L & H Frog Journal
African Dwarf Frogs -  Hymenochirus boettgeri
page 4

5-23-02 The frogs in tank C were feed more live tubifex worms for the Memorial weekend.  Afterwards, I witnessed them snuggling for the first time. George and Jim were in a romantic embrace when we got home from work. We noticed in tank E several of our eggs have grow in size as well as now have little tadpoles inside them.  We saw occasional movement inside the eggs.  After going out dancing, returning around midnight George & Jim were still snuggling.   Every few minutes they would swim to the surface of the tank, turn upside down while still embracing, lift their underbellies a bit out of the water and as close to each other as possible, move quickly and with intention, and lay three to four eggs. We intend to try to videotape this in the future for a clip for the web site as well as hoping a skin shedding. - L

<- This photo is of our first tadpole 1/8" long, Lucky from 5-16-02.

5-24-02 This morning we awoke to see that they had laid lots of eggs.  Now, both tanks A and E have lots and lots of eggs.  I've been keeping an eye on the eggs throughout the morning.  Every few minutes one of the yet un-hatched tadpole wiggles intensely.  I'm hoping to see one of the eggs hatch or find a hatched tadpole swimming in the tank. - L

5-25-02 We have approximately 20 hatched tadpoles.  We swapped out the plant in tank F growing fresh algae and very green; for the plant in tank E with all the tadpoles that was covered in molding unhatched eggs and had lost its green luster. Tank A's frog eggs have mostly disappeared; we imagine they've been eaten. There are just a dozen or so left in tank A. We were able to witness hatching eggs in tank E yesterday.  The little unhatched tadpoles apparently wiggle until they burst out their egg sack.  At first we were concerned because immediately following hatching the little tadpoles sank to the bottom of the tank. But in a few moments, they would swim up to the top of the tank and stick to the surface tension or to the plant.   We added infusoria to tank E this morning for our new tadpoles. We haven't seen much activity as of yet from our tadpoles except for the hatching process.  They seem to just float or be clinging rather than swimming or eating.  They are extremely tiny and light colored looking almost like plant debris with just a visible bump towards the head under 10x magnification.  - L

5-28-02 Our twenty-some tadpoles are growing each day and are beginning to swim more actively.  They have darkened considerably.   Their eyes are discernable as well as four light spots two in the front and two in the back half of their body before their tale.  They are being fed infusoria a few times a day. I had never heard any of the frogs sing til last night.  Jim sat still and this odd intermittent creaking sound came from the direction of the tank.  H told me he was singing [having heard a frog in tank D sing.] And expectedly, George and Jim are snuggling today. - L

5-29-02 H spotted a tadpole in tank A with George and Jim. Our tadpoles in tank E seem to be swimming with more gusto and skill. A great number of eggs appear routinely in tank A and then disappear as they have again today. No doubt in a few days George & Jim will be busy again, and we'll be having lots more eggs. - L

5-30-02 Each day we have been losing tadpoles. They appear to about the size that Lucky was before he died. We moved the seven we could find back into the tank with George & Jim thinking the aeration a factor in their demise. They seem to want to float on a current and have to work too hard in the non-filtered, non-aerated holding tank. We decided not to go to great lengths at this time in breeding our frogs but rather support whatever tadpoles survive in our tanks. There are lots of eggs and an occasional tadpole in tank A as well George & Jim & an otocinclus. - L

6-4-02 I can only find one tadpole in tank A. I'm not sure if there is more just well hidden. There are several eggs at the top of the tank developing that may hatch soon. George & Jim are snuggling again today. I hope the aeration helps the tadpoles without putting them at too much jeopardy of being eaten by their parents. - L

6-12-02 I cleaned tank A since I couldn't find any surviving tadpoles. I would have thought the disruption would be a bit traumatizing but nope, George & Jim are in a snuggling embrace. I'm sure there'll be many more eggs to come.  - L

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