Description:A medium-sized (approximately 1") dart frog species from eastern Peru that can be found in lowland forests and in the mountains up to 4,000’ in elevation. It lives in rocky places where it can hide in small sheltered spots and tiny caves. They are not particularly shy in captivity and the males have a pleasant sounding call similar to a Dendrobates leucomelas, but not quite as loud. The basic color is black with either copper, orange or yellow stripes and the legs and belly are sky blue with a reticulated black pattern.
Temperature: 63 to 80°F.
Humidity: High, over 80%.
Lighting: Use fluorescent grow lights on a timer to provide a regular day and night cycle.
Feeding: Because they have very small throats, only tiny food items should be given. Pinhead to week-old crickets and fruit flies are fine as a staple diet. A variety of other appropriately sized insects can be offered such as spring-tails, rice flour beetle larva, tiny mealworms and "lawn plankton". A good vitamin/mineral supplement should be given twice a week for adults and more often for young, growing frogs. A very shallow bowl of water should be provided, they do not swim well.
Habitat: A 10-gallon tank is sufficient for a pair. Set it up as a planted tropical vivarium with plenty of hiding places and shelters to help them feel secure. Although they need high humidity, some ventilation is still needed.
Sexing: The adult females are slightly larger and heavier than adult males. The males have a sustained call, not at all bothersome though. Sort of a high note in a warbling chirp or whistle.
Breeding: Not too difficult if you have a willing and able pair. Feed them well and give them sufficient vitamin and mineral supplements prior to breeding. Mist the enclosure once or twice a day and provide a secluded nesting site. They seem to prefer a choice of breeding spots and may lay their eggs on a leaf, in a film canister or under a half coconut shell. Other places may also be used as nest sites but these 3 should be made available to them.
Around a dozen eggs may be laid and they start out looking rather milky or cloudy but will eventually clear up enough to view the tadpoles developing.
It could be hours after the eggs are laid before the male fertilizes them so do not remove or disturb them for at least a day. If all goes well and the eggs are left in place, the male will protect them and keep them moist. After hatching, he will get the tadpoles to wriggle onto his back to be transported to water. They may remain there for days before they finally end up in the water. After that his care ends.
Artificial hatching gives greater yields. Place the eggs in a petri dish or similar container on a raised platform surrounded by a small amount of water. Do not let the water touch them. The eggs should hatch in about 1 to 2 weeks. Tadpoles can be raised together but growth is faster when they are raised in separate containers. Feed them algae, tropical fish food flakes, frozen mosquito larva and blood worms, etc. Tadpole and froglet growth is relatively rapid. Feed the froglets fruit flies,pinhead crickets, spring-tails and other very tiny insects.
ENJOY YOUR PET LIFE FORMS, Dave & Donna | 