A bold, boldly patterned and relatively large poison dart frog that is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly species in the hobby. Captive-bred frogs are non-toxic because the alkaloid defenses come from a wild diet of ants and mites.
ℹ️
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Large for a dart frog; 4-5 cm (1.6-2 in), females noticeably larger and rounder than males.
Lifespan
10–20 years
Social needs
group
Native region
Guiana Shield of northeastern South America (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, northern Brazil)
Origin
New World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Dendrobatidae
Genus
Dendrobates
Part of the Poison Dart Frogs
Small, brilliantly colored diurnal frogs of the family Dendrobatidae from Central and South America. Captive-bred individuals are non-toxic because their alkaloid defenses come from wild ant- and mite-based diets. They thrive in planted, high-humidity bioactive vivaria and are display-only animals that should not be handled.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Bioactive vertical vivarium
18 × 18 × 24 in (ExoTerra) for a pair
Bioactive vertical 18×18×24 with drainage layer, ABG mix, leaf litter, live broms and pothos. Mist 1–2× daily for 75–85% humidity at 70–78 °F; a thriving springtail + fruit fly culture is non-negotiable as feeders. Dyeing darts are bold and ground-dwelling but climb broms.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Larger planted bioactive
24 × 18 × 24 in for a trio
Wider vivarium gives clear sightlines and territory for a trio with one dominant female. Low-output 5.0 UVB across half the lid, dense broms for egg sites, and a flowing or trickling water feature. Substrate should never be soggy — drainage matters more than misting volume.
Ideal
Planted bioactive 30+ gal
30+ gal display vivarium
A heavily planted 30+ gallon bioactive with dripping waterfall, deep leaf litter, multiple brom cups, and an isopod + springtail clean-up crew. Best supports breeding, tadpole drop-off sites, and natural foraging behaviour.
Wikibob / Public Domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Amphibian eggs are soft, jelly-coated spheres laid in or near water — in floating clutches, strings, or foam nests depending on the species. The dark embryo is visible within the clear gel as it develops.
Photo coming soon
Tadpole / Larva
The aquatic larva (a tadpole in frogs/toads, a gilled larva in salamanders and newts) breathes through gills and feeds and grows in water. Frog/toad tadpoles are limbless at first, then sprout hind then front legs as metamorphosis nears.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile (froglet / eft)
At metamorphosis the animal develops legs and lungs and typically leaves the water as a froglet or, in many newts, a terrestrial eft. It resembles a small adult but is not yet sexually mature and its coloration may still be changing.
Adult
Adults reach full size and breeding condition, with the species' mature skin coloration and pattern. Many amphibians return to water to breed and can show seasonal or sex-specific changes such as nuptial coloration or crests.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Natural
representative
Azureus (blue)
CommonIntermediate
Formerly described as a separate species (Dendrobates azureus), now treated as a cobalt-blue morph of D. tinctorius from an isolated Suriname savanna; deep blue body with black spotting.
Tip: A hardy, bold display morph — keep it under 28 C at all times (heat is rapidly fatal) and dust every feeding with calcium/D3 plus vitamin A to hold the rich blue and prevent spindly-leg in froglets.
representative
Cobalt
CommonIntermediate
A classic robust locale form with a yellow-and-black dorsum over bright cobalt-blue legs; one of the larger, hardier, and most beginner-appropriate tinc morphs.
Tip: Excellent first tinc, but watch for a dominant individual bullying and starving cage-mates — keep a true compatible group with sight barriers and broms, and never house mixed morphs together.
representative
Citronella
CommonIntermediate
One of the largest tinc forms, with a yellow head and forelimbs over a dark blue-black body and blue legs; a Guiana-shield locale popular for its size and bold yellow.
Tip: Big tincs eat well, so gut-load and dust feeders heavily and offer larger prey (hydei flies, bean weevils); maintain high humidity with good ventilation to keep the yellow vivid and avoid bloat from poor water quality.
representative
Powder Blue
UncommonIntermediate
A Suriname locale with pale powder-blue legs and belly under a yellow-and-black dorsal pattern; softer-toned than the deep blue forms.
Tip: The delicate pastel blue is supplement-dependent — consistent vitamin A and D3 dusting plus stable cool temps preserve color, and a thriving springtail/isopod clean-up crew keeps froglets fed and the vivarium stable.
Habitat & enclosure
House in a planted, glass terrarium with high humidity (80-100%) and good ventilation. A footprint of 45x45x45 cm (18 in cube) suits a pair or trio; a group of three or more needs a 90x45x45 cm vivarium or larger. Maintain daytime temps of 22-26C (72-79F) and never let it exceed 28C (82F), which is rapidly fatal. A drainage layer with a false bottom keeps the substrate from going swampy. Mist 1-2x daily and provide leaf litter, cork bark, broms, and dense foliage for cover and microclimates.
Substrate
A bioactive ABG-style mix (tree-fern fiber, peat/coco, sphagnum, charcoal, bark) over a hydroton or LECA drainage layer separated by mesh. Top with a thick layer of dried leaf litter (magnolia, oak, almond) to host a clean-up crew of springtails and dwarf isopods that consume waste and feed froglets.
Equipment & setup
Sealed glass vivarium with screen-and-glass top for controlled ventilation; LED plant light on a timer; an automatic misting system or daily hand misting; a digital thermometer/hygrometer. No UVB is strictly required if D3 is supplemented, though low-level UVB (e.g. 2-5%) can be beneficial. No standing deep water; shallow film and humid substrate suffice. Keep temperatures stable below 28C, using a cool room or fans in summer.
Diet
A micro-predator feeding on tiny live prey. Staple is flightless fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster and hydei) dusted at every feeding with a quality calcium plus vitamin D3 and vitamin A supplement. Supplement with springtails, bean weevils, isopods, and pinhead crickets for variety. Feed adults daily or every other day, froglets daily. Gut-load and dust faithfully; metabolic bone disease and vitamin-A deficiency (spindly leg, short-tongue syndrome) come from poor supplementation.
Behavior & temperament
Bold and diurnal, frequently out in the open foraging, which makes it a great display frog. Males call with a soft buzzing trill and can be territorial, so house compatible groups and watch for bullying (a dominant frog starving cage-mates). Captive-bred tincs are harmless; wild frogs sequester batrachotoxin-class alkaloids from their diet but lose toxicity in captivity. These are look-but-do-not-handle animals: their permeable skin absorbs oils, salts, and contaminants, so always wear clean nitrile gloves if a frog must be moved.
Health
Hardy when husbandry is correct. The leading killers are overheating, dehydration from poor humidity, and nutritional disease (MBD, hypovitaminosis A causing tongue dysfunction). Quarantine new frogs and consider a vet fecal screen for nematodes and chytrid (Bd). Bloat, edema, and the disfiguring chytrid or ranavirus require a herp/exotics vet. Source only captive-bred frogs from reputable breeders to avoid disease and conservation problems.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Establish a thriving springtail and isopod culture in the soil before adding frogs so froglets always have micro-prey. Keep your own back-up fruit fly cultures rotating on a 2-week cycle. Cork-bark tubes and film canisters/coco huts encourage egg-laying. Always wash hands and use gloves; never mix species or mix unverified frogs that could spread chytrid.
