Beautiful mantella (Mantella pulchra)

Short answers

Beautiful mantella: How big does the enclosure need to be?

50×40×50 cm for a group, planted.

Beautiful mantella: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C, basking spot No basking spot — direct heat is harmful, at night 16–19 °C.

Beautiful mantella: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Weak UVB recommended (UVB 2.0).

Beautiful mantella: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–10 years.

Beautiful mantella: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C

Night temperature

16–19 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot — direct heat is harmful

Humidity

75–90 %

UVB

Weak UVB recommended (UVB 2.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

50×40×50 cm for a group, planted

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate with a drainage layer, moss, leaf litter and a shallow water section

Feeding

Food

Crickets, house crickets, fruit flies and firebrats, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

2,2–2,8 cm

Life expectancy

5–10 years

Origin

Eastern Madagascar

Protection status

CITES II — proof of origin required

Brumation

A dry season of 6–8 weeks with less misting

Cohabitation

Group housing possible. Raise juveniles separately from adults. Not because they would be eaten — these animals are far too small for that — but because the larger ones get to the food first and the smaller ones fall behind. Provide enough hiding places so that every animal can retreat, and feed separately if there is a size difference.

Notes

Diurnal and lively. It needs cool nights and a pronounced dry season to trigger breeding.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Beautiful mantella (Mantella pulchra) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Baron's mantella (Mantella baroni) – Intermediate
• Bernhard's mantella (Mantella bernhardi) – Intermediate
• Blue-legged mantella (Mantella expectata) – Intermediate
• Betsileo mantella (Mantella betsileo) – Beginner
• Cowan's mantella (Mantella cowanii) – Intermediate
• Black-eared mantella (Mantella milotympanum) – Intermediate
• Yellow mantella (Mantella crocea) – Intermediate
• Golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Beautiful mantella (Mantella pulchra) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (50×40×50 cm for a group, planted), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with a drainage layer, moss, leaf litter and a shallow water section), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.