Golden or Orange Mantella Frog (Mantella aurantiaca)

Golden or Orange Mantella Frog (Mantella aurantiaca)

By Devin Edmonds

Introduction: Golden mantellas are small frogs native to the island of Madagascar. There are only about three small locations on the island where they are found, and they are growing increasingly rare due to habitat destruction. At one time they were the most common species of mantella frog in the pet trade even though they are one of the rarest in the wild. Luckily, more people are having success breeding these frogs and it isn't difficult to locate captive-bred golden mantellas for sale today.

Adult female golden mantellas will grow to a little over 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length, while males are slightly smaller and have a more slender body structure. Male frogs will also call. The call is a quick chirp chirp, very similar to the sound of an adult brown cricket. They range in color from solid bright orange to solid deep red. They are brightly colored to warn predators that they are poisonous, but fortunately captive-bred golden mantellas are not.

Cage: Although golden mantella frogs are small animals, they do best when provided with plenty of room. Males are very territorial and will often fight over potential breeding sites and feeding areas. When they are kept in groups the keeper will get to observe this behavior as well as increase the possibility that the frogs will breed. For a group of six adult frogs, a 20 gallon long aquarium that measures 30 inches long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches high (76cm by 30cm by 30cm) would be large enough provided that there are plenty of visual barriers and hiding spots for each frog.

Golden mantella frogs can be kept in both living terrariums as well is simple hygienic setups. I prefer living terrariums because they are more visually appealing than simple setups. To learn how to create a terrarium that is suitable for golden mantella frogs please see the article I wrote about tropical terrariums.

A simple setup will also work well as long as regular cage cleaning is done. A substrate of moist paper towels or foam rubber works very well for simple enclosures. Clippings of live pothos or fake plants can be scattered around the cage for hiding areas along with curved pieces of cork bark, clumps of moist moss, rocks, pieces of driftwood, and crumpled up moist paper towels. Simple setups are great for quarantining new wild-caught frogs and can be very practical for long term housing as well provided that they are cleaned regularly.

In either of the two types of setups there are a few main things that are needed for golden mantella frogs to live well in captivity. The substrate needs to hold moisture and shouldn't stick to the frogs. Gravel and reptile carpeting are two substrates that should not be used. There should be multiple hiding spots and ground cover so that the frogs feel secure. There should be as many hiding spots as there are frogs in the cage, or at least enough visual barriers to let the frogs get out of view from one another. The cage should also have a very secure cover because golden mantella frogs will escape through any hole or gap that they can fit into.

Temperature & Humidity: Golden mantella frogs are sensitive to temperature. They need a moist, cool spot in the cage that will never rise above 78F (26C). It's best if the whole cage can be kept between 68F (20C) and 74F (23C) during the day with drop to around 65F (18C) at night. High temperatures are not tolerated well, and most frogs will have heat-related muscle spasms that lead to death when exposed to temperatures above 80F (27C) for extended periods of time. They tolerate cool conditions well and do fine if temperatures occasionally fall to as low as 58F (14C).

There are a number of things that can be done to keep the temperature inside the cage cool. The best, and easiest way to control the temperature of the cage, is to keep the terrarium in a cool room such as a basement or air conditioned living room. A small (12v or under) computer CPU fan can be placed above an area of ventilation to increase air circulation and prevent the temperature inside the terrarium from rising much above room temperature. This can be put on a timer so that it goes on during the hottest time of the day, or it can just be turned on when the weather is hot. Spraying the terrarium with water normally brings the temperature down a few degrees, as does placing ice packs or ice cubes above the cage over a ventilated area. Light fixtures often produce reasonable amounts of heat and can be turned off during warm days.

Golden mantellas do best when the humidity in the terrarium is kept high. They will desiccate quickly if the terrarium dries out, and are often very shy when the humidity is kept low. The humidity level inside of the cage should stay between 70% and 100% during most of the year. To achieve this, restrict ventilation and mist the cage regularly. Moving water features, such as drip walls and waterfalls, can also be used to help increase humidity. See Waterfalls and Drip Walls for more information about creating a water feature.

Water: A shallow water dish or area of clean water should be provided throughout most of the year. Golden mantella frogs are not talented swimmers and can drown in deep water if there is not an easy way to get out. If tap water is used, make sure to treat it with tap water conditioner to remove chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals. Bottled spring water can be used instead of tap water.

Food: Golden mantella frogs are able to eat large insects compared to many other similarly sized amphibians. Most will eagerly chase any insect that is 1/4 inch (6mm) in length or less. Three day old crickets and flightless fruit flies can make up the majority of their diet.Other food items that can be offered include aphids, springtails, rice flower beetle larvae, small wax worms, and termites.