Green and Black Poison Dart Frog
A common dart frog with green-and-black blotches, active by day in tropical forests.
Overview
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus) is a poison dart frog native to Central & South America. A common dart frog with green-and-black blotches, active by day in tropical forests.
Care level: Advanced. Toxicity: Highly toxic in the wild, generally harmless in captivity.
History & Origin
The Dendrobatidae (Poison Dart Frogs) is naturally distributed across Central & South America, where it occupies the typical habitats of its family. It has been kept by specialist and hobbyist keepers both in the wild and in captivity.
Appearance & Size
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog is a 2–4 cm poison dart frog.
Temperament
Poison dart frogs are diurnal, bold and intensely colourful; in captivity (fed a captive diet) they are not toxic, but they are small, sensitive to stress and best kept in species-specific groups.
Care & Husbandry
Poison dart frogs need a warm, humid bioactive terrarium (24–27 °C, 80–100% humidity) with leaf litter and film for microfauna. They eat fruit flies, springtails and pinhead crickets; vitamins and calcium are essential. Never mix species or house them with other amphibians.
This species is generally rated Advanced in difficulty for keepers.
Health & Lifespan
In captivity Green and Black Poison Dart Frog typically lives 8–12 years. In captivity these frogs typically live 8–15 years. They are sensitive to poor humidity and contaminated food; use only supplement-dusted, pathogen-free insects and keep the terrarium clean and stable.
Popularity & Recognition
Poison dart frogs are celebrated for their jewel-like colours and are among the most popular display amphibians in the hobby, with many captive-bred morphs.
