Last update 01/03/99
What Name Means: (leuco G = white / melas
G = black)
Common Names: Yellow and Black dart frog, Yellow banded dart
frog, or Bumble Bee dart frog.
Size: Average 1.5 inches ( 40 mm)
Average size of female: __ inches (__ mm)
Average size of male: ___ inches (mm)
How to identify sexes: Females tend to be larger and fatter.
Adult males have vocal sacs.
Description: A black frog with yellow or yellow orange bands
with black spots in the bands. The stomach is black and there is
a greenish tint to the toes. Young have less spotting and mottling
but will develop the patterns as they mature. Breeders have reported
seeing color variations in offspring from same parents. There is
a spotted morph which has small black spots on yellow. This morph
is seldom seen at this time in the trade.
Call: A pleasant "birdlike" trill lasting 10 to 15 seconds
which can easily heard throughout the room. Click
to hear call.
Age of mature: 12 - 18 months
Biotype and Distribution
Distribution: Venezuela Guyana-plateau south of the Orinoco-river
Brasil near the Rio Soco, Ilha maraca and Tepequem Tepui.
The western border of their habitat is in the southeast of Colombia
(from Quintijn Jansson web page http://www1.tip.nl/~t272198/index.htm)
Biotype: Leaf litter. Elevations up to 2500 ft (760m)
Population density: __________
Relative humidity during dry season: ___ %
Rainy season: ________
Are frogs sitting in sunlight:_________
When is their active time:___________
What kinds of food:_______________
Recommended dimension: 10 gall aquariums on up.
Temperature Range: 75° - 86° F (24° - 30° C)
Adult population density: I have 5 - 7 animals in a setup
that is 4 ft. long 2 ft. tall and 1.5 ft. wide.
Terrarium landscaping: Give the frogs some areas of heavy
plant cover to hide in when they feel threatened and some open areas for
them to hunt in.
Parts of the vivarium occupied: Dendrobates leucomelas
love to climb and will often sleep in higher portions of the vivarium and
will hunt on lower open areas. For this reason, provide plants, driftwood,
and a background that the frogs can climb.
Life span in terrarium: up to 11 years
Behavior - outgoing or reclusive: Very active during
the day and at feeding time; will often start to hide an hour or 2 before
Eggs/clutch size: 4 to 10.
Where are eggs placed: Under hut and on leaves of plants
Sensitive to light: No
Development time for egg to tadpole: 14 to 18 days
Care of eggs: Keep eggs in a shallow container with water
surrounding the egg but do not submersing them.
Development time for tadpoles to froglet: approx. 60 days
Food for tadpoles: Flake fish food, spirulina, & chlorella
Care of tadpoles: Keep singly but tads of the same clutch
may be kept together
Are F1 offspring different from wild caught parents: No
Other sites with photos and information: