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New Product – Artificial Bromeliads as Poison Frog Breeding Sites – Part 1

Posted by: Frank Indiviglio in Amphibians, Breeding, Conservation, Frogs, General Reptile & Amphibian Articles, Product Reviews, Reptile and Amphibian Health February 15, 2011 Comments Off on New Product – Artificial Bromeliads as Poison Frog Breeding Sites – Part 1 14847 Views

ExoTerra BromeliadToday I’d like to introduce Hagen’s Smart Plants,  a new line of artificial plants that hold great promise for those keeping Poison Frogs (Dendrobates, Phyllobates, etc.) and arboreal snakes, tarantulas, crabs and similar creatures.

Bromeliad Specialists

Poison Frogs are well-known for their fascinating breeding strategies, which in some species involves transporting the tadpoles from terrestrial nest sites to the water-filled bases of Bromeliads and other plants, where they mature.  Females of several species return to deposit unfertilized eggs as food…some even wait for a signal from the tadpole before laying (please see article below).

Artificial Tadpole-Rearing Pools

BromeliadKeeping these little gems in a terrarium furnished with live plants is ideal, but not everyone does well with the sometimes finicky Bromeliads, and not all available types provide pools that collect water.  Enter Hagen’s artificial Smart Plants.  The company’s new Bromeliad, available in 8.5 inch and 14 inch sizes, is specifically designed to provide a naturalistic pond into which Poison Frog tadpoles can be deposited (I can hear herpers my age and older saying “Where were these things when I started out”?!).

The replicated Bromeliads are very realistic, and make fine terrarium decorations by themselves or when mixed in with living plants (the frogs will unerringly find the pools, no matter how dense is the plant cover).  Frogs that I’ve maintained in large zoo exhibits have used artificial, elevated rearing sites such as overturned flower pots, so I have no doubt that the Bromeliads will be accepted.

The plants’ leaves can be molded to suit your needs, and are removable for easy cleaning.  The line also includes a Scindapus (Devil’s Ivy/Pothos), and I’m hoping for new additions in the future.

Further Reading

Golden Dart FrogBromeliad-Living Tadpoles that Beg for Food

Life in a Bromeliad Pool: Crabs, Tadpoles, Spiders and more…

Next time we’ll look at using artificial Bromeliads with arboreal snakes, lizards, tarantulas and other creatures. 

Dendrobates sylvatica image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Superoxen

Bromeliad image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by pinay06

 

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Being born with a deep interest in animals might seem unfortunate for a native Bronxite , but my family encouraged my interest and the menagerie that sprung from it. Jobs with pet stores and importers had me caring for a fantastic assortment of reptiles and amphibians. After a detour as a lawyer, I was hired as a Bronx Zoo animal keeper and was soon caring for gharials, goliath frogs, king cobras and everything in-between. Research has taken me in pursuit of anacondas, Orinoco crocodiles and other animals in locales ranging from Venezuela’s llanos to Tortuguero’s beaches. Now, after 20+ years with the Bronx Zoo, I am a consultant for several zoos and museums. I have spent time in Japan, and often exchange ideas with zoologists there. I have written books on salamanders, geckos and other “herps”, discussed reptile-keeping on television and presented papers at conferences. A Master’s Degree in biology has led to teaching opportunities. My work puts me in contact with thousands of hobbyists keeping an array of pets. Without fail, I have learned much from them and hope, dear readers, that you will be generous in sharing your thoughts on this blog and web site. For a complete biography of my experience click here.
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