Defining Characteristics:

• Intermediate thumbnail
• Bright yellow lines
• Can be shy
• Easy to breed
• Quiet call
• Small
• Great in pairs or groups

Name: Ranitomeya flavovittata. Formerly known as Dendrobates flavovittata, this frog does not currently have a common name!

Recommended Vivarium Size: A 10 gallon aquarium is suitable for 2-3 Ranitomeya flavovittata, but Josh's Frogs recommends a 20H or 18x18x18 Vivarium for 1-3 frogs. Not sure how to set up a vivarium? Please watch our video on How to Set Up a Vivarium.

Temperature: They can tolerate a temperature range of 65 F to 80 F, but prefer temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Temperatures over 85F are dangerous.

Humidity: Like most poison dart frogs, Ranitomeya flavovittata prefer a humidity range of 80 – 100%, but can tolerate humidity down to 50% for short periods of time if the frogs have access to water. Low humidity levels, especially without access to water, can quickly be fatal.

Size: Adult female and male R. flavovittata are similar in length, usually measuring under between 15-17mm (~5/8"). All of the Ranitomeya vanzolinii froglets Josh's Frogs sells are well started juveniles, and measure approximately 1/2” long.

Age: Ranitomeya flavovittata is capable of living well over 10 years in captivity under ideal conditions, although a lifespan of 5-8 years is more common. All thumbnails for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are 2-3 months old.

Feeding: Like most poison dart frogs, vanzoliniis prefer smaller foods. All of the thumbnail dart frogs sold by Josh's Frogs will readily eat Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. Adult Ranitomeya flavovittata will readily consume Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies and pinhead crickets. All ages of poison dart frogs will enjoy springtails and newly hatched isopods. All feeder insects should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement (excluding microfauna in the enclosure already). For more information on what poison dart frogs can eat, please visit our How-To Guide on Feeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Sexing: Ranitomeya flavovittata are fairly easy to sex as adults. Females are much wider than males, as they lay eggs frequently. Josh's Frogs sells 2-3 month old juveniles that are not sexable unless otherwise noted. For more information on sexing poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Sexing Poison Dart Frogs.

Color/Pattern: Flavos are fairly consistent in coloration and can have some variation in pattern. Exhibiting yellow lines and occasionally some spotting on a black background, they also have anywhere from a light blue to brown leg coloration. Josh's Frogs does not recommend, support, or endorse line breeding as we believe this leads to weaker captive animals and nature has done a wonderful job of creating an amazing variation in color and pattern of poison dart frogs already.

Social Behavior: These frogs do well housed in groups their entire life as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends approximately 5 gallons per frog. As they reach sexual maturity at 5-8 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of flavovittata  dart frogs may change and females may eat each other's eggs, although most will even breed together in the same film canister! Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of dart frogs - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing! Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair.

Breeding: Flavos are not typically difficult frogs to breed. Best bred in pairs, males call to attract a female to a suitable egg laying site. Then, 2-6 eggs are laid on a smooth surface (often in a film canister or a bromeliad). The eggs hatch into tadpoles, which then take 60-80 days to complete metamorphosis into miniature versions of the adults. Tadpoles will feed on dead fruit flies, the standard frog and tadpole bites/sera micron fare, and even unfertilized eggs if left in with the adults! For more information on breeding and raising poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Breeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Natural Range: Ranitomeya flavovittata hails from Peru.

History in the Hobby: R. flavovittata is in the vanzolinii genetic group but is less common than R. vanzolinii in the private hobby.

Links of Interest: 
Ranitomeya.com

Amphibiaweb - There is location data in this species entry.

Dendrowiki - good write up with pictures

Still not sure if Ranitomeya vanzolinii from Josh's Frogs are the right poison dart frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!