How to Select Your Dart Frog

Choose a Tank or Choose a Frog First

If you already have a tank, then you'll need to select your frogs based upon this tank. If you're set on a certain species of frog or number of frogs for a tank, then you'll need to be prepared to buy an appropriate tank.

Matching Dart Frogs to Your Tank

Generally, dart frogs will need about 10 gallons of space per frog, but this varies depending on the species, orientation of the tank, and how densely planted your tank is. A more densely planted tank can comfortably house more frogs as they will have more surface area, more visual barriers, and more hiding places. Always watch your frogs carefully for signs of aggression. Follow this guide for a mid to well planted tank:

10 Gallon: 1-2 frogs

20 Gallon: 1-3 Tinctorius/1-2 pumilio/1-3 Ranitomeya/1-4 of any other type

40 Gallon: 1-4 Tinctorius/1-4 Pumilio/1-5 Ranitomeya/1-5 of any other frogs

90 Gallon +: 1-4 Tinctorius/1-4 pumilio/1-6 other Thumbnails/1-6 auratus/1-10 phyllobates/1-10 adelphobates/1-15 epipedobates/1-10 Leucamelas

18x18x18: See 20 gallon

18x18x24: See 20 gallon

12x12x18: 0 Tinctorius/0 Auratus/0 Leucamela/1-2 Epipedobates/1-2 Pumilio/1-3 Ranitomeya

Matching a Tank to Your Frogs

It's very important to pick an appropriate tank for your frogs. Terrestrial frogs will need more floor space while more arboreal frogs will need more height and things to climb on.

Terrestrial Dart Frogs:

Tinctorius

Auratus

Adelphobates

Phyllobates

Epipedobates

Amereega

Large Oophaga

Arboreal:

Ranitomeya

Pumilio

It's also important to pick a tank based upon how territorial your frogs are. Tinctorius are the most territorial followed by Pumilio. No more than 4 should ever be housed together no matter the size of vivarium. Often times you will need to separate Tinctorius into pairs when adults due to aggression. All should be very closely matched so far as size and weight and introduced at the same time to the tank. Auratus are less territorial but generally do best in groups of 2-4. Ranitomeya can be somewhat territorial and generally do best in trios or groups of 5 at most. Adelphobates and phyllobates are very peaceful and territorial disputes are not common, allowing you to easily keep a group of 4-5. Leucamelas and epipedobates are the most peaceful of dart frogs and can easily be kept in groups of 4-10 or more as long as enough space is provided.

How Bold of a Frog Would You Like?

Some frogs are very bold and you'll see them at every feeding. Others are somewhat shy and will come out occasionally. Others are extremely shy and will only be visible seemingly once or twice a month. The better planted your tank, the more bold your frogs will be, but this is a general guide:

Tinctorius: Extremely Bold

Auratus: Somewhat Bold to very shy.

Amereega: Generally shy

Phyllobates: Very Bold (Terribilis) to somewhat shy (Vittatus/Truncatus)

Epipedobates: Bold to somewhat shy

Adelphobates: Bold

Leucamela:Very bold

Pumilio: Somewhat bold to shy

Ranitomeya: Bold to very shy

How Big of a Frog Would You Like

Dart frogs come in all sizes, but it's important to know how big your frog will grow to be. Tinctorius are some of the largest frogs while Ranitomeya and Pumilio are some of the smallest. Auratus, Adelphobates, and Leucamelas are somewhat smaller than Tinctorius, followed by Epipedobates, then pumilio and ranitomeya. Phyllobates range from the large Terribilis, which rivals Tinctorius, to the much smaller truncatus which are just a bit bigger than epipedobates.