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HomeAny CategoryLive AnimalsFrogsPoison Dart FrogsRanitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallaga' (Captive Bred) - Mimic Poison Frog

Ranitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallaga' (Captive Bred) - Mimic Poison Frog

Out of Stock

$74.99

4.8 out of 5 stars

 (5)

About This Product

Defining Characteristics:

  • Great beginner thumbnail
  • Bright, variable coloration
  • Bold
  • Easy to breed
  • Quiet call
  • Small
  • Great in Pairs or Groups

Name: Ranitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallaga'. Formerly known as Dendrobates imitator, this frog is commonly known as the Mimic Poison Dart Frog due to it's apparent mimickry of thumbnail species that occur sympatrically. Commonly called imis in the hobby, or simply by it's morph name, Baja Huallagas are a small, spectacularly colored poison dart frog.

Recommended Vivarium Size: A 10 gallon aquarium is suitable for 2-3 Ranitomeya imitator, but Josh's Frogs recommends a 20H or 18x18x18 Vivarium for 1-3 frogs. Not sure how to set up a vivarium? Please watch our video on How to Set Up a Vivarium.

Temperature: These frogs can tolerate a temperature range of 65 F to 80 F, but prefer temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Temperatures over 85F are dangerous.

Humidity: Like most poison dart frogs, imitators prefer a humidity range of 80 – 100%, but can tolerate humidity down to 50% for short periods of time if the frogs have access to water. Low humidity levels, especially without access to water, can quickly be fatal.

Size: Adult female and male R. imitator 'Baja Huallaga' are similar in length, measuring in at around an inch. All of the Ranitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallaga' froglets Josh's Frogs sells are well started juveniles, and measure approximately 1/2” long.

Age: Ranitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallaga' is capable of living well over 10 years in captivity under ideal conditions, although a lifespan of 5-8 years is more common. All imis for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are 2-3 months old.

Feeding: Like most poison dart frogs, imitators prefer smaller foods. All of the thumbnail dart frogs sold by Josh's Frogs will readily eat Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. All ages of poison dart frogs will enjoy springtails and isopods. All feeder insects should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement. For more information on what poison dart frogs can eat, please visit our How-To Guide on Feeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Sexing: Ranitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallagaare fairly easy to sex as adults. Females are much wider than males, as they lay eggs frequently. Josh's Frogs sells 2-3 month old juveniles that are not sexable unless otherwise noted. For more information on sexing poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Sexing Poison Dart Frogs.

Color/Pattern: Baja Huallaga imitators are fairly consistent in color and pattern. Exhibiting a yellow and body, covered with dots or striped, they are a striking little thumbnaill dart frog! Josh's Frogs does not recommend, support, or endorse line breeding as we believe this leads to weaker captive animals and nature has done a wonderful job of creating an amazing variation in color and pattern of poison dart frogs already.

Social Behavior: They do well housed in groups their entire life as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends approximately 5 gallons per frog. As they reach sexual maturity at 5-8 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of imitator dart frogs may change and females may eat each other's eggs, although most will even breed together in the same film canister! Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of dart frogs - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing! Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair.

Breeding: Imitators are one of the easiest poison dart frogs to breed. Best bred in pairs, males call to attract a female to a suitable egg laying site. Then, 4-8 eggs are laid on a smooth surface (often in a film canister or a bromeliad). The eggs hatch into tadpoles, which then take 60-80 days to complete metamorphosis into miniature versions of the adults. Tadpoles will feed on dead fruit flies, the standard frog and tadpole bites/sera micron fare, and even unfertilized eggs if left in with the adults! For more information on breeding and raising poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Breeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Natural Range: Ranitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallaga' is a lowland species, native to Peru.

History in the Hobby: Imitators have been around in the hobby for decades, but the first Baja Huallagas were introduced to the US hobby by Mark Pepper of Understory Enterprises. Bold, colorful, and visible in the vivarium, these small gems are very popular among thumbnail dart frog hobbyists.

Links of Interest:
Dendrobates.org - article on Ranitomeya imitator

Imitator Poison Dart Frog - Wikipedia

DendroBase - Ranitomeya imitator

Imitator - IUCN Redlist

Ranitomeya imitator caresheet on Dendroboard

Josh's Frogs Blog on Thumbnail Dart Frogs

Still not sure if Ranitomeya imitator 'Baja Huallaga' from Josh's Frogs are the right poison dart frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!

Shipping

After placing an order containing a live animal, you will receive a scheduling email containing our JotForm scheduling link to schedule your new pet's delivery date.

With this scheduling link, you will be able to schedule your order's delivery up to 30 days in advance. You will be able to choose a date of delivery for Tuesday-Saturday (Saturday arrival depends on the carrier's service availability) with the estimated time of arrival generally being 12pm, or 4:30pm for more rural areas. Overnight lows must be above 40°F to ship directly to you (or above 30°F for FedEx Ship Center pickups) as well as below 90°F by estimated time of arrival.

If you require further assistance, or prefer to talk to one of our Customer Service agents, please feel free to reach out to our [email protected] email or our phone line 1-800-691-8178.

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

Based on 5 reviews

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Reviews

Serrafina

5.0 out of 5 stars

Awesome Frogs

I have had my Baja Huallaga from Josh's Frogs for about a year and a half now, and they're my favourite of my frogs. For awhile, I had escudo, but I grew tired of their obnoxious, constant, calling. While these guys call, their call is extremely pleasant to listen to and I never really grow tired of it. When I first picked up my pair of Bajas from Josh's Frogs warehouse I was provided with a temporary grow-out extra large deli container with some moss and wandering Jew. The little frogs were so full of life and fun to watch that I was immediately enthralled with their cute looks and bold personality. I did purchase another pair about six months later, from a different source, and those frogs are unfortunately no longer with us. However, the other Baja I purchased around that same time from Josh's Frogs is now calling and getting the females to lay eggs. I have been extremely impressed with the health and quality of the animals from Josh's Frogs, and their customer service has been superb.

Fat Frog Man

5.0 out of 5 stars

So far, my favorite dart frog

Very active, fun to watch and very bold. If you want a small but bold frog, these are a good choice. Several times I've adjusted something in the vivarium and shortly after I finish, these guys are out and about again. If you like seeing frogs high in the vivarium canopy on ghostwood, sides of glass or in Bromiliads, these are for you. Just be careful when opening the doors, make sure a frog is not on the door ready to jump out. Must have a 24 inch high vivarium or higher imo, these guys do spend alot of time above. If I had to select one frog to keep and get rid of the rest, I'd probably keep these or any other imitator due to them being bold, active and gun to watch

Lj

4.0 out of 5 stars

Imitator Hualaga

I bought one of these dope little Thumbnails and hes grown so much and super active. The only thing that sucks is trying to get him some companions. Every time i get a notification to get one or 2 more theyre gone already. Im not gonna lie its really deterred me to stay in the hobby. I do Reef aquariums as well and everything for that is pretty easy to get. Ive had this one lonely little frog for like 6 months and still can't get him some friends.

SerrafinaPekkala

5.0 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Froggies!!!

I purchased a pair of Baja Huallaga from Josh's Frogs 44 days ago, and could not possibly be happier. They are bright, colourful, curious little frogs, and one of mine even seems to like being held as it will hop into my hand of its own free will and then just sit there for as long as I will let it. I did in-house pick up and got them and my supplies all together on the same day. I keep them in a BioPod Terra live vivarium on the automatic setting and they are doing just splendid! It is obvious that they were extremely well taken care of and very healthy before they came home with me, and I can only hope I continue meeting their needs as well as the people at Josh's Frogs did before they were mine.

Anthony

5.0 out of 5 stars

Tiny little guys

I just received these guys and they are awesome, they came in fat healthy and full of energy. So happy with my purchase and can't wait to get some more

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