Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Bakhuis’ froglet

Application to Purchase Required - live animal purchases require a review of your setup. After placing your order, a Customer Care Specialist will reach out to review your husbandry and habitat. Approval for purchase is NOT guaranteed and if denied, the order may be cancelled. Upon approval, you will receive a link to set up a shipping date for your live animal. All animals ship via Fed Ex overnight.

Species Overview

Common Name: Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
Scientific Name: Phyllobates Tinctorius "Bakhuis"
Size when shipped: Juveniles dimed-sized or slightly larger; robust body type
Adult size: Around 1.25", One of the smallest localities of Tinctorius

Lineage: Parents purchased from Patrick Nabors in 2020

In-house testing/treatment:
Each frog is carefully evaluated in-house for:

• Chytrid Fungus
• Rana Virus 
• Clean fecal 
• Healthy body score

• Normal activity and behavior
  

Only animals meeting our standards are made available for purchase.

Defining Traits

• Keeper level: Confident entry level dart frog keepers and up. Larger habitat is recommended but not required.  These are one of the smallest locales of Tinctorius available in the captive hobby. 

• Temperament: Bold, active, and highly visible during the day

• Biological niche: Diurnal, terrestrial leaf-litter predator in humid lowland rainforest

• Native range: Suriname, Bakhuis mountain near Raleigh Falls. 

• Group vs. non-group:

  • Juveniles: can be raised in small, same-size groups in large, heavily planted enclosures. When they are about 0.75" they need to be separated. 

  • Adults: can be kept in pairs. Do not keep adult females together as they will fight. 

• Terrestrial vs. arboreal: Primarily terrestrial; uses leaf litter, low plants, and hardscape more than high climbs. This locale seems to really appreciate larger leaves that allow them to sit on top to oversee their entire vivarium. 

Care at a Glance

Vivarium size

• Minimum for a pair: 18 x 18 x 18 or 20 gallon high. Larger vivaria is enjoyed by this species. 

• Deep leaf litter, live plants, cork, and lots of microhabitats are strongly recommended

Temperature

• Day: 68–76°F (20–24°C)

• Night: ~65–70°F (18–21°C)

• Avoid temperatures of 80°F (27°C) or higher

Humidity

• High humidity: ~80–100% with good airflow

• Daily misting with dechlorinated or RO water

• Substrate and leaf litter should stay moist but not stagnant

Diet

• Staple feeders:

  • Flightless fruit flies. Hydei for adults

  • Bean Beetles 

  • Adults can handle pinhead crickets 

  • Isopods and other small invertebrates

• All feeders should be gut-loaded and dusted with a high-quality calcium and vitamin supplement on a regular schedule. Adults can be supplemented with Vitamin A Plus twice a month. 

Recommended Bioactive Setup 

These frogs truly shine in a mature bioactive terrarium. We recommend:

• Terra Flora substrate or ABG mix

• High-drainage tropical substrate system with a dedicated drainage layer

• Mixed leaf litter (magnolia, live oak, etc.) for security and microfauna habitat

• Clean-up crew: tropical springtails and isopods such as dwarf whites

• Dense live planting with low–mid canopy tropical plants and bromeliads

• Natural hardscape: cork flats/rounds, branches, and hides

• Quality LED lighting designed for plant growth

• Digital thermometer/hygrometer to monitor conditions

Caresheet & Resources

Full caresheet:

Click here for caresheet

IUCN conservation status:
View Dendrobates Tinctorius on the IUCN Red List

Important Policies (Please Read Before Purchasing)

Important Policies (Please Read Before Purchasing)

After purchasing, upload your habitat for approval here: 

After approval, we will email you the animal purchase contract found here

Read our Live Arrival Guarantee prior to purchasing here

Scheduling:

We care about long-term success. All live animals require a scheduled shipping date set after the approval process.  To book your shipping day, click here.