New Ranitomeya benedicta

[John]

Hi all.

I received four Ranitomeya benedicta juveniles a few weeks ago. They really are that red. They were shy at first but now they don't immediately run for cover when I walk in. I would have to say they're bolder than R. ventrimaculata. Definitely not at the boldness level of R. imitator or R. variabilis. Still, I expect they will be bolder after they start breeding (fingers crossed). This is the first time I've kept a member of the Ranitomeya fantastica sub-group of the thumbnail dart frogs. The thing that strikes me most beyond the coloration is the body shape. They're very streamlined, and they seem slightly elongated in comparison to R. imitator, for example. Here are photos of two of the four:

[bshmerlie]

Those are beautiful John. I'm getting four of them from Chris Miller in October when I fly out to Chicago. Where did you get yours from ? Are you keeping them all in the same tank or did you split them up? What size tank are you using? Any pics of the tank? I've got to get mine setup ASAP.

[John]

I got them from Innovative Ectotherms. They're in a quarantine container. Basically I'm growing them out until I can reliably sex them, then I'll make a pair and sell the extras. I've already seen a little male on male aggression and calling, so that might be sooner than I had planned.

[LilyPad]

Those are some great looking little frogs John!! Thanks for sharing

[bshmerlie]

I got them from Innovative Ectotherms. They're in a quarantine container. Basically I'm growing them out until I can reliably sex them, then I'll make a pair and sell the extras. I've already seen a little male on male aggression and calling, so that might be sooner than I had planned.

I'm going to be keeping mine in an 18X18X24 Exo. I was hoping to be keeping them together until I could sex them as well. I'm worried about aggression happening while I'm at work...maybe I should split them into two tanks. What do you think? Honestly, I'm not skilled enough to be able to sex them myself until I hear a male calling. Are they going to start beating each other up before then?

[wesleybrouwer]

Impressive how you captured them on film.
They aren't exactly the kind of frogs waiting for you to shoot your pictures

[bshmerlie]

Impressive how you captured them on film.
They aren't exactly the kind of frogs waiting for you to shoot your pictures

That's because John uses "display" leaves that are tacky like fly paper. That way he can take them out and take their pictures with perfect lighting. Come on....haven't you wondered how his leaves are all so perfectly clean? And the perfect color?

[Heatheranne]

They have beautiful markings