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Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog

Dendrobates auratus

IntermediateFamily Dendrobatidae

A hardy, active dart frog and one of the best first choices.

✅ We have a full, fact-checked care sheet for the Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog.

Open the Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog care sheet →

📋 At a glance

Tank
Bioactive 18×18×18 in (1–3 frogs), ~10 gal each
Temp
72–80°F, prefers low-mid 70s · over ~85°F is deadly
Humidity
70–100% · never sustained below 50%
Food
Flightless fruit flies (staple) + springtails, supplement-dusted
Lifespan
10–20+ years

✅ Captive-bred dart frogs are NOT toxic — and this species is among the most forgiving.

🛒 Before you buy

  • Planted bioactive vivarium with a drainage layer + leaf litter
  • Springtails & isopods (cleanup crew), a mister + hygrometer
  • A live fruit-fly culture going BEFORE the frogs arrive
  • Calcium/vitamin supplement — the setup costs more than the frog

A healthy one: Plump and active by day · clear eyes · good weight · CAPTIVE-BRED (never wild-caught).

🚨 See a vet / act now if…

  • Lethargy or hiding all day
  • Weight loss / thin legs, or not eating
  • Constant toe-tapping, or dark, clamped skin
  • Wobbling or seizures (often a calcium/vitamin issue)

⛔ Never

  • Wild-caught frogs
  • Humidity crashing below 50%
  • Heat above ~85°F

Common green-and-black poison dart frog questions

How hard are Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs to keep — are they good for beginners?

Intermediate. One of the hardiest, most active dart frogs — an excellent first choice.

What do Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs eat?

Flightless fruit flies (staple) + springtails, supplement-dusted

What size tank do Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs need?

Bioactive 18×18×18 in (1–3 frogs), ~10 gal each

What temperature do Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs need?

72–80°F, prefers low-mid 70s · over ~85°F is deadly

What humidity do Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs need?

70–100% · never sustained below 50%

How long do Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs live?

10–20+ years

What are the signs Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs are sick?

See an exotics vet if you notice: Lethargy or hiding all day; Weight loss / thin legs, or not eating; Constant toe-tapping, or dark, clamped skin; Wobbling or seizures (often a calcium/vitamin issue).

Free tools for the green-and-black poison dart frog

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