Cordillera Azul Poison Frog (Ameerega rubriventris)

Cordillera Azul Poison Frog Ameerega rubriventris
Name	Cordillera Azul Poison Frog
Name Lat.	Ameerega rubriventris
Family	Dendrobatids
Family lat.	Dendrobatidae
Order	Frogs & Toads
Order lat.	Anura
Origin	Peru
Habitat	Rainforest
Diet	Small live insects
Humidity	70-100 %
Behavior	Territorial
Keeping	Pair, group
Care Level	Moderate
Breeding	Simple
Housing	Rainforest terrarium
Life Span	3-8 years
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EU Annex B
Metric Units
Size	2-2.5 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Housing Size	30 x 25 x 35 cm
US Units
Size	0.8"-1"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Housing Size	10" x 10" x 15"

Distribution and habitat

Diurnal, ground-dwelling Ameerega rubriventris inhabit the rainforests at the base of the eastern  Andes (Cordillera Azul) at about 350 m elevation. They live mainly in the ground substrate of the forests near bodies of water (ponds, pools, etc.).

Maintenance

For 1-3 animals, the minimum terrarium area is 750 cm², with a minimum effective height (measured without substrate) of 25 cm. This corresponds to a base area of e.g. 30 x 25 cm. For each additional animal, provide an additional 200 cm² of surface area and 2.5 cm of height. The terrarium should be placed in a quiet place without sunlight.

You need a terrarium with a substrate of loose, absorbent, non-rotting substrate such as sand-peat mixture, coconut fibers or sphagnum moss with a drainage and a shallow, 3-5 cm deep watering place, in addition branched climbing branches, preferably entwined with climbing plants, with horizontal perches, back and side wall coverings of e.g.E.g. tree fern plates (Xaxim) and a dense planting (e.g. Tradescantia, Ficus, Scindapsus, ferns, Bromeliads). At least once a day the inside of the terrarium must be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better

Temp. day: 20-25 °C

Temp. night: 18-22 °C

Humidity: 70-100 %

The lighting duration must be 10-14 hours depending on the season. Daylight fluorescent tubes with low UV content are very suitable.

Diet

The food supply consists of live, small insects such as ants, spiders, micro crickets, tiny grasshoppers and crickets, springtails, enchytraea and drosophila. Food should be offered to adults 2-3 times per week, young animals must be fed daily. It is important to add minerals and vitamins regularly (e.g. by dusting the feed animals). The quality of the feed animals can be upgraded by giving overripe fruit and honey water

A varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

The males are a little smaller and slimmer than the females. The spawn is deposited in the fallen leaves where it is fertilized by the male. The parents engage in brood care, carrying each larva (tadpole) on their backs to a shallow stream or standing pond. After 2-3 months the transformation (metamorphosis) is completed and the frog leaves the water. The breeding of the tadpoles in small plastic boxes filled with water has proven to be successful. They are fed with algae growth, dry fish food and chicken egg yolk.

Species protection

Within two weeks after the purchase, the keeping must be reported to the district administrative authority of the place of residence in accordance with § 25 (1) of the Animal Welfare Act.

Protection of species: WA Annex II; EU Annex B. The proof of purchase is the required proof of origin for the animal. Please keep it safe! Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information!

Important

Only in the wild they have a skin toxin, which is absorbed through food from poisonous insects and converted into the body's own toxin. Therefore they lose their skin poison after some time in terrarium keeping. Afterbreds are non-poisonous.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Special attention must be paid to thorough hygiene and impurities must be removed regularly.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag; VDA & DGHT (2006): Haltungsrichtlinien für die Haltung von Anuren

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF