Escudo Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga sp. 'Escudo')

Escudo Poison Dart Frog Oophaga sp. 'Escudo'
Name	Escudo Poison Dart Frog
Name Lat.	Oophaga sp. 'Escudo'
Family	Dendrobatids
Family lat.	Dendrobatidae
Order	Frogs & Toads
Order lat.	Anura
Origin	Panama
Habitat	Rainforest
Diet	Small live insects
Humidity	70-100 %
Behavior	Territorial
Keeping	Pair
Care Level	Difficult
Breeding	Difficult
Housing	Rainforest terrarium
Life Span	5-10 years
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EU Annex B
Metric Units
Size	2 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Housing Size	30 x 25 x 40 cm
US Units
Size	0.8"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Housing Size	10" x 10" x 15"

Distribution and habitat

The diurnal, primarily ground-dwelling Escudo poison dart frogs occur in a small area on  Penisula Valiente and the offshore Isla Escudo de Veraguas in Panama. There they live mostly near streams and small bodies of water in the foliage covering the ground.

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.Tree fern panels (Xaxim) and dense planting (e.g. Tradescantia, Ficus, Scindapsus, ferns, bromeliads). Potted plants that can be easily removed for cleaning are advantageous. 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: 22-28 °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 enhanced by feeding 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, up to 5 eggs, is usually laid hidden 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 dried mosquito larvae.

Species protection

The animal population must be reported in writing to the responsible authority immediately after the beginning of the keeping. It is essential to find out about any bans on keeping or permits for keeping dangerous animals in your state or municipality (e.g. public order office).

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

Males behave territorially within the species. Only in the wild they possess a skin toxin, which is absorbed through the food of 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.

Prior to purchase, a terrarium should be prepared that meets the species specific needs. Necessary are good ventilation without drafts and equipment for measuring temperature and humidity. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and should 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: VDA & DGHT (2006): Haltungsrichtlinien für die Haltung von Anuren; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF