the tad off the glass though. He stayed in that immediate vicinity for several hours with the tad on his back, before venturing to water.
Lisa
In central NY

R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' 2.3.0
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' Froglets 8 and counting.
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#9
That is exactly what my frogs do when transporting tads. They arch their backs just like I see in your photos. Not ruling out your question and observation as I am not an expert but your photos look normal to me.
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#10
Here is a video taken from an older thread(D3monic's tad transport thread) that clearly shows the back arching associated with tad transport.

It is the second video in post #1. dart-frog-photographs-wild-habitat-pics-f37/tadpole-transport-shots-t4296.html
JBear

"A fool thinks himself to be wise; A wise man knows himself to be a fool"

R. sirensis-P. terribilis-P. bicolor-E. anthonyi
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#11
Yes JBear, that looks the same, thank you! Even the picture right before the videos shows it well.

I guess my description as an indent may have brought up the wrong mental picture to those familiar with it as back arching. Now I know too. The arching he did in the water was an actual movement of bending back more, so I was thinking of arching as a movement rather than a posture.
Lisa
In central NY

R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' 2.3.0
R. Imitator 'Cainarachi Valley' Froglets 8 and counting.
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