FEATURE MANTELLAS The golden mantella is now | widely available, being commonly bred in vivarium surroundings. Photo © 2013 Joshua Ralph. be harmful, both for the frogs as well as their invertebrate prey too. Be sure to discard any soil on such plants, before setting them in the vivarium, and wash off the leaves and stems as well, in a clean bowl of tepid water. As a substrate for the mantella enclosure, ordinary coir compost that can While dart frogs may grab the be purchased in brick form can be used in headlines, there is another similar, combination with sterilised leaf litter. Live mosses such as Kyoto bonsai moss or very colourful and interesting Java moss (Vesicularia dubyana) group of small amphibians to be should also be provided, to provide a constant source of found halfway around the world. both moisture and hiding Baron’s painted mantella, places for the frogs. Joshua Ralph discusses mantellas photographed near and their care. Antoetra. Mantellas all tend to have relatively Feeding restricted ranges. Mantellas are Source: PD. insectivorous in their feeding habits, and require a similar diet to Introducing the beautiful diurnal - active during the day – as well as dominant, and bullying that given to poison surprisingly bold, which enhances their others, as can happen in dart frogs. They are fairly appeal as vivarium subjects. Behaviour- more restricted undemanding in terms of wise, these frogs are fascinating to watch surroundings. what they will eat, with and none more so than the climbing Many keepers tend to variety being recommended mantella – an arboreal species. Described house their mantellas in in any event – the main Mantellas by zoologists Paul Ayshford Methuen and enclosures containing live plants, requirement is that their food John Hewitt in 1913, it displays many and these can look stunning, with needs to be small enough to be similarities to the strawberry poison dart suitable lighting, both for the frogs and to  Mantellas thrive in swallowed easily. mantellas Mantellas were then transferred to their frog (Oophaga pumilio) found in Central ensure good plant growth. A 2.0% or 5.0% planted vivariums. A A useful staple food will be flightless own genus in 1882 by the Belgian-born America. UV strip bulb should be incorporated into beautiful mantella is fruitflies (Drosophila) of various types, shown here. ying off the eastern coast of predators resembled that of the zoologist George Albert Boulenger, and in As their common name suggests, these their quarters therefore, with a day/night which can be purchased easily, by mail mainland Africa is a relatively small neotropical poison dart frogs. total, there are now approximately 16 particular mantellas are considerably more light cycle also being set up, on a timer if order, although if you want to reduce your island, which has received a lot of This particular characteristic is known to differentMantella species currently inclined to clamber off the ground than necessary. feeding costs, you can culture your own publicity over recent years, thanks to zoologists as aposematism, which comes recognised. They are set out below, now their relatives, often being found in Please do not use live plants that are supplies quite easily. Equipment for this La cartoon film trilogy of the same name. from the Greek, and translates as ‘warning being grouped in the family, Mantellidae. association with stands of bamboo. There sold generally, as these are often treated purpose can also be purchased without ■ This is, of course, Madagascar. colouration’. It is very easy to see, especially Golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca) is another, less evident point of distinction with various chemicals, in terms of difficulty. † Apart from being home to a huge and taking into account their size too, as to – Mocquard, 1900 though, because the climbing mantella’s fertilisers and pesticides. These are likely to ■ Harlequin mantella (Mantella cowanii) diverse range of animals, 90 per cent of all why they could be considered to be breeding habits are very similar to those of – Boulenger, 1882 Madagascar’s wildlife is endemic, meaning poison dart frogs. They are similarly the members of the poison dart frog ■ Climbing or bamboo mantella genus Oophaga. Live plants that these particular creatures do not protected by having alkaloid skin toxins, (Mantella laevigata) – Methuen & Hewitt, ■ occur anywhere else in the world. In although these are not as potent as in the 1913 Females spawn in pools of water off the Live plants can be purchased Pearl laceleaf (Anthurium terms of reptiles and amphibians, case of some poison dart frogs. ■ Brown leaf mantella (Mantella betsileo) ground, and deposit infertile eggs here from specialist suppliers, who scandens) distinctive species found on the island – (Grandidier, 1872) that the tadpoles eat to support their can offer what are effectively ■ Bolivian inch plant include the panther chameleon (Furcifer Lifestyles ˆ Bright colouration is a growth. This behaviour is only ‘organic’ or untreated plants in (Callisiar repens) warning, particularly in ■ Harald Meier’s mantella (Mantella pardalis) with its highly localised Most members of the mantella genus are small creatures such as haraldmeieri) – Busse, 1981 encountered in this particular species, safe soil. The list of plants that ■ Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) populations or ‘locales’ often being named terrestrial by nature, as well as being frogs. ■ Baron’s painted mantella (Mantella aside from the various New World poison can be used includes: ■ Fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus after particular areas of the island; the baroni) – Boulenger, 1888 dart frogs that care for their young in this ■ Baker’s anthurium agittata) critically endangered radiated tortoise ■ Bernhard’s mantella (Mantella way. (Anthurium bakerii) ■ Japanese wood fern (Astrochelys radiata) and the striking bernhardi) – Vences, Glaw, Peyrieras, ■ Fuchsia begonia (Begonia (Dryopteris erythrosora) Sambava tomato frog (Dyscophus guineti). Böhme & Busse, 1994 Accommodation foliosa) ■ Heart fern (Hemionitis ■ Bronze mantella (Mantella ebenaui) – The best type of accommodation for ■ Snakeskin plant (Fittonia arifolia) Man-tell-you-what? Boettger, 1880 keeping mantellas will be an all-glass verschaffeltii) ■ Rabbit’s foot fern One particular group of amphibians that ■ Yellow mantella (Mantella crocea) – vivarium. A wooden enclosure with a glass ■ Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum (Phlebodium areolatum) have become much better understood, Pintak & Böhme, 1990 front can be used, but unless the wood aureum) and also much more widely available as ■ Blue-legged mantella (Mantella is fully waterproofed with a sealant and the result of captive-breeding over recent expectata) – Busse & Böhme, 1992 resin, then it is likely to become warped The snakeskin plant is an Malagasy painted mantella (Mantella attractive and easily grown years, are the mantella frogs. All occur and misshapen quite rapidly, because of madagascariensis) – (Grandidier, 1872) choice for a mantella exclusively on Madagascar, and they tend the humidity. The size required will be enclosure. ■ Marojejy mantella (Mantella manery) – to be localised, occurring in a range of Vences, Glaw & Böhme, 1999 influenced by the following factors: different habitats across the island. ■ Black-eared mantella (Mantella 1. The species that you intend to keep. Alfred Grandidier, who initially milotympanum) - Staniszewski, 1996 2. How many individuals you have. described these Madagascan frogs in Guibe’s mantella (Mantella nigricans) – 3. The ratio of the sexes. 1872, placed the first species that he Guibé, 1978 A 400mm (16in) cube vivarium would discovered - the brown leaf mantella and ■ Beautiful mantella (Mantella pulchra) easily house 3-4 individuals comfortably Madagascan mantella - into the poison – Parker, 1925 but ideally, a larger 800mm (32in) dart frog family Dendrobatidae. This was ■ Green mantella (Mantella viridis) enclosure is needed for more than four mainly because of their use of bright – Pintak & Böhme, 1988 individuals. The extra space will help to colouration as a warning to potential prevent individuals becoming too A variegated form of creeping fig with white edging to the leaves. This plant can be trained up the back of the 28 | Practical Reptile Keeping enclosure or over rocksOCTOBER to provide cover. 2013 | 29 Whenever possible, livefoods should be dusted FEATURE MANTELLAS Not all species within FEATURE MANTELLAS | the genus are brightly | with a suitable vitamin and coloured, as shown here by the brown leaf mineral supplement or gut- mantella (Mantella loaded prior to feeding. betsileo). Photo © 2013 Livefoods Joshua Ralph. Among other suitable livefoods that can be provided to mantellas are: ■ A yellow mantella Tropical springtails (Mantella crocea) (Folsomia candida) poised to catch its ■ Tropical dwarf woodlice prey. Photo © 2013 (Trichorina tomentosa) Joshua Ralph. ■ Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) ■ Lesser waxworms (Achroae grisella) ■ Newly-hatched waxworms (Galleria mellonella) ■ Hatchling black crickets (Gryllus assimilis) ■ Hatchling banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus)

Whenever possible, livefoods should be dusted with a suitable vitamin and ‡ Their enlarged toe pads help these tree frogs mineral supplement or gut-loaded prior to climb very effectively to feeding. Some of these invertebrates, – even up sheets of such as the tropical dwarf woodlice can glass. be included in the vivarium, helping to keep the substrate clean, often being referred to as ‘custodians’ for this reason, with the frogs snapping up individuals Small frogs with big problems Aside from this particular species, the that cross their path, as would happen in Sadly, like so much of Madagascar’s others that are most readily seen in the the wild. wildlife, mantellas face a very uncertain hobby are the blue-legged, green and Particular care, though, should be Suggested temperatures future in the wild. The major issue right climbing mantellas. The prices for these taken with crickets, because they can for different species across the island is habitat loss. Much of frogs are comparable with, or slightly bite the frogs and represent a the problem is the result of so-called cheaper than those of poison dart frogs, hazard if they remain in the Fruitflies are a Temperature and humidity. Typical temperature range: 16-21ºC (61-70°F) ‘slash-and-burn agriculture’, with the with young juveniles typically selling for vivarium. Never be tempted to useful basis for the Temperature depends on the species that ■ Yellow mantella natural habitat being cleared to support around £30 each. release a large number there – diet of these frogs. you wish to keep, as each one varies and feed a growing population. As one only provide them in small depending on their natural habitat, and Typical temperature range: 18-23ºC (64-73°F) area of land becomes less fertile, so numbers, so they should all be where they occur across the island. Some ■ Golden mantella another is cleared. There has also been eaten quickly by the frogs. species of mantella will not tolerate higher ■ Black-eared mantella deforestation to supply the international temperatures. These can cause severe ■ Beautiful mantella timber trade as well. muscle spasms which will be potentially ■ Green mantella One of the most unfortunate side- fatal if the frogs’ environmental conditions ■ Beautiful mantella effects of this land clearance is the The phantasmal poison dart frog ■ (Epipedobates tricolor) s an are not corrected in time. This can Green mantella fragmentation of habitat, causing example illustrates marked sometimes be a problem in the summer mantellas to become isolated in small physical similarities between months. Typical temperature range: 18-24ºC (64-75°F) pockets of land. Illegal collection has also this group of frogs and members Humidity will vary also depending on ■ Guibe’s mantella been problem in the past. Export quotas of the Mantella genus. Photo © 2013 Joshua Ralph. the species, but generally, they must be have made stock legitimately available to kept within 70-80% humidity. A notable Typical temperature range: 18-25°C (64-77°F) breeders though, and now a number of exception, however, is the blue-legged ■ Malagasy painted mantella species such as the stunning golden A green mantella tadpole – this species has proved to be mantella which favours drier surroundings mantella have become established in the quite free-breeding. Photo © 2013 Joshua Ralph. with a humidity of approximately 60%. In Typical temperature range: 19-23°C (66-73°F) hobby through captive-breeding. The ■ threat from illegal capture and ˆ A green mantella this case, it can be recommended to keep Marojejy mantella (Mantella viridis). part of the vivarium damper than the rest ■ Harald Meier’s mantella smuggling of these frogs has Photo © 2013 Joshua Ralph. of the enclosure. ■ Baron’s painted mantella declined significantly. ■ Bernhard’s mantella

Typical temperature range: 19-26°C (66-79°F) ■ Brown leaf mantella ■ Bronze mantella ■ Climbing mantella

Typical temperature range: 20-29°C (68-84°F) ■ Blue-legged mantella

Typical temperature range: 23-25°C (73-77°F) ■ Harlequin mantella These frogs are very difficult to sex. A golden mantella with her eggs – these frogs are now commonly bred. The young 30 | Practical Reptile Keeping froglets are dark in colour at first. OCTOBER 2013 | 31 An enclosure for brown leaf mantella which is densely planted to give the frogs more places to FEATUREhide. This | MANTELLAS is one of the shyer members of the genus. Photo © 2013 Joshua Ralph.

Their future amphibians, and it is up to us, as both The conservation of this genus requires professional and hobby keepers, to discover as Find out more co-ordinated action by much as we can about them, so we can zoological organisations increase their numbers in collections. If you are interested in keeping mantellas and and by private There is also the exciting possibility would like to find out more about their breeders, who can When feeding small amphibians that further species could yet await husbandry requirements, or want to share your retain larger such as mantellas, tiny isopods discovery in their homeland – it experiences, including tips and advice, then like tropical springtails must be numbers in their offered.” was only 15 years ago that the please join the Facebook group entitled the collections. As Photo © 2013 Joshua Ralph. latest addition to the genus was “Mantella Conservation Project”. mantellas found. ✥ become more readily bred, so The beautiful mantella is the future may currently one of the rarer be somewhat species in the hobby at present. brighter for these little jewels. Already, some commercial breeders here in the UK have mantellas represented in their collections. Hopefully, breeders in general will do everything they can to make sure that the species within this genus are both maintained and well established in vivarium surroundings, using professional and genetically diverse breeding methods. A number of species within the hobby have already been established; however, this cannot be said about a majority of the genus. Species such as the black-eared mantella, the Marojejy mantella and the harlequin mantella are only intermittently available, with some of the other species being rarely seen. It would be a great shame to lose such fascinating, intriguing and beautiful

32 | Practical Reptile Keeping MARCH 2013 | PB