Defining Characteristics:

• Great intermediate thumbnail
• Bright red and blue coloration
• Moderately Bold
• Easy to breed
• Quiet call
• Small
• Great in Pairs or Groups

Name: Ranitomeya benedicta. Formerly known as Dendrobates fantasticus, this frog is commonly known as the Blessed Poison Dart Frog. This is a pretty large thumbnail, and is striking in the vivarium. At Josh's Frogs, we've nicknamed this the Spiderman frog due to it's coloration.

Recommended Vivarium Size: A 10 gallon aquarium is suitable for 2-3 Ranitomeya benedicta, but Josh's Frogs recommends a 20H or 18x18x18 Vivarium for 1-3 frogs. Benedicta are fairly terrestrial for a thumbnail, and will appreciate all the floor space they can get. Not sure how to set up a vivarium? Please watch our video on How to Set Up a Vivarium.

Temperature: They can tolerate a temperature range of 65 F to 80 F, but prefer temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Temperatures over 85F are dangerous.

Humidity: Like most poison dart frogs, benedictas prefer a humidity range of 80 – 100%, but can tolerate humidity down to 50% for short periods of time if the frogs have access to water. Low humidity levels, especially without access to water, can quickly be fatal.

Size: Adult female and male R. benedicta are similar in length, measuring in at around an inch and a quarter. All of the Ranitomeya benedicta froglets Josh's Frogs sells are well started juveniles, and measure approximately 1/2” long.

Age: Ranitomeya benedicta is capable of living well over 10 years in captivity under ideal conditions, although a lifespan of 5-8 years is more common. All benedicta for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are 2-3 months old.

Feeding: Like most poison dart frogs, benedicta prefer smaller foods. All of the thumbnail dart frogs sold by Josh's Frogs will readily eat Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. Adult Ranitomeya benedicta will readily consume Drosophila hydei fruit flies and pinhead crickets. All ages of poison dart frogs will enjoy springtails and isopods. All feeder insects should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement. For more information on what poison dart frogs can eat, please visit our How-To Guide on Feeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Sexing: Ranitomeya benedicta are fairly easy to sex as adults. Females are much wider than males, as they lay eggs frequently. Josh's Frogs sells 2-3 month old juveniles that are not sexable unless otherwise noted. For more information on sexing poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Sexing Poison Dart Frogs.

Color/Pattern: Benedicta are fairly consistent in color and pattern. Exhibiting a bright red (sometimes reddish orange) head coupled with a blue and black body, they are a striking little thumbnaill dart frog! Josh's Frogs does not recommend, support, or endorse line breeding as we believe this leads to weaker captive animals and nature has done a wonderful job of creating an amazing variation in color and pattern of poison dart frogs already.

Social Behavior: These frogs do well housed in groups their entire life as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends approximately 5 gallons per frog. As they reach sexual maturity at 5-8 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of benedicta dart frogs may change and females may eat each other's eggs, although most will even breed together in the same film canister! Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of dart frogs - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing! Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair.

Breeding: Benedicta are sometimes tricky to breed, and sometimes breed too much! Best bred in groups, males call to attract a female to a suitable egg laying site. Then, 4-8 eggs are laid on a smooth surface (often in a film canister or a bromeliad). The eggs hatch into tadpoles, which then take 60-80 days to complete metamorphosis into miniature versions of the adults. Tadpoles will feed on dead fruit flies, the standard frog and tadpole bites/sera micron fare, and even unfertilized eggs if left in with the adults! For more information on breeding and raising poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Breeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Natural Range: Ranitomeya benedicta is a lowland species from Peru.

History in the Hobby: Benedicta are a relatively new thumbnail dart frog to the hobby, having been introduced to the US hobby by Understory Enterprises in 2009. This frog was only discovered in 2005 and described in 2008!

Links of Interest:
IUCN Redlist Listing on Ranitomeya benedicta

Reptiles Magazine Article on the Blessed Dart Frog

AmpibiaWeb Article

Still not sure if Ranitomeya benedicta from Josh's Frogs are the right poison dart frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!