Description
Other Names (How it Got Its Names)
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Common names: Alalapadu Cobalt Dart Frog, Cobalt Tinctorius.
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Tinctorius = “dyer’s frog,” from early indigenous use in dyes/poisons.
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Named after the Alalapadu region in Suriname where this striking cobalt-blue morph originates.
Characteristics
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Large, bold dart frog with intense coloration.
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Hardy and popular in the dart frog hobby.
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More terrestrial than arboreal, often found on the forest floor among leaf litter.
Recommended Vivarium Size
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Minimum: 18” x 18” x 18” for a pair.
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Larger enclosures (24” x 18” x 18” or bigger) recommended for trios or groups.
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Provide plenty of leaf litter, cork bark hides, and low plants for cover.
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 temps above 80°F for long periods.
Humidity
Size of Frog
Life Span
Feeding
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Diet: fruit flies (D. melanogaster and D. hydei), pinhead crickets, springtails, and isopods.
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Feed daily; dust prey with calcium and vitamins several times per week.
Color/Pattern
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Jet-black base body with cobalt-blue limbs and sides.
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Back pattern usually shows yellow or golden markings across the head and dorsum.
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Blue legs often feature black reticulations (net-like patterns).
Social Behavior
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Can be housed in pairs or trios, but males may become territorial in smaller setups.
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Bolder and more visible than some auratus or leucomelas morphs.
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Males vocalize with soft buzzing calls.
How to Determine Sex
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Males: smaller, slimmer, with more pronounced toe pads; call to attract females.
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Females: larger, rounder-bodied when gravid.
How to Breed
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Provide film canisters, petri dishes, or broad leaves for egg deposition.
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Males court females with soft calls; eggs are laid in concealed, moist spots.
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Eggs hatch in ~10–14 days; tadpoles should be collected and raised in aquatic setups.
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Metamorphosis occurs in ~2–3 months depending on diet and conditions.
🌟 D. tinctorius “Alalapadu Cobalt” is admired for its electric cobalt-blue legs paired with golden-yellow dorsal markings, making it one of the most eye-catching tinctorius morphs available.
