Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to setup a tank for some imitators i have a vertical 55 gallon that i used to house green trees in and was thinking that might be kind of neat to see them in a tank with that much room to climb what do you guys think?

P.S. I also have a 40 gallon breeder setup vert would that be a better setup?

Any comments or suggestions would be great
-----
Thanks

From the little I can find on them they need a high tank and broms to play in. I have bought a 15gal high and plan to get 4 imitator in about 4 months or so. I got on Saurians waiting list. Patrick HAS GREAT FROGS, and my Azureus are doing great that I got from him.
-----
Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
D. leucomelas
D. azureus

Yah i was thinking about creating tree running up the center of the tank with broms on it the backround and the sides i think it would be cool personal but i have never heard of anyone keeping them in a tank that large so thats why i am asking?
-----
Thanks

My opinion is that in the wild, these frogs have no glass walls to confine their range and still seem to find each other. So, a big tank should do fine. And the speed at which imitators seem to breed they'll fill the space. They are climbers though, so I'd go with which ever tank has the most height.

Well it is a standard 55 standing on end so the bottom is now the back so it would be 4 foot tall i thought that would be a pretty nice setup for them
-----
Thanks

Only problem i can think of is how to provide enough light to keep broms alive any ideas on some lighting solutions and broms that may work?
-----
Thanks

Build a wood box for it, and light it from the sides also. Say a 18 inch on the top and then a 4 foot on each side.

I think that type of setup though is overkill for such small frogs though. You can get a 15gal high for $19 and it should be plenty of room for imitators. At least that is what I did.
-----
Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
D. leucomelas
D. azureus

I know it is overkill to have them in a tank that large i just happen to have it and think it would be neat to watch them climb maybe its just me i don't know
-----
Thanks

A good friend of mine's breed best when he had 3 in a 90 gallon tank so I don't think a 55 is overkill
-----
Brian Ferriera JR
Plympton, Ma

P. Terribilis (orange)
P.Bicolor (orange)
D. azureus
D. ventrimaculatus
D. tinctorius (Oyapok )
D. Fantasticus
D. leucomelas

That sound like lots of room to roam and play in for a frog

Hi,
I have my pair in a 20 vert tank and they are doing fine.They can sometimes be hard to find in it so they would get lost in a bigger tank but that would be cool.I have a 2x13 watt cf kit over mine and I have lsot 2 neo fireballs that got shaded out by a couple different ones so you will nedd some kick!@@@! lighting to make broms grow.They are cool frogs.Mine have a tad in a brom they are taking care of and 2 more eggs so it will be fun to watch them in the coming months.Usually I take out the tads but I think I'm going to let them raise these.The waiting list are is SOOOO long but it is worth it............Mark W.

Yah i figure i have plenty of time to work out the tank while i am on the waiting list i may have to try the idea about placing a 4 footer light on each side have to see how it locks i suppose.
-----
Thanks

So is the concern here the frogs well being and happiness or our viewing pleasure?

Honestly what i enjoy viewing the most is happy frogs if that makes sense if they would be happier in a 15 gallon than that's what i would do i just thought this would be more like what they would encounter in the wild as regards to space hence happier frogs and that's all i really want i want them to be in as large a tank as possible not only one they can make due in.

Would they be happier in a small tank?
-----
Thanks

I agree with you in both the veiwing of happy frogs and in the bigger tank being closer to what they would find in the wild. I'd go with one of the bigger tanks. As they start to reproduce, your little colony have some room to expand.

Yeah,
That would be the cool thing of a big honken tank like a 55 for 3/4"max frog.I remember when I was getting mine Patrick was telling me that he had 7 in a 20 h and by the end of 1 year had 1 pair so the are territorial.But in a big tank like a 55 they would easily have enough room to establish territories.That would be cool watching them establishing them.My pair isn't very active so when the one's in the bromiliads morph I may keep them and see if a few more in there will get them going some.One thing too, when I initially got them I had a 1.2 and it seemed like the females were trashing each others clutch so I traded one female off for other frogs.
Mark W.

The only thing I wondered about a tank that big is how easily they will find the food. My Imitators are very acrobatic but don't seem as aggressive in finding food as say my Tincs are, and I am always more concerned about the feeding then I am with the Tincs. The imitators are always in view, and I think you should see yours in a big tank too but I wondered if they would see the food and go far for it. Mine do not seem to do that so readily as the Tincs. I wondered if you'd end up having to feed a lot of flies each time.

That is something i was wondering also that's why i was hoping someone out there had tried putting them in a large tank before i don't mind feeding a lot of flies "i always have about at least double what i need because i am paranoid" i figure if you feed lots not only will they have enough to eat but the chance of them coming across food through out the day is also greater and i thought that was a good thing too.

Has anyone ever see them in a tank this size? If it is a bad idea just say so
-----
Thanks

They don't sit and gobble like some of the big eaters, but they'll find the flies. They're most active early in the morning when you will often find them on the glass when it usually has a lot of condensation. From there, they get a pretty good view of anything than moves.
-----
Patty
Lost River, Idaho

D. auratus blue
D. galactonotus
D. imitator
D. leukomelas
D. pumilio Bastimentos (soon)

I think your right about feeding and them being able to hunt food thruout the day. You can also introduce springtails into your tank to provide run to clock food.

Thanks guys i am going to go for it and see what happens now i get to start working out the details of the tank and this should be fun

Thanks again to everyone.
-----
Thanks