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AmphibianTerrestrialIntermediate
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Splash-backed Poison Frog (Yellow)
Adelphobates galactonotus "Yellow"
The 'Yellow' morph of the Splash-backed Poison Frog features a striking, solid lemon-yellow patch over its back, a bright color variant highly popular in the terrarium hobby.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Dendrobatidae
Subfamily:Dendrobatinae
Genus:Adelphobates
Species:Adelphobates galactonotus "Yellow"
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 100 %
Day temperature
20 - 26 °C
Night temperature
18 - 21 °C
UVB
None - Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Distributed across the primary rainforests of the southern Amazon basin in Brazil, specifically within the Tapajós and Pará river basins. This species is strictly terrestrial, inhabiting the damp, shaded leaf litter of the forest floor, seeking shelter under fallen leaves, rotting logs, and coconut shells near slow-flowing streams.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A member of the Dendrobatidae family. The 'Yellow' morph is characterized by a bright, solid lemon-yellow color patch over its back, contrasting sharply with the deep black of the rest of its body. It reaches a length of up to 4 cm.
Behavior and Habits: Terrestrial and diurnal. These frogs walk slowly along the forest floor and are relatively bold, spending much of their time in the open. Males emit a faint buzzing call to attract females during the breeding season.
Morphology: Females are typically larger, rounder, and heavier than males when mature. Males are slightly smaller, more slender, and possess functional vocal sacs used in courtship.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Best kept in a spacious, vertically short terrarium (e.g. 60x45x45 cm) for a small group. Use a thick layer of drainage substrate (such as clay balls) covered by leaf litter (oak or ketapang leaves) to provide hiding spots. Include pieces of cork bark and mosses, avoiding tall climbing branches as they are primarily terrestrial.
Lighting and Heating: Requires a warm tropical climate, with daytime temperatures between 24 and 26°C. Temperatures should not exceed 28°C, as overheating is fatal. A slight drop to 21°C at night is beneficial. Provide low-intensity UVB lighting (typically 5%) to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels between 80% and 90% through regular misting with purified water. Proper ventilation is critical to prevent stagnant air and bacterial infections such as red leg syndrome. A shallow water bowl or damp moss area should always be available.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly insectivorous, feeding on small live prey such as fruit flies (Drosophila hydei and melanogaster), springtails, and micro-crickets. Food must be dusted with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements three times a week to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Compatibility: A peaceful species that can be housed in small groups or harems (e.g. two males and four females in a suitable setup). They do not display the intense territorial aggression seen in some other dendrobatids. Avoid mixing with other species or genera to prevent cross-contamination.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to skin toxins and chemicals. Handling should be avoided, as oils and soap residues on human hands can cause fatal irritation or stress. Common health issues include bacterial infections from poor sanitation and dehydration from inadequate misting.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Distributed across the primary rainforests of the southern Amazon basin in Brazil, specifically within the Tapajós and Pará river basins. This species is strictly terrestrial, inhabiting the damp, shaded leaf litter of the forest floor, seeking shelter under fallen leaves, rotting logs, and coconut shells near slow-flowing streams.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsAmazon, Orinoco, and Guianas
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 4.05 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 4.05 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 4.05 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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