Description
Ranitomeya imitator ‘Tarapoto’ is a small thumbnail dart frog from north-central Peru, associated with lowland and foothill forest habitats where they use leaf litter, low vegetation, and small water-holding sites for reproduction. The Tarapoto form is known for its bright yellow-orange striped patterning, active behavior, and excellent visibility for a thumbnail frog. Males have a pleasant, musical trilling call that is noticeable but not overwhelming. R. imitator is best kept as a pair for breeding, though carefully monitored groups may work in larger vivaria because they can be more territorial than some other Ranitomeya. They show strong biparental care: males tend and transport tadpoles, while females provision tadpoles with unfertilized trophic eggs. Tadpoles can often be left with the parents in a mature vivarium with appropriate deposition sites, but they can also be pulled and raised individually. They do well with leaf litter, bromeliads, film canisters, broad-leaved plants, and plenty of visual cover. They feed well on Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies and springtails when small. Captive-bred animals from Holotypica are raised with care and offered only once they are feeding well and established.
