Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  In 1705, a painting of a Pink-toed Tarantula consuming a hummingbird, published in Maria S. Merian’s book on the insects of Suriname, aroused so much attention (and horror!) that all New World tarantulas are commonly termed “bird-eating spiders” to this day.  It seems now that amphibian fanciers have their own dramatic [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Many amphibian websites tend to focus only on popularly kept species. Today I’ve compiled a list that addresses both common species and less well-known topics, such as amphibian health care and caecilian husbandry.
Salamanders and Newts
Caudata.org
This is the most comprehensive salamander-oriented website available.  I’m very impressed by the depth of interest [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Male Great Crested Newts undergo an amazing change in appearance during the breeding season.  In Part I of this article I introduced the natural history of this most beautiful newt, and discussed how to bring it into breeding condition.  I’ll cover breeding details and raising the larvae here.
Courtship and Egg Deposition
Breeding [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  The tadpoles of American Toads (Bufo/Anaxyrus americanus) and Fowler’s Toads (B. woodhousei fowleri), and of related US natives, are frequently collected by herpers young and old and taken home to raise.  They usually prove quite hardy, and, even on nutrient-poor diets (i.e. lettuce), transform into tiny toadlets within a few weeks. 
Toad [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Few amphibians exhibit a more dramatic change in appearance than male Crested Newts in breeding condition.  It really is something to see and, fortunately, breeding this species is actually quite feasible.  Breeding the crested newt in captivity also has great conservation value, as this species is in decline throughout Europe.  Furthermore, [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Please see Part I of this article to learn about the natural history of the Panamanian Golden Frog , Atelopus zeteki, including it’s unique mode of communication.
Status of Wild Populations
Panamanian Golden Frog numbers are plummeting, most likely due to an epidemic of the largely incurable fungal infection

Chitridiomycosis. The fungus responsible, Batrachochytrium [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Please see Part I of this article for a general discussion regarding the collection of insects and other invertebrates and their use in the diets of captive reptiles, amphibians, birds, invertebrates and fishes. Today I’d like to focus on some areas of special concern.
Toxic and Biting/Stinging Invertebrates
While not involving pesticides per [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  In the late 1980’s I was privileged to breed the now rarely-seen Smoky Jungle Frog, Leptodactylus pentadactylus, a large (8 inch snout-vent length) Latin American native that constructs foam nests on land.  In the wild, rain washes the tadpoles into a nearby pool, where they develop in normal frog fashion…following suit, [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. The Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki) is one of the world’s most highly endangered amphibians, but has entered the pet trade from time to time and is sometimes seen in private collections. I’ve had the good fortune of working with these Neo-Tropical gems at the Bronx and Staten Island Zoos, and [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Aeromonas hydrophila is a common species of gram negative bacteria that often infects captive frogs and salamanders. It is particularly prevalent during the warmer months, when high temperatures stress amphibian immune systems (even tropical species often spend much of their time in cool micro-habitats) and leave them vulnerable to microorganisms that [...]