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Ranitomeya imitator Care and Breeding

This article provides essential care and breeding information for this vibrant dart frog species. Learn about its habitat, diet, breeding behavior, and tips for successful keeping in captivity.

Male Dendrobates tinctorius 'nominat'
Care

Terrarium Setup

Ranitomeya imitator, like other dart frogs, requires a vivarium with both terrestrial and arboreal elements. A minimum of a 20-gallon tank is recommended for a small group of frogs. The setup should include live plants, branches, and other structures that mimic their natural rainforest habitat. Maintain high humidity (60-80%) and a temperature range of 22-26°C (72-78°F). It's important to have proper ventilation to prevent mold and maintain air circulation. 


Lighting

Ranitomeya imitator frogs thrive under a moderate lighting setup that mimics the dappled light of their natural rainforest habitat. Use a combination of ambient and focused lighting, with around 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness to simulate a day-night cycle. LED or fluorescent lights with a color temperature of around 6,500K are ideal, providing a natural daylight effect.

UVB light is not strictly necessary for Ranitomeya imitator, but it is highly beneficial. Providing a few hours of UVB exposure each week can help promote healthy bone development and improve overall well-being. Avoid direct, intense lighting, as it can increase temperatures and dry out the terrarium. It’s also beneficial to include shaded areas in the enclosure where the frogs can retreat from the light if needed.


Diet

These frogs are insectivorous and primarily feed on small arthropods, such as fruit flies and springtails. It's crucial to provide a varied diet for proper nutrition. It's important to supplement their food with Dendrocare, Repashy Calcium Plus or other similar supplements to ensure they receive the proper nutrients.


Handling and Health

Ranitomeya imitator frogs are delicate, so handling should be kept to a minimum. If you need to handle them, ensure your hands are clean and free from any chemicals, as dart frogs are sensitive to contaminants. Keep an eye on their skin, as it can show signs of stress or poor health if they’re not properly cared for.

Breeding


Breeding Setup

To breed Ranitomeya imitator, a separate breeding enclosure or a section within their primary vivarium should be established. The tank should contain plenty of hiding spots, vertical surfaces, and moist areas where the frogs can lay their eggs. Unlike most other dart frog species, species of the Ranitomeya genus will often lay eggs in "random" spots, such as leaf litter or small crevaces in the terrarium background. It is still useful to add film cannisters, as they will still use them for egg deposition. Males will call to attract females, and once a female is ready, she will approach the male and he will lead her to a suitable egg-laying site.


Courtship and Egg Laying

Males of this species call from exposed areas to attract females. When the female is receptive, she will approach the male and begin to tap him on the back, signaling her readiness. The male then leads the female to a site, typically a film canister or other secluded area, where she deposits her eggs. 


Tadpole Care

The tadpoles of Ranitomeya imitator are oophagous, meaning they can feed on the infertile eggs deposited by the female. However, unlike frogs from the Oophaga genus, they are not obligates, which means they will eat other food too. If the tadpoles are kept in the same tank as the parents, they will be cared for as the parents deposit eggs regularly for them to feed on (it is still recommended that you check on them every now on them, to ensure they are being fed). If raised outside the tank, the tadpoles have to be raised in individual containers, as they are cannibalisitic. They can be fed with fish flakes, spirulina and other small foods.


Froglet Care

Once the tadpoles morph into froglets, they can be housed together. We recommend keeping them in small containers (such as Tupperware, with holes for ventilation) with sphagnum moss and leaf litter. They can be fed sprigtails until they are large enough to eat small fruit flies (D. melanogaster), at which point they can also be moved to a growout tank.


Seasonal Cycles

Ranitomeya imitator does not have a strict seasonal cycle in captivity, but mimicking natural environmental changes, such as slight temperature and humidity variations, may help trigger breeding. In the wild, seasonal changes in temperature and rainfall influence breeding behaviors, but this can be simulated in a controlled environment by adjusting conditions over time. We recommend simulating dry seasons over two to three month a year in order to give the females rest period in which they do not constantly produce eggs. This will reduce stress and ensure healthier offspring.

Morph Overview
References:


AmphibiaWeb - Ranitomeya imitator. Available at: https://amphibiaweb.org/species/1634 (Accessed: 08.01.2025).


DendroBase - Ranitomeya imitator. Available at: https://dendrobase.de/html/D_ranitomeya_imitator.html (Accessed: 08.01.2025).


iNaturalist - Ranitomeya imitator. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/134968-Ranitomeya-imitator (Accessed: 08.01.2025).

Care
Breeding
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