The cute little Brown Mantella, though not particularly common in captivity, can make a lovely and charming pet. These beautiful little animals are most active during the day, making them a more easily viewed pet than many nocturnal species of frogs.

In the wild, Brown Mantellas stake out small territories that they will patrol and defend as their home ranges. These little frogs may be more frequently viewed when kept in captivity than many frogs, since they are diurnal. They may be very good at escaping however, because of their small size, so their terrariums should not have any openings or gaps. In the wild, Brown Mantellas spend most of their time hunting for food. They eat a variety of invertebrates. Their calls, used to attract mates, consist of short clicking notes. Brown Mantellas are mostly terrestrial in habit. They are reputed to be one of the most easily adaptable species of Mantella.

Brown Mantellas usually have plump body shapes and grow to about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in length. Usually, the predominant coloring of the Brown Mantella is brown or tan, though this is marked with reticulations in blue and white. The sides are black. The throat is usually blue and is often speckled with grayish white. Brown Mantellas generally have tan undersides. Across the mouth region, a white line that runs from one shoulder to the other is often present.

Native to Madagascar, Brown Mantellas originate in a tropical region of low altitude humid forests. They are normally found in patchy populations over the central or northern areas of Madagascar.

Brown Mantellas need large enclosures relative to their size. one or two Brown Mantellas should be housed in atleast a 10-gallon terrarium, and a 20-gallon-long (30 inches long) is recommended for three to ten mantellas. A shallow water bowl should be provided, and the ventilation should be very good despite the necessity of maintaining a rather high humidity level. Lots of hiding places should be provided, since Brown Mantellas are relatively shy and often spend much of their time hiding. Brown Mantellas should have light for about 10 hours per day during the winter and 13 hours during the summer. Brown Mantellas should be fed on as wide a variety of insects as possible. They usually eat crickets, fruit flies, spiders, waxworms, and moths.

Sexing Brown Mantellas can be difficult. Generally, males have looser throats and larger, orange femoral glands. They may also be less round in appearance than females, smaller, or more vividly colored. Once Brown Mantellas have become acclimated to their tank, they will usually become more territorial and males will begin to call in order to find mates. Plenty of hiding places should be present, as courtship usually occurs in a sheltered location. Females usually lay their eggs at night, in a moist and closed in area like holes in wood or gaps beneath bark. Generally, between 20 and 100 pale colored eggs with diameters of between two and three centimeters are deposited. If embryo development does not become evident within about 30 hours, or if the eggs shrivel, they are probably not fertile. With regular misting, they will usually hatch in two to six days. At the first sign of hatching, the eggs should be placed in water so the tadpoles can breathe. The water for Brown Mantella tadpoles should remain between 65 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. The pH range should be between 6.0 and 7.5, and the water level should be raised as the tadpoles grow. They may be fed tropical fish flakes and trout pellets. The water should be filtered to facilitate cleaning, and about a third of the water should be replaced each day. Captive mortality rates of about half of the tadpoles are normal. Once the tails begin to be absorbed, a land area should be provided for the tadpoles. The tadpoles will metamorphose into froglets between 45 and 360 days after they have hatched. Brown Mantellas reach sexual maturity between 10 and 12 months of age.