Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
| Golden Poison Frog Phyllobates terribilis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Golden Poison Frog |
| Name Lat. | Phyllobates terribilis |
| Family | Dendrobatids |
| Family lat. | Dendrobatidae |
| Order | Frogs & Toads |
| Order lat. | Anura |
| Origin | Colombia |
| Habitat | Rainforest |
| Diet | Small live insects |
| Humidity | 70-100 % |
| Behavior | Territorial |
| Keeping | Pair, group |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Breeding | Moderately difficult |
| Housing | Rainforest terrarium |
| Life Span | 5-10 years |
| Protection | CITES Appendix II; EU Annex B |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 4.5 cm |
| Temperature | 25-28 °C |
| Housing Size | 40 x 30 x 35 cm |
| US Units | |
| Size | 1.8" |
| Temperature | 77-82 °F |
| Housing Size | 15" x 10" x 15" |
Distribution and habitat
The range of the diurnal Terrible Poison Dart Frogs is southwestern Colombia, near the Pacific coast. Their coloration varies according to their origin from uniform yellow, metallic yellow-green and orange to gray. They live mainly in foliage on the ground of primary rainforests near small bodies of water (ponds, pools, etc.).
Maintenance
For 1-2 animals, the minimum terrarium area is 1,200 cm², with a minimum effective height (measured without substrate) of 25 cm. This corresponds to a base area of e.g. 40 x 30 cm. For each additional animal, provide an additional 400 cm² of space. 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 by 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 twice a day the inside of the terrarium must be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better
| Temp. day: 25-28 °C | Temp. night: 20-22 °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 sexes are hardly distinguishable. The spawn, 15-20 eggs, is deposited in a brood cavity (e.g. half coconut shell), where it is fertilized by the male. After 15-20 days at about 25 °C the larvae hatch. The parents perform brood care and carry each larva (tadpole) on their backs out of the brood burrow into a small water body (e.g. leaf axils of bromeliads). 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
It is by far the most poisonous frog species. But only in the wild they have a strong 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 a few months when kept in terrariums. 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: 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