The Dendrobates auratus "El Cope" is a specific color morph of the green and black poison dart frog, named for its origin in the high mountain region of El Cope in Panama.
Characteristics
Coloration: This morph is known for its intense, metallic sky-blue sheen overlaid with striking black reticulation (net-like patterns). The black areas may develop a bronze sheen as the frog ages.
Size: They are a medium-sized Dendrobates auratus morph, with adults typically reaching about 1 to 1.7 inches (25-42 mm) in length. Females are generally slightly larger than males.
Behavior: The "El Cope" is considered moderately shy, but individuals tend to become bolder with age and exposure in a captive setting. They are diurnal and semi-arboreal, foraging on the forest floor and also climbing well in vegetation. They can be kept in groups, provided the enclosure is spacious and offers plenty of hiding spots to mitigate potential female-to-female aggression.
Toxicity: In their wild Panamanian habitat, these frogs are toxic, acquiring defensive alkaloids from their diet of specific ants and other small invertebrates. Captive-bred frogs, lacking this specific diet, are not poisonous.
Habitat and Care (in Captivity) Origin: Native to the mountainous El Cope region of Panama.
Terrarium: They require a tropical vivarium setup with high humidity, plenty of leaf litter, live plants, and shallow water dishes. They are poor swimmers, so water features must be very shallow to prevent drowning.
Temperature: An ideal temperature range is between 70-80°F (21-27°C).
Humidity: High humidity levels, typically between 70-100%, are necessary and can be maintained with misting systems or daily manual misting.
Diet: They are insectivores and thrive on small, live, vitamin-dusted insects in captivity, such as flightless fruit flies, springtails, and isopods.
Breeding: They are relatively easy to breed in captivity. Females lay small clutches of 4-10 eggs in a secluded, dark, and humid spot (e.g., a coco hut or under leaf litter), and the male cares for the eggs and transports the resulting tadpoles to a small body of water to complete their development.
