3 Great Dart Frogs for Beginners

Check out the 3 best beginner species for new dart frog keepers. At Josh's Frogs, we've worked with dart frogs for over 10 years. Based on this experience, we've found Dendrobates tinctorius, D. leucomelas, and D. auratus to be the 3 best species to start out with. This video touches on many different morphs of these species. Learn about coloring, boldness, size, maturity age, breeding, and more!
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[@CoMtLion]

That last 15 seconds of this video is the best. Captive bred frogs are the way to go to conserve wild populations.

[@fiweekiwee8419]

When I get these I can already tell that my friends are gonna have a question field day. *"Will they kill you? What do they eat? Are they slimey? Can you even touch them? Yada Yada yada"* I like questions though, guess it'll be fun giving them frog knowledge🐸👌

[@herpoholic]

Hey Zach / Josh's frogs, love the videos and really appreciate good quality videos about captive anurans being produced - have shared on Facebook and hope to see more content in the near future :D

[@YoGoldfish]

This is a frrog video, no over the top drama just facts, thanks!

[@GSXRFOREVER]

Thanks for your awesome videos I am just a beginner but I’m super stoked to create some beautiful miniature “jungles” for my new dart frogs !! ✌🏻

[@frankcastle3520]

Thank you so much for the info! just found out about dart frog keeping and I'm hooked! 😁 I'm making the transition from reef keeping to setting up my first dart frog vivarium. Seeing as I have a lot of extra aquariums lying around lol. Can I start a vivarium with a standard 55 gallon aquarium?

[@JoshsFrogs]

Sure can! We have tankless kits just for that size, and many more! www.joshsfrogs.com/complete-care-kits/frog-kits/dart-frog-kits/dart-frog-habitat-kits.html

[@Ethan-ob1sy]

so poison dart frogs are not poisonous in captivity is that true

[@JoshsFrogs]

It is! All captive bred poison dart frogs are harmless.

[@arturvip1]

because you don't feed them with what they normally transform into pioson

[@spiritnc2031]

Ethan McAleer yupp

[@mudkip96]

So in captivity they are just tiny, colorful frogs.

[@NAMEERKLIFTS]

Would a trio of the bumblebee dart frogs and dendrobates leucomela work in a 24x18x36” vivarium? Of course 2 separate vivarium for each specie in their own

[@sinner966]

Could the yellow and black dart frog be housed in a paludarium with mourning geckos? Thanks great video.

[@fabianbenavidez3889]

Would you be able to answer how much Santa isabels would be appropriate for a 29 gallon tank with a water feature?

[@truesatellite104]

Are Dendrobates tinctorius active or do they hide alot?

[@HighTierMan]

Could I have a cohabitation tank of mourning geckos and dart frogs or would that be dangerous if it’s dangerous do you recommend any cohabitation ideas that include dart frogs?

[@derangedbabykraken4803]

how many do you think I could keep in a 18x18x24

[@notyouraverageaquarist8886]

Can you do a video on santa isabels?

[@eduardos416]

I saw you in snake bites

[@joannab7299]

If you can't handle them because of their skin can you do a video about handling when cleaning or transport? Basic care type stuff.

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

Sounds like a great idea!

[@Cleeon]

What is the smallest, happy to live in group, but still most beatiful small poison dart frog, pleaseee???

[@zafishguy5166]

which species of dart frogs does best in groups i was thinking a group of 6 in a 120 gallon tank? also is it possible to keep these with glass tree frogs in a 500 gallon tank, which i would be willing to buy for 6 dart frogs and 6 glass tree frogs?

[@JoshsFrogs]

It would be! Glass tree frogs (H. valeroi are the most commonly offered true glass frogs, not Hyla punctata) are small and require a similar habitat as dart frogs. They do appreciate deep water to breed it. Here's a link to good group frogs: www.joshsfrogs.com/frogs-for-sale/all-poison-dart-frogs/group-dart-frogs-for-sale.html

[@pepino--]

Do you sent frogs to europe

[@boriquaswag]

could i keep different coloration's of these dart frogs in a vivarium? the ones that do well in groups

[@JoshsFrogs]

We recommend against it. Each color represents a unique population in the wild, with different adult sizes, levels of aggression,, and growth rates. Typically, in a mixed vivarium, some frogs will survive while others will fail to thrive.

[@Ethan-ob1sy]

I was also looking into riticulata and isabellas are they good pets

[@JoshsFrogs]

Reticulata are a bit more difficult to care for, but santa isabel (Epipedobates anthonyi) are a great choice for a first pet dart frog.

[@cupcakesandchevron4395]

I have a 12x12x18 terrarium and would like 1 or 2 dart frogs. What type of frog would be best for me?

[@JoshsFrogs]

I would stick to 1-2 of the 'thumbnail' dart frogs (genus Ranitomeya).

[@finn1621]

Hi there, don’t know if you’ll reply. But I’m thinking about getting a Dart frog. Any morph, any breed, I don’t really care. (I don’t want different breeds) but I’d like to house two of them. On your website, I think it said it’s okay to house two Tinc’s in a 10 gallon long tank. Could I house two Bumblebees in a 10 gallon? If not will one be happy in a 10 gallon?

[@jrk1990]

What do you all prefer( speaking to public) tree frogs or dart frogs, I’m a beginner, I’m doing a lot of research before I buy my tank and everything else. Can’t decide on what I want 😩 lol. I will get 18 x 18 x18 when I’m all ready too.

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

We have a ton of substrates to choose from! Here is the link for all of the substrates we offer! www.joshsfrogs.com/substrates.html

[@Aozorite]

are there any dartfrogs that can do well with temperatures dropping into the 50's during the colder winter nights?

[@Rain-jm2bd]

No

[@alexdp864]

I am a big fan of your videos, but I live in the UK and I know you don’t ship frogs here ( for good reason!) Are there any UK companies you would recommend for buying frogs?

[@christianbenge8656]

Would i be okay keeping just one Dendrobates auratus green and black dart frog and one Dendrobates tinctorius 'Azureus blue dart frog in an enclosure together?? Literally just one of each.

[@JoshsFrogs]

We do not recommend mixing any Dart Frog species or morphs. We highly encourage only one species/morph/locale per a vivarium.

[@alexlopez2995]

So can I house any color Auratus and Tinctorius in the same setup? I was looking into an Exo Terra 18" x 18" x 36" Rainforest Terrarium to house a few of them.

[@JoshsFrogs]

They have the same basic needs, but we would not recommend mixing them.

[@alexlopez2995]

Did some much needed extensive research and I see why you do not mix them together. Thanks for you reply.

[@AliNeisy]

Always taught that Epipedobates anthonyi was the best species to start with

[@jonrodriguez8403]

Hey Zack do you breed any allobates species by any chance?

[@JoshsFrogs]

Jon Rodriguez Not currently.

[@Captainluck12]

My question is , is it a good idea for your first time getting fart frogs to only buy one of them or buy a few for a group ?

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

Hello, It's up to you! It comes down to sizing and making sure you're feeding enough for all of them!

[@IIIBirdmanIII]

Can I keep a pair of any of these frogs in a 10 gallon vivarium?

[@JoshsFrogs]

I'd recommend a 20H, especially starting out. They'll use all the space you give them!

[@andyk7967]

What are your thoughts on keeping a group of Azureus together in a large, well planted, multi-level viv with lots of hiding spaces and cover?

[@sonjo2010]

Hey, I have an 18x18x24" exo terra that I want to use for a dart frog enclosure, which species would do best in a vivarium of that size? And how many could be housed in this size vivarium?

[@GGtheRealest]

I just got the same one. Was thinking of doing a waterfall(neighbor got rid of a lot of his stuff before moving away). Was thinking of getting an Azure dart.

[@JoshsFrogs]

I'd pass on the waterfall, unless it's a small one and you only go with 1 dart frog.

[@JoshsFrogs]

For that size tank, 2-3 auratus or leucs, or 2 tincs, would be a great choice.

[@sonjo2010]

Finally got someone who can answer my question :D thanks so much!

[@Nsantmyre1208]

Josh's Frogs I have a 12/12/18 any chance I can house a pair I have one right now the all blue one u showed in the beginning I made sure to leave the bottom of the terrarium with lots of room nothing taking up a bunch of space

[@xcon93]

Do they sell them in Australia

[@JoshsFrogs]

+Connor White (C-bomb09) We're based in the USA, so I don't know.

[@Anthony-eg7pw]

So if I were to purchase tincs..it’s best to stick to the same color? Did I understand that right? And how many should be housed together

[@JoshsFrogs]

That is correct. no mixing of the species. Social Behavior: 'Powder Blue' do well housed in groups up to sexual maturity, as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends approximately 10 gallons per frog. As they reach sexual maturity at 10-12 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of Dendrobates tinctorius may change, and all but one female may need to be removed. Female D. tinctorius may fight with each other over a mate. For that reason, many breeders recommend keeping Powder Blues in pairs as adults. Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of dart frogs - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing! Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them - this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair.

[@Anthony-eg7pw]

Josh's Frogs... thanks for the reply... if I were to house a pair of Leucs what species do you recommend for the most active and out during the day?

[@scottprouty2661]

Is there any other animals (other than springtails and isopods) that can be kept with dart frogs?

[@JoshsFrogs]

First time around, I would recommend against it. In a very large enclosure, there are species of tree frogs and other animals that can successfully co-habitate. If you choose to do so, I'd strongly recommend keeping both species separately for awhile until you're familiar with their normal care and behavior.

[@scottprouty2661]

Josh's Frogs oh alright. Thanks for the help! 🐸

[@naturehdlover]

👍👍👍

[@lauriej8038]

i have a 55G tank that is empty, i was wondering if i could put dart frogs in there and how many can i house together?

[@JoshsFrogs]

That tank is plenty big enough for dart frogs. I'd go to our website and check out the blog "Hopping into the Hobby" under the how-to guides tab on the website.

[@BO2Rages]

i really wanna get one but how much do you think it would be to get started? like tank, food, etc. and frog of course lol

[@raypatrick444]

***** yeah me to :)

[@JoshsFrogs]

***** Check out the starter kits on the Josh's Frogs website.

[@BO2Rages]

Thanks!

[@gary9732]

hi zach can you tell me how many dart frogs can i have in a 5'x2'x2' tank great video zach

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

Hi Gary, That will depend on a lot of things - mainly how the tank is set up, and what type of dart frogs you are after. If you have no/a small water feature and go with good group frogs, such as auratus or leucs, a group of 8-10 would be fine. Stick to the same species and locale/morph.

[@gary9732]

cheers zach thanks for the reply

[@technocheese1102]

Hey! I’m looking into the Azureus, and I can’t seem to find info on same sex pairs. I would like to purchase two juveniles, and just in case I end up with 2 of the same sex, should I have any problems with them? Should I just separate them if I find out that they are the same sexes? This will be in an 18x18x24. Thanks!

[@JoshsFrogs]

Hey TechnoCheese, Generally speaking if you get two males there will be no issues. Males are less aggressive and hold less dominance over their territory. Females are typically the ones known for aggression. Luckily for you, if there are no males present they typically dont get too aggressive. To ensure your animals have the best chance of having a good long term roommate... Plant heavily and grant them enough space. I recommend at smallest a 18x18x18 for a pair of darts. A vivarium of this size with plenty of plants and hiding places will help to ensure that down the road as they mature, they do not allow aggression to get out of hand. Though as you mentioned, if their health starts degrading due to the stress of bullying in the vivarium you will want to separate them into different vivariums. As long as you start with a good sized vivarium, plant it well and provide plenty of hiding places... You have a great chance at not having issues with aggression.

[@technocheese1102]

Josh's Frogs Thank you! Great info.

[@lincolncox7377]

Best dart frog that I could keep with fish? (Palindarium)

[@artsyaura1748]

Their great with mourning geckos i know that

[@lancecobb317]

Hi. I can't spend a whole lot of money. but I'm deciding if I want a dart frog or a monitor. do I need a permit for dart frogs?

[@JoshsFrogs]

Check with your local laws, but in general permits are not needed to keep dart frogs.

[@dannydevito5312]

Lance Cobb do you have any reptiles or is this a first time? Because you should definitely not get a monitor if you have no money.

[@ispectechular]

Monitors are expensive to maintain.

[@wthutch7882]

What would be a very quiet frog that would do well in a vertical tank that is also good for beginners?

[@wthutch7882]

Also one that would be more outgoing so it could be seen a lot in the tank. Thank You!

[@JoshsFrogs]

How large is the tank?

[@wthutch7882]

Josh's Frogs I don't have a tank or anything I'm just thinking about getting some frogs but want to know exactly what I'm doing first.

[@JoshsFrogs]

I'd recommend visiting our website and checking out the "How-To Guides" section - the blog "Before you Buy" would be a great place to start!

[@kierballance7419]

Do you offend fined flies getting everywhere when you feed them

[@lukehamilton7481]

No

[@tvrtkokorbar1291]

I want to get 3 tinctorius. can i keep 1 adult female and 2 adult males in a 45x45x60 (cm, i am from eu so i dont use inches)? Can i feed them small crickets?

[@JoshsFrogs]

That would be a bit tight for 3 frogs, so I'd recommend something a tad larger. They can eat pinhead crickets, although breeding fruit flies is a lot less expensive.

[@tvrtkokorbar1291]

Thanks, is there any other good starter frog you prefer for that terrarium? If the terrarium has a lot of open space and the decorations dont take up too much space, can i then keep 3 in a 45x45x60?

[@BigRalphSmith]

Tvrtko Korbar It sounds like you really really want to put three Tincs in your 18x18x24 (that's in inches). It also sounds like you really really want Josh's to tell you that they think it's OK to do so. They have given you an answer based on a considerable amount of knowledge and experience and, no matter how you reword your question, that answer is probably not going to change because decorations and open space don't really have anything to do with the answer they gave you. Two things you need to remember; one, darts use _all_ the space available in an enclosure and two, darts are very territorial.. You don't need Josh's permission to put three Tincs in your 18x18x24. You asked them for their advice and they have given it to you. Now, all you have to do is decide whether to listen to them or not. In the end, it's up to you to weigh your options against the welfare of your animals.

[@freedom-vodeclip60]

would a millipede (not a centipede) be able to cohabit a large tank with some kind of dart frog? millipedes are calm herbivores so on paper they shouldn't bother the frogs and since they're big so they shouldn't be bothered themselves i don't even know if i'll ever own dart frogs, but if they can cohabit with some other animal then i might consider them

[@JoshsFrogs]

They can, but they would also eat on any wood present in the vivairum.

[@freedom-vodeclip60]

would they decimate it?

[@lewiscoveney]

Dude I need immediate help, one of my dying dart frogs ( name of frog not actually ding animal) managed to escape his vivid, he was just sat there when I got home from work on the floor, very dusty and dry but alive, I placed him near the running water a wet moss in the viv and turned the fogged on to give him moisture, both his eyes are white. Is he blind? Have they just dried up? Wtf do I do :/

[@JoshsFrogs]

+Lewis Coveney How is he doing? As long as they are kept humid, they typically recover.

[@lewiscoveney]

+Josh's Frogs I think he is doing well, his/her eyes are back to black after the first night, seems to have dampened attitude now but alive haha, do you know why his eyes were white? Thanks for the reply!!

[@lewiscoveney]

+Josh's Frogs I think he is doing well, his/her eyes are back to black after the first night, seems to have dampened attitude now but alive haha, do you know why his eyes were white? Thanks for the reply!!

[@cubbyal]

I WANT!! Price?

[@JoshsFrogs]

Check our website for current pricing and availability.

[@jacobstpierre4245]

Do thumbnail dart frog make beginner dart frogs?

[@JoshsFrogs]

They can, as long as you realize they can be pretty quick, tend to be a little more shy then larger species, and cannot go as long between meals as larger frogs.

[@aileenhitzelgomez1350]

could i keep any of these in a 20 gallon long, and if so around how many..?

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

I am sorry which frogs were you looking into?

[@aileenhitzelgomez1350]

joshsfrogsvideos any really just trying to get into dart frogs

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

Hey Aileen, Our website (our signature on comments has a couple links to that site) has lots of information that will tell you dimensions and how many frogs can be kept within those. That's a great place to start! Dominique

[@eygon7925]

Has anyone bought these from the website of this channel? Is it cruelly shipped?

[@JoshsFrogs]

No cruelty here! Check out this article www.joshsfrogs.com/catalog/blog/2016/01/frogs-and-winter-shipping/ It gives the ins and outs of winter shipping, which is pretty similar to shipping all year long, except our heating/cooling is different.

[@melissagrover1528]

how can you hold these arent they called poison for a reason?

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

Hey Melissa, They're actually only poisonous in the wild due to their diet. Since they're fed a captive bred diet here at Josh's (springtails & fruit flies), they don't actually release toxins! That being said, they were only being showcased in the video (on clean hands!) and should not be regularly handled. They absorb things through their skin, so it can be more harmful to them than to us!

[@gary9732]

hi josh what heating do u use please tell lol

[@JoshsFrogs]

We generally do not heat dart frogs, as they require typical room temperatures (low to mid 70s, can drop to 65 at night).

[@gary9732]

cheers josh

[@kristiandelossantos5313]

Do you ship nation

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

We ship dry goods internationally, but we can only send live goods within the continental United States! :)

[@gumtape6677]

can I keep a trio of tinctorius in a vivarium?

[@JoshsFrogs]

You can! I'd recommend a dwarf tinc type (such as boulanger or bakhuis), or a group of 2 males and 1 female.

[@Agent-qb8em]

are they poisoness at home

[@JoshsFrogs]

All captive bred dart frogs are harmless - they get their toxins from the bugs they eat in the wild.

[@adanmolina5577]

Mine died ...:(

[@vastvendetta6596]

can I get frog lets or are they all just adults once ordered?

[@JoshsFrogs]

+Vast Vendetta We only sell froglets between 2-3 months of age.

[@andrewbush8087]

+Josh's Frogs Are the froglets cheaper then the adults

[@jacobtemple7251]

+Andrew Bush not on Josh's frogs but on other websites like lll reptiles froglets are cheaper

[@quinadams3181]

+Jacob Temple True, but y'all need to be careful buying from them because they often have wild caught animals- it is totally worth paying extra if you don't want animals with parasites. I'm fairly fond of Josh's Frogs, animals are always healthy and captive bred and it gives me peace of mind

[@andrewbush8087]

+Zion Adams If he doesn't have the budget he might have to just take that chance if he really wants dart frogs

[@crispers702]

Can i have 2 females/males together? I don't want them to breed

[@JoshsFrogs]

+crispers702 Yes, 2 females or 2 males are fine together.

[@Fordraptor12]

+Josh's Frogs What about like 4 males?

[@jaelabaela2363]

Ok sorry if this is a dumb question...but I always see people have more than just one dart frog...I know they can be social...but is it bad to just have one in a vivarium.. cause I know some animals need some company haha

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

Hello, Dart frogs are just fine on their own!

[@jaelabaela2363]

joshsfrogsvideos ok thank you

[@joshsfrogsvideos5594]

No problem!

[@colingoodman9334]

Could I hold these frogs

[@JoshsFrogs]

+Colin Goodman These frogs are harmless, but their skin is very fragile. We consider them a look-at pet, because handling could easily injure them.

[@colingoodman9334]

+Josh's Frogs thanks I just wanted to make sure because I don't want to be harmed if I accidentally touched it while cleaning it cage.

[@technode1858]

0:36 the frogs toe is twitching

[@JoshsFrogs]

Nobody is sure exactly why they do that, but there are 2 primary ideas - it's a sign of excitement (like a dog's tail wagging), or the movement may stir up feeder bugs that the frogs eat.

[@azziio]

XJustice Leaguex i seen that too ahaha ! surely some reason to it

[@cjayprevost2409]

@@JoshsFrogs they do that to mimic the sound of rain drops, which lures insects to them.

[@francefc1088]

I love poison dart frogs

[@francefc1088]

Very beautiful

[@alexdunant1133]

Very informative videos and great quality. But i can never get threw more than 5 minutes your voice is so monotone it puts me to sleep.

[@shannonrussell2246]

Can u touch them or they poison you by eating them

[@JoshsFrogs]

Dart frogs are not toxic in captivity - they get their poisons from the bugs they eat in the wild. They do have sensitive skin, though, so we recommend against handling.

[@ericd9623]

what kind of bugs make their poison ?

[@samsaraojoneibolt4084]

Eric D Ants..

[@sniffablecow]

I would get one if it wasn't so risky.

[@JoshsFrogs]

It's not risky at all! ALL captive bred dart frogs are harmless - their poisons come from animals they eat in the wild.

[@sniffablecow]

Josh's Frogs Oh, I see.

[@sghflnjdgftrebv4005]

I there a dart frog that’s not poisonous

[@dondrewnyc]

Narrator was low energy, need someone who actually seems enthusiastic about the subject matter. This guy could announce the safety procedures on an airline flight or perhaps a sleep audio track.

[@zackterry765]

Wow i really want one no one cares