Ranitomeya variabilis
Ranitomeya variabilis was recently restructured to include all the former R. ventrimaculata frogs that didn't move into R. amazonica - basically the yellowish ones with thinner striping. Care of variabilis is the same as amazonica.
Clutches of 4-10 eggs are laid every week to once every three weeks in film canisters tilted at about a 45 degree angle so that they hold a bit of water. Eggs are laid below the water line and having clean water in the film canister seems to be a prerequisite to the frogs laying eggs. From time to time, all the frogs in the enclosure will end up in the film canister when breeding occurs.
The male will transport the tadpoles to other bodies of water in the enclosure and the female may lay nutritive eggs for the tadpoles.
The adults will sometimes lay viable clutches of eggs in the water with a tadpole, but I am unsure if this is just an artifact of captive life. Tadpoles are carnivorous and may be cannibalistic so keeping them individually is a good idea.
Care: Easy, a good first thumbnail, sometimes shy
Groups: Yes, even mix of sexes
Breeding: Easy, film canisters tilted to 45 degrees to hold water
Tadpoles: Parents show indirect care, will breed in canisters that have tadpoles in them, recommend pulling after deposition
Froglets: Small, springtails are a help
Tips: For frogs that don't readily use film canisters, try a shallow dish with water and philodendron it it, keep water clean
Borja Ridge
This variabilis comes from Peru via Understory Enterprises. They have the typical black nose spot and a Y pattern on their backs. Frogs range from having a red-orange nose fading to yellow to totally yellow markings on the frogs. Easy to produce, they are not as common in the hobby anymore.
Pictured is a new metamorph.
Highland
This is the holotype morph of variabilis and isthe frog that R. imitator 'Green' (and the site specific ones from Caynarachi) imitate. My 'Highland' are from a mixture of Understory Enterprise and INIBICO imports. Personally I find variabilis to be much more attractive in appearance than the imitator who imitate them.
Highland
Highland
Highland
Southern
These variabilis come from a population further south than the highland morph imported by INIBICO and Understory Enterprises.
These frogs are a little bit larger than the Highland morph and in general have more green and blue coloration than the Highland morph although they aren't as metallic.
Southern
Linbo - Old Line
While having much finer netting on their backs than the Southerns that Understory brought in, the coloration and size of these frogs is much more similar to the Southerns than the Highlands.
These have been in the hobby since the 90's and aren't quite as ready breeders either the Highlands or Southerns.
Rodyl
An awesome little frog with a stripe down the back instead of netting or a Y pattern. Not as variable as some other morphs of variabilis.
Yet another frog that was introduced to the hobby by Understory Enterprises, it never appeared to be popular and is uncommon in the hobby now.