Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey my imitator boy says "bark, bark, bark" and "click, click, click" every night and every morning, and every few hours in between. He and the other two are new( about 1 week new) and have been in a temp tank while I finish the final tank. So why does my girl imitator say everytime that she has a headache? what can I do to help the boy get some action?

Oh and some stats for you to check: 75-82 F., Glass at top part of tank always has condensation, they are eating well and are healthy to fat looking. Do I provide moonlight and violins?

I have been told by a breeder that imitators won't breed until the glass on the tank is covered by that green algae/lichen stuff that I am always cleaning off. He said that every time he cleans the glass off, they stop breeding. And boy, his imitator vivs are covered with algae, and he is getting plenty of offspring! It is almost to the point where it it difficult to see inside the viv. So, I am attempting the same thing with my imitators. My little male is serenading his little heart out, and the females are playing hard to get. Perhaps this algae business is telling us that these frogs need a little privacy to get with the lovin' so I think I am going to experiment with putting a blanket over the tank while I am at work/school, or perhaps even some black bristol board. Who knows maybe it will work. Misting the heck out of 'em is necessary too, as well as pumping the feeding to them. Play some Barry White or Morris Day too.
Good luck
Double J

Give them some film canisters and spray and feed them more other then that allot of praying helps..I have fantasticus that are driving me nuts because they keep act like their breeding. I just finished a new false bottom cubed tank for them so hopefully when they do move in their will be nice and happy. Good luck to you and let us now when you have babies as you can see their no imitators on my list
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Brian Ferriera JR
Plympton, Ma

P. Terribilis (orange)
P.Bicolor (soon)
D. azureus
D. ventrimaculatus
E. hahneli
D. tinctorius (Oyapok )
D. Fantasticus
D. leucomelas
D. castaneoticus (soon)

I think when they get into their beautiful new tank, get a chance to explore it and chose some egg-laying sites, the ladies will be more responsive. After all, they aren't going to move in to just any old shack with the guy, however nicely he sings. Mine began laying on the side of the glass with some algae and hanging moss, but now they just "do it in the dirt" on brom leaves in the open. I think they just need time to get acclimated and comfortable.

I play Debussy and 50's Nat Cole ballads for mine.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

Have patience, it will happen... it just may take more than the five days or so that you have had them. I've had some frogs breed the day after I got them but the majority take more time to settle in.

I think I've never been so eager to see sex happen! I believe the males around me have always been more fervently seeking that good 'ol amplexus then I have and I am embarrassed to admit to my strange sudden desire for frog porn!: Clearly, I am very lonely or something and definately my heightened interest had to do with my boy imitator calling much earlier then anticipated. My husband wished he could have such a reaction to him! Forgive the graphic display of my internal life here...about the Algae stuff on the glass-how does that start growing? Can I purchase this stuff to introduce into the tank or something or do I just pray as one suggested that it will grow? Thanks for your thoughts!

Algae will occur wherever you have constant moisture on the glass and a lot of light. You don't need to introduce it. I have a hexagonal tank for the imitators and it tends to accummulate in one corner where the coco panel meets the angle of the glass nearest to my glass front door. There is some brown sphagnum tucked in there and some osmunda fiber hanging down that they liked to hide behind at first. I'm now making efforts to keep it wiped off since the frogs have now chosen to lay eggs on leaves in the open and the algae isn't very attractive.

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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

This is Mom using Dad as a footstool while she is laying the eggs in the former photo. You can see his nose peeking out for air while she steps all over him to "arrange" her contribution. For awhile, he seemed to forget what he'd done all that chirping for.

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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

Thanks for your pix. As I wonder about what all the Imitator sex looks like, I am like a child hitting puberty wishing to see some illustrations of what goes on with the adults! Maybe mine will give me a show soon, and now I'll have an idea of what to look for.

Sorry to monopolize this, but it all reminds me of an old early 70's movie. I believe it was adapted from a Gore Vidal or Kurt von Gutte novel--can't remember.

The residents of Saturn's moon Titan come to earth and capture two human specimens, a male and a female, and take them back to Titan where they place them in "their natural environment." The furniture is from Sears," they explain. As this confused pair are wandering around trying to figure out what has happened, a voice booms at them, "ARE YOU BREEDING YET?"
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

Patty: I remember an episode of the old twilight zone that was like this! How hiliarious to see myself acting as one of those aliens as you so astudely point out the parallel! This hobby entails more than just the observation of these beautiful creatures. It renders us to behave as comically as fictional charactors might!