Invertebrates
Dart Frog
Dendrobates spp.
Also called: Dendrobates, Ranitomeya
Key facts
- Temperature22–28 °C
- pH80–80
- Adult size5 cm
- Difficulty★★★★☆
- TemperamentPeaceful
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Dendrobatidae
- Origin
- Central and South America (Amazon region), Central America)
- Size
- 1.5–5 cm, depending on the species
- Temperature
- 22 – 28°C
- pH
- Not applicable (terrestrial; requires humidity >80%)
- GH / KH / TDS
- Not applicable (terrestrial)
- Difficulty
- ★★★★☆
- Water type
- terrestrial (humid terrestrial area of the terrarium)
- Behavior
- Peaceful toward one another when provided with sufficient space; may hunt shrimp and small invertebrates
- Compatible with fish
- Not recommended (preys on insects and invertebrates)
- Diet
- Carnivorous (small insects: Drosophila, springtails, small crickets)
- Reproduction
- oviparous; they lay eggs in moist soil; the male carries the tadpoles to the water
Notes: Darter frogs are the focal point of a tropical paludarium. In captivity, they are not toxic (their toxicity stems from their diet of specific insects in the wild). They require Drosophila melanogaster or hydei as their primary live food source. Tadpoles need small pools of water. Many species are protected: only purchase specimens from legal breeders.
