Mantellas Laevigata

Green & Black Mantellas
	Quantity in Basket: none Code: GBR Price: $39.99 Shipping Weight: 1.00 pounds Currently sold out of 'Green & Black Mantellas'.
Species: (Mantella Laevigata) Origin: Madagascar Size and Longevity: These frogs are a beautiful animal for a vivarium! They are some of the brightest, most colorful frogs in the entire pet trade. This frog is diurnal which means unlike most frogs it is active in the daytime. This is a very small frog only reaching a size of 1.1 to 2 inches in length. They have very bright colors to keep from being eaten by predators; usually toxic animals have bright colors so by displaying their bright colors to predators they trick the predator into thinking they are poisonous this is called protective mimicry. If you’re setting up a tropical vivarium then this frog is a must have! After you’ve added this frog to your vivarium you will think you’re taking a walk through the rain forest every time you look at it! This species of mantella is rare due to the fact that it is highly arboreal, meaning it loves to climb, and even has toe pads which is rare for mantella frogs. This feature has earned it the nickname the climbing frog. They have bright colors and their heads and backs are usually green or yellow and their sides and legs are black. These frogs have been reported to live up to 10 to 12 years with proper care. Habitat and Caging Requirements: This species is only found in the rain forest of Madagascar and goes very well in a tropical-type vivarium setup with lots of plants and moss. Some people even add foggers, these can be bought online and in some pet shops, to create a realistic fog that truly adds to that rain forest look. You can decorate the tank with lots of wood, plants, and rocks. They seem to do well in a semi-tropical setup, with a water bowl big enough to climb in. Make sure that there is no opening in the top big enough for the frog to climb through because these frogs will climb the side of the tank and escape. Remember if there is a hole big enough for the frogs head to fit through then it can escape. These frogs do not have webbed feet as they are more arboreal meaning they like to climb but do not care much for swimming. Keep the tank moist at all times. Filtration of the tank is the owner's choice because it is not a necessity if you change the water every 2 to 3 days. If you don't want to do this I would suggest using an under-gravel filtration system. If you do use a filtration system there is one rule of thumb you need to follow: when using a pump for your filtration system, think small! If you use a large pump it could put your pet frog in danger because over-filtration will filter out the microscopic microorganisms that keep the acid content of the water under control and could allow the PH acid content of the water to rise to unsafe levels for your pet. This is a good rule of thumb to follow for all amphibians whether they are frogs, newts, or salamanders: Do not over-filtrate and you will have a healthy pet for a long time to come. Temperature and Lighting Requirements: You want to use low wattage bulbs for the best results and to avoid overheating your pet. A daytime temperature of 72 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for these animals during the day and you can lower the temperature at night to around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Feeding and Nutrition: These frogs are insectivores like most other frogs and seem to do well on crickets, fruit flies, and mealworms. If you are going to feed your Mantella crickets you may want to dust them with a calcium supplement first. Handling And Care: I know these little guys are so cute that you’re going to want to handle them all the time right? However, when you first get them it is a good idea to put them in their new home and mostly enjoy watching them as they get use to their new home. Feed them well for at least a couple of days. This is a really good idea for any new pet that you get. Then gradually start to handle them from time to time. This is called acclimatizing your animal, which cuts down stress, which in turn makes your pet happier and healthier. Sexing Your Animal: Like most frogs the Mantellas cannot be gender-determined until they are mature. Mature females are larger than their male counterparts. Written By: Howard Stinson