The art of tadpole collection

Occasionally, I need to replace some bromeliads in my large vivarium, as they have bloomed and begin to deteriorate. While my Ranitomeya variabilis thrive in this environment, I can't bear to discard any surplus tadpoles. Each bromeliad houses two or three tadpoles at various stages of development and my tadpole collection begins.

This time I made sure to take proper photographs of them and raise them according to my previously outlined recipe. See blogpost "Tadpole care for Ranitomeya variabilis".

Ranitomeya variabilis tadpoles

Ranitomeya variabilis tadpoles 10mm and 28mm

Ranitomeya variabilis tadpole 28mm - about 40 days old

Ranitomeya variabilis tadpole 10mm - about 10 days old

Ranitomeya variabilis tadpole 10mm close-up

Their developmental stages have been studied under captive breeding conditions and are as follows:

*The last lenght of 11,5mm is when the tail has disappeared and the frog is climbing on land.

See for more detail this article

Captive breeding, embryonic and larval development of Ranitomeya variabilis (Zimmermann & Zimmermann, 1988), (Anura, Dendrobatidae)

Ruth Anastasia Regnet, Inna Rech, Dennis Rödder, Mirco Solé