Dendrobates Tinctorius (Vanessa) Care Guide

Housing Requirements

• Terrarium Size: Minimum 18 × 18 × 18 in (Exo Terra or larger) for a pair. Cover portions—or all—of the screen top as needed to maintain humidity.
• Temperature: 72–77 °F (22–26 °C) during the day, 67–72 °F (20–22 °C) at night.
• Humidity: 80-100% relative humidity
• Lighting: Use an LED plant light with a 12-hour day/night cycle. Avoid UVB lighting, as vitamin A supplementation is preferred.
• Tankmates: Only one female should be housed per enclosure—females are territorial and may harass or kill others. Multiple males can sometimes coexist, but if wrestling occurs, remove one immediately.

Substrate & Environment

• Use an ABG mix (Atlanta Botanical Garden mix) or a similar well-draining substrate, along with a drainage layer about half the depth of the terrarium’s base.
• Incorporate live plants, which are essential for natural humidity regulation and environmental enrichment.
• Provide multiple hides and climbing structures—contrary to intuition, the more hiding options they have, the more frequently you’ll see them.
• Mist dechlorinated or RO water several times daily to maintain humidity; an automated system like MistKing is ideal.

Diet & Feeding

• Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei) should make up the staple diet. Feed juveniles 5–7 times weekly and adults 3–4 times weekly, following a consistent vitamin schedule.
• Offer springtails to freshly morphed froglets.
• Pinhead crickets make an excellent occasional treat for adults.
• Dust all food items with calcium and vitamin supplements at every feeding. Breeding adults should receive a vitamin A supplement 1–2 times per month.

Breeding

• Frogs reach maturity at 12–18 months.
• When environmental conditions are correct, Tincs often breed readily. A coconut hut with a petri dish makes an ideal egg-laying site, though pairs may also deposit eggs on damp leaves or inside bromeliads.
• Tadpoles should be reared individually in 32 oz cups of RO water with tadpole tea, performing waste removal and water changes twice per week using a turkey baster.

Special Notes

• Highly sensitive to chemicals and chlorine—avoid all contaminants
• Handling causes stress; minimize handling and only do so when absolutely necessary.
• Quarantine all new arrivals for at least 30 days before introduction.