Ultimate Dendrobates leucomelas care guide

Posted in Care Sheets, Frogs, Leucs, Species Highlight!

Dendrobates leucomelas (Bumblebee dart frog or yellow-headed poison dart frog)

Difficulty: Easy

The Dendrobates leucomelas is a brightly colored poison dart frog originally found in very humid or wet conditions in tropical rain forests located within Venezuela, Columbia, Brazil & British Guyana. Typically found on wet tree trunks, roots of rain forest trees, forest floor and on rocks. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN due to its widespread distribution and tolerance of habitat modification.

There are 4 morphs of leucomelas: banded, fine-spot, green-foot and standard.

Did you know?

  • They are used in medical research as their skin toxins are a possible source of medicine for human diseases.
  • Male and females cannot be told apart externally except by breeding behavior.
  • In the wild, their skin toxins are caused by their diet, so in captivity they will loose their skin toxins.
  • Tadpoles are cannibalistic so if two tadpoles are left alone in the same small pond of water they will eat each other.
  • Their bright coloration helps warn potential predators they are poisonous.
Photo by Jungle Jewel Exotics

The Dendrobates leucomelas is one of the largest species in this genus with an average size of 1.6″ and .10 ounces. Females will be larger than the males. In the wild, they will last 5-7 years, however in captivity they live an average of 10-15 years with the record being over 20 years old.

Ultimate Dendrobates leucomelas Care Guide:

  1. Introduction to care (Current Page)
  2. Morphs
  3. Terrarium Size
  4. Lighting, Temperature and Humidity Requirements
  5. Terrarium Design
  6. Feeding
  7. Breeding
  8. Tadpole Care
  9. Shopping Must Haves
  10. Common health Issues
  11. Additional Resources

Map of range from IUCNredlist.org

This care guide contains affiliate links, which means that thefroglady.wordpress.com gets a small commission from the Amazon products that our readers buy through us. It does not cost you any extra and the proceeds go toward keeping thefroglady.wordpress.com free. Thank you for your support!

Is this information out of date?

Thefroglady.wordpress.com’s goal is to provide credible and up to date information for amphibian keepers of all stages.  We try our best to keep up with recommended care as it is released but sometimes we miss some items.  If you have found something that is out of date, please contact us here so we can fix it.  Thanks!