The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 30 × 45 cm
Temperature
21–26 °C; preference for 22–24 °C; never >28 °C
Humidity
80–100%; RO water misting 1–2×/day; small dishes or phytotelms of RO water
UVB
Photoperiod 12 h; UVB 2% optional; LED plant-spectrum light sufficient
Identity
Adult size
1.5–2 cm SVL; juvenile ~0.5 cm
Lifespan
6–12 years in captivity
Legal status
CITES II (CB + permit)
Price (THB)
3 000–8 000
Difficulty
Intermediate / advanced
Origin / habitat
Cohabitation
Monogamous pairs recommended; biparental care observed — do not mix different locales
Enclosure and conditions
Terrarium / aquarium
Bioactive vivarium 30×30×45 cm (10 gal tall) for a pair; bromeliads mandatory as breeding sites and tadpole nurseries
Temperature
21–26 °C; preference for 22–24 °C; never >28 °C
Humidity / water
80–100%; RO water misting 1–2×/day; small dishes or phytotelms of RO water
Lighting / UVB
Photoperiod 12 h; UVB 2% optional; LED plant-spectrum light sufficient
Substrate / setup
Bioactive with bromeliads (Neoregelia, Vriesea) essential; leaf litter; mosses; creeping plants
Feeding
D. melanogaster fruit flies (frog's small size); springtails; dwarf isopods; calcium without D3 at every meal, vitamins with D3 1×/week
Reproduction
Sexing
♂ smaller, characteristic call (fine buzz); ♀ slightly more robust; biparental care observed (monogamous species)
Maturity
12–18 months
Triggering
Extended misting; presence of bromeliads with water accumulated in leaf axils; pair stability
Spawning
2–4 eggs on a leaf or inside a bromeliad; ♂ moistens; hatching 10–14 days; tadpoles deposited in individual phytotelms
Tadpoles / metamorphosis
Mandatorily reared individually in bromeliad phytotelms; ♀ deposits unfertilised trophic eggs to feed each tadpole; ex-situ rearing very difficult (artificial feeding insufficient); metamorphosis 60–80 days
Juvenile rearing
0.5–0.7 cm at water exit; D. melanogaster fruit flies from day 1; very high humidity; small, very humid juvenile container
Common health problems
Chytridiomycosis (Bd)
Signshigh risk in dart frogs — systematic PCR at acquisition; itraconazole bath if positive
Stress from separating monogamous pairs
Signsremoving a partner stops reproduction — keep pairs stable
Health
SignsHigh ex-situ tadpole mortality without maternal trophic eggs — do not remove tadpoles from the system if ♀ is present and productive
Quarantine
Signs45 days minimum; isolated vivarium; Bd PCR strongly recommended (fragile species); feed D. melanogaster from day 2–3; weigh the frog (0.1 g scale) to monitor body condition
Good to know
- Monogamous species with biparental care: unique among dart frogs — ♀ feeds tadpoles with trophic eggs in each separate bromeliad
- Müllerian mimicry between populations: never hybridise locales — each geographic morph must remain pure (ethics and genetic purity of the hobby)
- Small size requiring very small prey (D. melanogaster flightless only) and escape-proof vivaria (fine mesh)
Others in this group
White's Tree FrogRanoidea caeruleaAxolotlAmbystoma mexicanumYellow-banded Poison Dart FrogDendrobates leucomelasDyeing Poison Dart FrogDendrobates tinctoriusGolden Poison Dart FrogPhyllobates terribilisGreen-and-black Poison Dart FrogDendrobates auratusStrawberry Poison Dart FrogOophaga pumilioAfrican Clawed FrogXenopus laevis