Taken from 'Book Review: Dendrobatidae Nederland'

Steve Martin
Last update: 17 August, 2002

This book is an entire year's Newsletters of our sister group bound into one journal.

.....There are two very interesting articles which deal with the raising and rearing of tadpoles to metamorphosis.  They are widely differing methods which, it is claimed, produce young frogs free from spindle leg.  If that in itself isn't worth the ten quid (10 pounds sterling) that it costs for this book, then I don't know what is.

One method uses a vivarium with a mesh bottom, covered in a layer of sponge rubber.  This is topped with moss which is suspended over another tank containing water.  A heater and thermostat are set to a suitable temperature, the result of which produces a high humidity and warmth.  As the author of the article says, 'You want to see them grow.'

The other method would at first appear rather haphazard.  It recommends setting up a tank with a water-covered base area, with bits of land created from moss or bark.  The two authors have tried this design for some period of time, and claim to raise fit and healthy animals.  Well, 'What are they doing?' I hear you muttering.  OK, then.

When they have a clutch of tadpoles, regardless of species, they place them into the water area and feed them a pinch of fish flake every other day until metamorphosis, when the froglets scramble out onto the land areas.  The babies then join others waiting to be grown on, while more tadpoles take their place in the water.  

It would appear that no cannibalism has been detected among the tadpoles, and they survive on the natural biological food created by the lighting, namely algae and infusoria.  They supplement this by eating the odd fruit fly which falls into the water, having been overlooked by their land-based relatives.  I suppose that by adding a sprig of Tradescantia to the water, the nitrate levels should be kept to an absolute minimum.  I have no proof yet that this all works but I'll certainly be giving it a try.

Add to this all the stunning photographs and line drawings, and you have a booklet which should be on the wanted list of everyone who wants to breed these animals.