Description
Other Names (How it Got Its Names)
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The name “Pena Blanca” comes from the locality or color pattern associated with this variant — “Pena Blanca” is Spanish for “white rock/white cliff”, and hobbyists use this to distinguish this particular pattern (often lighter or contrasting white/brown markings) from other D. auratus locales.
Characteristics
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Striking coloration patterns
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Small and active
Recommended Vivarium Size
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Minimum: 18” x 18” x 18” for a pair or trio.
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Larger enclosures (24” x 18” x 18” or bigger) recommended for groups.
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Provide dense live plants, leaf litter, cork, and horizontal/vertical climbing areas.
Temperature
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Daytime: 72–78°F (22–25°C).
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Nighttime: 68–72°F (20–22°C).
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Avoid prolonged temps above 80°F.
Humidity
Size of Frog
Life Span
Feeding
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Diet: Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei fruit flies, springtails, isopods, and pinhead crickets.
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Feed daily; dust feeders with calcium and vitamins 2–3 times per week.
Color/Pattern
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A typically white-and-dark poison dart frog, Dendrobates auratus “Pena Blanca” is highly variable in appearance. Patterns of black or brown to bronze contrast strikingly against a bright white or cream background.
Social Behavior
How to Determine Sex
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Males: smaller, slimmer, with toe pads adapted for calling; produce soft trilling calls.
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Females: larger, rounder-bodied when gravid.
How to Breed
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Provide petri dishes, film canisters, or leaf axils for egg-laying.
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Males call to attract females; eggs are laid in concealed, moist areas.
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Eggs hatch in 10–14 days; tadpoles can be collected and raised in aquatic setups.
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Metamorphosis occurs in 2–3 months depending on diet and conditions.
🌿 D. auratus “
