Mantella viridis 
(Green mantella, lime mantella, green golden mantella).
Tim Mayer

M. viridis can grow to 35mm in females with the males being slightly smaller reaching about 25mm. They are distributed around the northern tip of Madagascar, from a few localities south of Antsiranana including Montagne des Francais.  M. viridis make excellent subjects for your vivarium, although I must confess I have found the breeding a little more then difficult. The frogs are kept in a well-planted vivarium, using various bromeliads (V. epinosae, Guzmania) and plants like creeping fig, snake eyes and prayer plants. When keeping M. viridis I have found that the frogs can get quite stressed when kept at high temperatures for long periods, I recommend that this species should be kept somewhere around 70 degrees, but no higher then the mid 70s and no lower then the mid 60s. The humidity level should be around the 80% mark. A light misting every day can achieve this. Feeding is done daily with my frogs, consuming anything they can overpower. I feed mine on crickets (upto 8mm), fruit flies and aphids when available. All the foods are dusted 4 times a week with a 50/50 mix of pure calcium and Nutrobal.

I have found this species to be fairly shy, with the frogs tending to hide in the under growth. However it is a different story at meal times. M. viridis are mainly terrestrial, climbing only occasionally.

Courtship between my mantellas has been observed and the males actively vocalise. However no egg deposition has followed. It has been noted that some people recommend the use of a running water system as a necessity for successful pairing with this species. I’m beginning to agree.

The egg clutches are reported to vary from around 15-60 eggs with a diameter of about 2mm, they are greenish-yellow in colour and should hatch within a couple of days. The tadpoles can be quite cannibalistic so should either be separated or kept in relatively small groups. They can be fed on a mixture of fish-flakes (dusted and ground up), blanched spinach and parsley. It is recommended that the tadpoles be kept at 74 degrees (Staniszewski). Metamorphosis is completed within 45-65 days with the tadpoles reaching a maximum size of 28mm.