Breeding in Captivity

Most captive amphibian breeding happens "by accident" because so little is known about the creatures' habits and they are so closely in tune with changes in climate and the atmosphere. In the wild, breeding amphibians take their cues from daylight cycles, relative humidity, temperature, barometric pressure and rainfall levels.

Most amphibians lay eggs, although some salamanders give birth to live young. Amphibian eggs are covered with a jelly-like substance that helps prevent dehydration, which is lethal to the eggs. Small tree frogs lay just a few eggs while larger frogs may lay thousands of eggs at a time. Most lay their eggs directly in the water, but some prefer damp locations along the shore.

Encouraging Breeding Behavior

Before attempting to breed your amphibians, learn something about their natural breeding habits, such as what season they breed in, to give you some clues to what conditions will induce them to breed. Professional breeders often employ hormone therapy to induce breeding. There are a few steps you can take for all species to encourage them to breed. Be sure they're in proper housing with healthy conditions and plenty of varied nutrition sources. Good nutrition is essential for breeding. Don't overheat them and provide suitable egg-laying sites. You may have to simulate hibernation or environmental cooling to induce breeding. Perhaps the number one tip is to make sure you've got both sexes present. It isn't always easy to tell the boys from the girls in the amphibian world so the assistance of an expert herpetologist is in order.