The Golden Mantella is an attractive, brightly colored frog. It comes as no surprise that the Golden Mantella is one the most popular Mantellas among fanciers.

The Golden Mantella is colonial in nature. They are also much more active in the day than at night, using the daylight to hunt for food. Males generally refrain from calling, possibly to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

Golden Mantellas will grow to a length of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches. Males are usually smaller and thinner than females. Males also possess a more angular build than females. There are several color types, including the orange form, located in the forests around Andasibe, the pale orange and yellow form found in Baparasay, and the dark orange form found in the forests of Anosibe An'Ala. Their bright coloring is believed to be an adaptation to repel prey. Though they are not a poisonous species, their bright color scheme seems to deter predators.

Found in the forests of Madagascar, the Golden Mantella is a frog that is found most often at higher elevations. Because they are so highly collectible, the deforestation, and because new prey have been introduced to Madagascar, there has been a steady decline in their numbers. All Golden Mantella can be found in the wild in areas above 900 meters. Because of their preference for higher elevation they are often referred to as an upland species. Their natural environment is also moist and warm. This kind of condition must be successfully replicated for them to survive in captivity. Temperatures should not exceed 78 degrees (68 to 75 is ideal) humidity should be high and constant, and conditions should be open and bright. Golden Mantellas will eat insects including termites, small crickets, ants, and fruit flies (Drosphilia). They are not picky eaters at all, and it is said if they can fit the insect into their mouths, they will eat it. The Golden Mantella is a colonial frog, meaning they live in groups. Typically males will outnumber females 2 to 1 within a colony. Golden Mantellas are diurnal frogs, spending most of their days hunting. An interesting note about Golden Mantellas in the wild is that unlike many other mantellas, they are very hesitant to call to one another. The exact reason why is as of yet undetermined. Sadly, the wild populations of Golden Mantellas in the wild are decreasing. This is due to several factors including collection for the pet trade, deforestation, human encroachment, and the introduction of predators into their native environment.

Golden Mantellas need a fairly large setup. The inside of the enclosure should be decorated with plants, places to hide and moist areas. Small shallow water bowls are a must. Golden Mantellas are small and could easily drown if the water bowl is to deep. Small food items such as quarter inch crickets are a good way to feed your Golden Mantella. Golden Mantellas are usually willing to eat anything smaller than their head. Temperature may be difficult to control without air conditioning. The temperature should maintained between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher than that can be a problem, and will often make your frog sick or in some cases will kill it. Golden Mantellas also like high humidity. It is best to mist the tank at least once a day.

Golden Mantella can be sexed relatively easily. The male's ventral surface is lighter than the female's, making the seminiferous ducts visible. Once you have sexed a pair and introduced them, the male will become territorial, if he is aroused, and will begin his calling. If they do not call right away, make sure that there is a wide variety of food and that they are kept cool by misting. Actual courtship will probably not be observable.

Afterwards, the female will look for a moist, enclosed area in which she can lay. Sponges, moss or tissue paper, or beneath damp rocks or bark are likely places. They will usually lay overnight, and the large eggs should measure 2 - 3 mm in diameter. You can expect a clutch to have as many as 100 eggs. If the eggs are fertilized, they will begin to absorb water and fill out; unfortunately, many eggs remain infertile because of a lack of male interaction.

Tadpoles will hatch after 2 to 6 days. Mist them regularly to ensure they do not dry out. Deciphering when the hatch time will be is important because they need to be submersed in water to hatch. Keep the temperature firmly set in between 65 to 74 degrees because the tadpoles are extremely sensitive. They will begin to defecate large amounts as they grow. Keep the water clean and aerate it with a small semi-submersible pump. As tadpoles develop, raise the water level to about 10 centimeters deep. Golden Mantella tadpoles will eat algae and vegetable matter as well as fish flakes and trout pellets. Their hind limbs should appear 18 to 280 days after hatching and they will start looking like Mantellas 25 to 80 days later. Expect a fairly high mortality rate for these frogs - 30% to 50% survival is usually considered a success. After 10 to 12 weeks, they should begin showing Golden Mantella colors, and they will reach full maturity within 12 to 14 months. Golden Mantellas can be expected to live 5 to 8 years.