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The Frog for September is Dendrobates imitator. D. imitator is a small, metallic green frog with large Black spots. One of the distinguishing marks are the twin spots found on their nose. They are part of the D. quinquevittatus group of frogs, which is a large group of relatively small frogs. When fully grown, they measure only about 3/4 of an inch. Their natural habitat ranges in North-Eastern Peru in the Cordillera Oriental, where they maintain a more arboreal existence than some of the larger Dendrobatid species In Captivity, D. imitator is frequently bred, and is regularly available through hobbyists. Because of its small size, many commercial establishments will not carry them. While they are not a difficult species to keep and breed, their relatively small size might be a problem for beginners. D. imitator should be maintained in a well planted, rainforest type terrarium, kept between 75 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. There are different opinions on how large of a tank is suitable for a pair of D. imitator. Because they like to climb, many hobbyists will recommend keeping them in a vertically oriented enclosure. For the most part, they are pretty adaptable to different conditions, and can be kept in groups as well as in pairs. D. imitator prefer to breed on the underside of vertically oriented leaves, but they may also utilize bromeliads, film canisters, and on many occasions, they will simply lay their eggs directly on the sides of their enclosure.
D. imitator are non-obligatory egg-feeders. This means that they will sometimes raise their tadpoles by laying eggs for them to feed on. If left alone after breeding, the adults will usually deposit the tadpoles, and successfully rear at least a few of them. Unlike the true egg-feeders such as D. pumilio, and D. histrionicus, D. imitator tadpoles can also be raised without direct parental care, and will accept other food items, such as tropical fish food. D. imitator froglets morph out relatively large in comparison to the adults, but are still pretty small, as a whole. They are usually able to take freshly hatched pinhead crickets from the start, however. D. imitator is an excellent frog, especially for those who have had some experience with larger Dendrobatids, and would like to try some of the smaller Dendrobatid species. Despite their small size, D. imitator are fairly bold, and active in a terrarium, and viewing them regularly should not be a problem. While their small size may also pose a challenge to beginners, they are very hardy, and are not very problematic to feed, as they will accept relatively large food items for their size.
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