PHYLLOMEDUSA BICOLOR

May 01, 2009

Adapting to the Environment

As per Michael's instruction, I am currently keeping Subcommander Marcos in a screen-top, 10 gallon terrarium with synthetic jungle plants and meandering vines. When he grows larger in 4-6 months, I will transfer him to 50-plus gallon vertical habitat as well as change the heat, humidity, light, and feeding cycle. The current conditions, based on his age and size, are as follows:

Heat: During the day, 70-75 degrees F. At night, 68-70 degrees F.

Humidity: 60-65% Moisture. Every morning and evening I lightly mist him with distilled spring water to aid in shedding. The top of tank is 75% covered with plastic to help retain humidity.

Substrate: Unbleached paper towel - wetted and changed as needed.

Light: 2% UVB during the day as well as natural sunlight.

Food: I keep 4 live 1/4" to 1/2" crickets in the tank nightly. The crickets are dusted in 3 parts Rep-Cal Herpavite to 1 part Rep-Cal Calcium w/Vitamin D3. I am also providing small carrots on a regualr basis.

Water: Shallow dish of distilled spring water.

May 05, 2009

Cricket Farming

Breeding CricketsTrying my hand at the ole cricket breeding.

I constructed a screen-top 13X13X15" plastic habitat. The floor is covered in 1/2" Horticultural Vermiculite. Contained is a water feeder fashioned out of a plastic bottle and cup, a few cardboard tents, and a feeding dish. The breeding repository contains 100% natural Aged Douglas Fir Bark and Sphagnum Peat Moss, kept continually wet. A 60 watt incandescent lamp on the side of the container helps maintain a high temperature.

I'm keeping 25 adults. They are currently being fed a packaged Spirulina containing cricket food nightly.

Thus far they are making my studio sound like an evening in late June on a grassy prairie in Iowa.

May 12, 2009

Eats Shoots and Leaves

Phyllomedusa Bicolor - Giant Waxy Monkey FrogCorrection: Eats, Poops, and Talks...

Over the last two weeks I have witnessed two eatings, two droppings, and one rather chatty evening.

Watching the attack and consumption of a cricket is quite a spectacle. The stealth and poise with which Marcos strikes his prey is something to see.

He seems to do his business about once a week. The feces are surprisingly large given his body mass - about the size of a fresh garbanzo bean. They have a strange sac-like quality.

One evening last week I heard a number of distinct "ribbits" from the terrarium. Sometime in the future I will do my best to make a recording.

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