The Dendrobates auratus "Green and White" is a specific color morph of the green and black poison dart frog, originating from Panama and generally associated with the "Bronze" locality lineage. The name refers to its striking combination of colors.
Characteristics
Coloration: The body exhibits a primary white or cream base color, covered with a beautiful, vibrant green reticulated (net-like) pattern. The contrast between the bright green and the white or cream background creates a visually appealing appearance that photos often don't do justice.
Size: This is a medium-sized Dendrobates auratus morph, with adults typically reaching up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) or slightly larger in length. Females tend to be slightly larger than males.
Behavior: It is generally considered a moderately shy species, though individuals often become bolder and more active with age and consistent routine in a captive setting. They are diurnal and primarily terrestrial, foraging in the leaf litter, but they are also good climbers and will utilize vertical elements in their environment. They do well in groups if given ample space and numerous hiding spots to mitigate potential female-to-female aggression.
Toxicity: In the wild, they are toxic, acquiring their defensive alkaloids from a specialized diet of specific ants and insects. Captive-bred frogs, lacking this specific diet (typically fed fruit flies), are not poisonous.
Habitat and Care (in Captivity)
Origin: The morph is Panamanian, and is considered to have descended from the "Bronze" locality line in the hobby.
Terrarium: They require a tropical vivarium setup with high humidity, plenty of leaf litter, live plants, and numerous hiding spots (e.g., coco huts, flat leaves). A general guideline is 1 square foot of space per frog. Temperature: The ideal temperature range is 70-80°F (21-27°C) during the day.
Humidity: High humidity levels, ranging from 40-70% (but can be higher at times), 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 (Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei), springtails, and isopods.
Breeding: They are considered relatively easy to breed in captivity. Females lay small clutches of 4-10 eggs in a secluded spot, and the male cares for the eggs and transports the resulting tadpoles to a small body of water to complete their development. If left alone, the tadpoles may be cannibalistic, so some keepers pull the eggs to raise them separately.
