Dendrobate leucomelas’ are native to the hot, steamy rainforests, however they live on the forest floor where temperatures remain cooler and the lighting is dim.
Lighting
No special lighting is needed for dart frogs, however the tank will look better with brighter lights.
Good: CFL bulbs – widely available, but not efficient compared to output and not suitable in larger terrariums. Watch the heat output on these as well.
Better: 13 W Jungle Dawn Horizontal LEDS – Very energy efficient, low heat output, and optimal color temperature, however they can be expensive, some generic brands do not have the quality and you may need more than one on a
Best: LED Fixture -Very energy efficient, low heat output, good light penetration and adjustable color temperature, however they can be expensive and are not as commonly found.
***The Dendrobates leucomelas need a definite day/night cycle so they need to have 10-12 hour dark period.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for Dendrobates leucomelas is between 70-80 F with a drop to 67 during the night. Temperatures at 85 F or higher can stress out a frog and if it lasts for a few hours it be deadly.
Humidity
Humidity in the terrarium should be higher than 80%. By creating an appropriate terrarium, you will not have an issue maintaining this. Regular misting will also help maintain humidity levels. Most times twice a day with chlorine-free water will suffice. Never allow the tank to dry out. If you are planning on having multiple tanks you may want to invest in an automatic mister.
Ultimate Dendrobates leucomelas Care Guide:
- Introduction to care
- Morphs
- Terrarium Size
- Lighting, Temperature and Humidity Requirements (Current Page)
- Terrarium Design
- Feeding
- Breeding
- Tadpole Care
- Shopping Must Haves
- Common health Issues
- Additional Resources
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The Frog Lady 
I was wondering- do they need UV light?
There have been a number of studies which looked into this. I believe the general consensus was that as long as you are supplementing with Vitamin D3, UVB is not required. The amount of UV required for the Dendrobates leucomelas to create the Vitamin D3 is so minimal that adding any sort of bulb could cause an overdose. Repashy Calcium Plus and Rep-Cal with Vitamin D3 both include vitamin D3 so dusting daily would be my preferred method.
That’s very interesting. Thanks for the articles. I am enjoying reading your blog frogs are awesome! 🐸🐸🐸