Epipedobates
bilinguis
Milan
Makovec
Czech
Republic
Last
update: 17 August, 2002
I was able to
watch this small, 20mm ground dwelling frog during my three expeditions to the
small towns of Tarapoa, Loreto and Misahuali in Ecuadorian Amazonia. I
initially thought that Epipedobates bilinguis was only found in unspoilt forest or
islands of forest. However, on my third journey, maybe due to excellent
weather conditions, I heard males calling on rubbish heaps and saw several males
with tadpoles in the forest-free landscape near Misahuali. However the
best observations of this beautiful frog were in the forest. E.
bilinguis was quite common with 2-4 frogs per 10m2, on the ground
both in layers of dead leaves with a minimum of vegetation and in wet areas near
to streams. The observations were made at the end of the dry season.
The temperature was between 25 and 27°C and very
stable.
I now maintain these frogs and keep a group of 2 males and three
females in a vivarium 70cm x 50x 50 which also contains E. parvulus and D.
ventrimaculatus. There are no problems with mixing them and they are
breeding well. The vivarium is decorated with small Philodendron,
Peperomia and Anthurium. Even though E. bilinguis is
terrestrial they are often found near to the top of the tank.
They are fed largely on crickets as well as large and small Drosophila,
while in summer I add aphids. Eggs are spawned into film tubs or onto
Petri dishes placed under half-coconut shells and average about six per
clutch. The eggs are large and hatch after 13-19 days given temperatures
of 25-21°C. The tadpoles are fed on flake fish
food and metamorphose after 70-90 days, the froglets taking springtails and
micro-crickets. They will reach sexual maturity at about 12 months.
This is an excellent addition to the terrarium hobby, an
attractive and calm frog.
Photographs: top right Milan Makovec
bottom left Mick Bajcar
