This species has undergone a number of taxonomic revisions over the past couple of decades, after this was written. The common shorthand of 'vents' will be used sporadically throughout this document.

Dendrobates ventrimaculatus > Ranitomeya ventrimaculatus > Ranitomeya amazonica

Ranitomeya amazonica are a species of thumbnail poison dart frog. Known for their small size and exceptional ability to raise their own tadpoles with feeder eggs, vents make a small, beautiful, and interesting addition to any dart frog collection.

Trade Name(s): Ranitomeya amazonica are commonly known as 'vents' in the hobby. An older common name is the Amazonian Dart Frog.

Family & Scientific Name: Genus: Ranitomeya. The most recent taxonomic revisions redefine them as Ranitomeya amazonica. Formerly Ranitomeya ventrimaculata, and prior to that revision, they were defined as Dendrobates ventrimaculatus.

Range & Origin: Ranitomeya amazonica are found throughout the Amazonian drainage basin, including Peru, French Guiana, Brazil, and Ecuador. 

Adult Size: Adult female Ranitomeya amazonica are typically about 3/4 of an inch long, with males slightly smaller. Being "thumbnail" dart frogs, they remain relatively small.

Life Span: Captive life span of Ranitomeya amazonica is estimated to be 5-10 years, with individual instances of vents living over 10 years reported.

Enclosure: Generally, poison dart frogs are kept in naturalistic vivaria with live plants and little to no ventilation. Ranitomeya amazonica hails from humid tropical rainforests, so replicating that habitat in captivity is ideal. Provide 10 gallons or more of space per frog when adult.

Ranitomeya amazonica utilizes bromeliads in order to breed, and a variety of these plants should be provided. Live plants should be used, and actually help to keep the environment clean.

Substrate: With naturalistic vivaria, substrate typically consists of a 2 inch base layer of Hydroton, followed by substrate barrier, then a well-draining substrate such as Josh's Frogs Dart Frog BioBedding or ABG mix in a 2 inch layer. On top of this, long fiber sphagnum is placed in a thin layer, followed by a hearty coating of leaf litter.

The substrate can be seeded with various species of microfauna, including springtails and isopods, which are cultured and sold specifically for such applications.

Temperature (°F): For the most part, Ranitomeya amazonica need to be kept above 60°F and below 80°, with an ideal temperature in the mid to low 70s. Although they can tolerate brief cold spells, poison dart frogs are very sensitive to heat. Monitoring temperature is very important—we recommend using a digital thermometer.

Social Structure: Ranitomeya amazonica does fine in pairs or groups. If they are allowed to breed within the tank and the offspring are not removed, the population will eventually reach a certain density, then all breeding activity will stop. Ranitomeya amazonica is very non-aggressive.

Diet: Like most poison dart frogs, Ranitomeya amazonica prefer smaller foods less than 1/8 of an inch long. Wingless or flightless fruit flies are an ideal staple food, as they are easy and inexpensive to culture, and available from several online and brick-and-mortar stores.

Other common prey items include pinhead or 1/8 inch crickets, bean beetles, springtails, dwarf white isopods, aphids, rice flour beetles, lesser wax moth larvae, and phoenix worms. It is important to dust each prey item with a vitamin/mineral supplement.

Cleaning: If housed in a naturalistic vivarium, cleaning is kept to a minimum. As long as water does not saturate the BioBedding or ABG(it will smell like rotten eggs if it does), the substrate needs to be replaced only every 3-5 years. New leaf litter should be added every 6 months or so, as the old leaves break down. 

Plants will need to be trimmed to keep them from outgrowing the vivarium, and the front glass can be wiped down with a paper towel to remove any algae or debris that collects there. All of the inside surfaces of the vivarium (i.e. plant leaves, wood, glass) should be sprayed down with a hand mister once to twice a month.  

Handling: Dart frogs should not be handled except when they are being moved into or out of a vivarium. They are harmless and non toxic in captivity, but household chemicals and oils on your skin can easily harm them.  

Conclusion: Ranitomeya amazonica is a small but beautiful thumbnail dart frog, hailing from the jungles of the Amazonian Basin. They can be prolific breeders, do well in pairs or groups, and have a soft, buzzing call. Ranitomeya amazonica is an excellent addition to any dart frog collection.