Breeding of african dwarf frogs (Hymenochirus boettgeri)
 all contents such as  text and pictorial material are subject to (c) Zwergkrallenfroesche.de

As incentive for mating fresh water additions are frequently already enough together with a not overcrowded tank, good waterconditions, a varied and nutritious feed and a good lighting for a couple of hours per day. Since for the mating a certain waterlevel is necessary, it should not fall below 8-10 cm.

Pairine time: First, the males let out an attract call, which resembles a quiet clicking sound (on the side allaboutfrogs.org you can hear the sound). The male sets up itself in its district that the foottips rest on the ground, and in a way that the body shows (in an angle from about 40°) to the water surface. If a kind comrade goes past, it is tried to clasp then, whereby the other one (in the case of a male or a mating-indignant female) behaves calmly and stretches the hind legs. Sometimes you can notice a defense sound. Isn't that enough to become loose from the importunate, then the troubled other one twitches and swims so long around until the male again releases its partner. If the male gets a mating-ready female the mating behavior begins.

Mating behavior: In order to bring mating-unwilling females in tendency, the male clasps the female from the rear, and presses it several times to its body from behind. In addition the male rubs the head of the female with the foot, whereby chemical substances are probably delivered. The "egg laying dance" takes place in a kind as it is represented in fig.1.

1. The pair rests on the ground first. (the male [ orange ] clasps the female.)
2. Together they swim to the surface…
3. ... to get air.
4. Then the pair sinks off easily …
5. … and turns to the water surface with the ventral side, where eggs and sperm are layed.
6. The pair turns again, and sinks back to the ground.

Fig.1

The whole takes place several times, whereby 5-10 eggs are put down each time. Altogether 100 - 200 eggs are layed down. The eggs reminds of poppy, which swims at the water surface. The eggs are about 1.5 mm.

Slip out and development of the tadpoles: First you transfer the fertilized eggs best into a separate raising basin, since the following raising requires an intensive feeding, which would quickly lead to water pollutions in the keeping tankt.
At a temperature of 25°C the larvae already slip on the second day, and after approximately 11 days you can recognize the legs already. On the twentieth day the tadpoles are  approx. 15 mm largely and you can see the beginnings of the front extremities. After 34-38 days (depending upon feeding and temperature) the metamorphosis to the frog is finished, and after the tail is being resorbed, the young dwarf claw frog is about 10 mm. After about 50 days the new generation is approx. 20 mm long and looks already clearly like a african dwarf frog.

Raising of the tadpoles: The food must naturally adapt the size of the larvae, and can look as follows for example:

1. Animal plankton (smallest zooplankton, infusories which you receives by hay on casting, or e.g. Liquifry from the specialized pet store)
2. Artemia nauplia
3. Artemia, Cyclops, Daphnia

With the raising you should pay attention to strictest hygiene and best you cange the water daily, since during feeding ideally so much is given that the larvae swim quasi therein, because they are not very experienced in the chase and suction snatching. If you have a running keeping tank you should take the necessary quantity of water from there, and refill fresh water to this tank in order to provide best water conditions to the larvae. This has the advantage that the micro organisms in the aquarium can prevent possibly damaging bacteria from their explosively reproduction.