Ameerega trivittata is a widespread species that ranges across the Amazon basin, with several forms and localities that are occasionally imported or available in the US.  The most common two forms, one with green stripes, and another with orange stripes, are occasionally offered as wild caught frogs. Each of these have only two stripes, (the color of the stripes seems to be the biggest difference in these two locality forms) and are usually imported from Suriname.  These frogs are also occasionally captive bred and offered.

These two stripe form frogs are widespread across the Amazon, and while they are neat frogs, they really aren’t in the same league as these “Huallaga Canyon” form.  The more common forms are different in several ways.  First, they are about two thirds the size of the Peruvian form, and they are heavily granulated, and the result is a more “matte” finish on their skin.  They also have only two stripes, one on each side of the back, and these stripes are more narrow, and duller in coloration.  I’ve only kept them a couple of times over the years, but they seemed to be very shy. Huallaga Canyon, or the Huallaga river valley, is a big place, the river is approximately 700 miles long, and the three strip form is common in this area.

Anyway, these Huallaga Canyon three striped beauties are a holy grail frog for some, I personally think there is nothing like them and find them to be absolutely gorgeous.  As a larger frog, with a powerful jump, I think they need a spacious terrarium, something with at least 24 inches of height and a decent footprint as well, I’d recommend 36 inches long or larger.  Ameerega trivittata do like to climb a bit, and I usually find mine in the upper parts of the terrarium. The terrarium for this frog should be wet and warm, with temps in the upper seventies desirable.

While they do require a high humidity for breeding, the common wisdom that they require moving water or some sort of stream is not true.  I’ve found this to be the case with most of the frogs I’ve seen it recommended for, moving water is an excellent tank feature, but definitely rarely a requirement. They are somewhat shy, and when startled they can be jumpy.  That’s one of the reasons for the larger tank size recommendation.

Males are somewhat smaller than females, and adult frogs are usually fairly easy to sex, based on their size.  Males make a peeping call that is easily audible, and while not loud, it is pretty noticeable.  Of course they only call during the day, or during their day time cycle in their tank.  Typically eggs are laid in the refugia in the upper part of the tank, I use a medium size plastic drink cup that is split up one side and then crunched into a smaller diameter, then wrapped in electrical tape to hold it together.  I conceal it in a cork tube.

Speaking of size, these are perhaps the longest dart frog I’ve worked with.  I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the other large Ameerega forms are as long, but I’ve worked with A. bassleri and they were more similar to the two stripe version of A. trivittata.  I think perhaps the largest P. terribilis I’ve seen have been larger by weight, but these trivittata are contenders for the largest dart frogs I’ve ever seen.  Like most of the Epipedobates and Ameerega species, these frogs can ingest a large food item, crickets up to around 3/8ths of an inch are no problem for adult trivittata!

I am currently breeding a pair of these, Understory line, (not sure there are any other lines in the US at this time), but in a suitable size tank, say a 90 gallon or larger, you could no doubt do well with a group of four or so.

These frogs, like most Ameerega species, lay large clutches of eggs.  I find most clutches of eggs to run in the upper twenties or low thirties, and the fertility is usually excellent!

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