Description

Highland Bronze Dendrobates auratus – Captive-Bred Juveniles

Captive-bred juvenile Highland Bronze Dendrobates auratus, showing the metallic bronze and darker patterning characteristic of this line.

Experience level

We previously described this species as “hardy”, “forgiving” and beginner-friendly. Those terms can understate the consequences of poor amphibian husbandry. D. auratus can be very rewarding captives, but still require reliable live food, supplementation, suitable temperature, ventilation and moisture management.

Social housing

Some D. auratus are maintained successfully in compatible groups, but group housing is not guaranteed to remain stable as juveniles mature. Provide visual barriers, multiple feeding/refuge areas and a separate suitable enclosure if aggression or exclusion develops.

Environment

Provide a planted enclosure with substantial leaf litter, cover, useful ventilation and access to wetter and drier microhabitats. Do not maintain a permanently saturated enclosure simply because the species comes from humid habitats.

Feeding

Offer appropriately sized live prey and an evidence-informed supplementation programme. Springtails in the enclosure can provide additional tiny prey but do not replace deliberate feeding.

Evidence & further reading

• St Claire et al. – husbandry and care of dendrobatid frogs
• Rojas & Pašukonis – social and aggressive behaviour in Dendrobates tinctorius