Red-banded Poison Frog (Oophaga lehmanni)
| Red-banded Poison Frog Oophaga lehmanni | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Red-banded Poison Frog |
| Name Lat. | Oophaga lehmanni |
| Synonym | Dendrobates lehmanni |
| Family | Dendrobatids |
| Family lat. | Dendrobatidae |
| Order | Frogs & Toads |
| Order lat. | Anura |
| Origin | Colombia |
| Habitat | Cloud forest |
| Diet | Small live insects |
| Humidity | 70-100 % |
| Behavior | Territorial |
| Keeping | Pair |
| Care Level | Experts only |
| Breeding | Difficult |
| Housing | Rainforest terrarium |
| Life Span | 5-10 years |
| Protection | CITES Appendix II; EU Annex B |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 3.5 cm |
| Temperature | 22-25 °C |
| Housing Size | 40 x 30 x 35 cm |
| US Units | |
| Size | 1.4" |
| Temperature | 72-77 °F |
| Housing Size | 15" x 10" x 15" |
Distribution and habitat
Diurnal, primarily ground-dwelling, red-ringed poison dart frogs are native to the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental (Colombia) in tropical cloud and rain forests from 850-1,200 m elevation. There they live mostly near streams and small water bodies in the vegetation covering the ground. Their coloration and markings vary according to their origin.
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: 22-25 °C | Temp. night: 18-20 °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, smallest grasshoppers and crickets, springtails, enchytraea and drosophila. Food should be offered to adult animals 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
Males are slightly smaller and slimmer than females. The spawn, up to 3 eggs, is usually deposited in bromeliad funnels above the water and fertilized by the male. The parents perform intensive brood care. 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. Because of the pronounced cannibalism, individual rearing is necessary. 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
The shy animals live in pairs. The males are very aggressive within the species. Keeping several pairs is only recommended in a much larger, richly structured terrarium. Only in the wild they have a skin poison, which is absorbed through the food of poisonous insects and converted into the body's own poison. Therefore they lose their skin poison after some time in terrarium keeping. Offsprings 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 should be paid to thorough hygiene and impurities should be removed regularly. Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: petadata; 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