Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis)

Short answers

Golden poison frog: How big does the enclosure need to be?

50 × 50 × 50 cm for a pair, around 400 cm² more floor space per additional animal; from about 80 × 40 × 60 cm for a group.

Golden poison frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–28 °C, at night 20–23 °C (night-time drop of ~5 °C).

Golden poison frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional (weak UVB).

Golden poison frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to ~20 years.

Golden poison frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–28 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C (night-time drop of ~5 °C)

Basking spot

—

Humidity

80–95 % by day, ~100 % at night

UVB

Optional (weak UVB)

Enclosure

Minimum size

50 × 50 × 50 cm for a pair, around 400 cm² more floor space per additional animal; from about 80 × 40 × 60 cm for a group

Substrate

Drainage plus rainforest substrate or pine bark, moss, leaf litter, bromeliads, a water spot

Feeding

Food

Fruit flies (Drosophila), springtails, small house crickets, bean weevils

Feeding interval

daily to every other day, dusted with vitamins and calcium

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 4.5–5 cm

Life expectancy

up to ~20 years

Origin

The Pacific coast of Colombia (rainforest)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B — registration required, proof of origin

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Groups are possible, as are pairs; do not mix with other species. Only keep animals of the same species and roughly the same size together, so that smaller animals do not miss out on food. If you want to breed them, be aware that adult females in a group eat each other’s clutches, which is why breeders often keep adults in pairs. Provide enough hiding places so every animal can get out of the way.

Notes

In the wild one of the most toxic frogs there is (batrachotoxin) — terrarium-bred animals are non-toxic because of their diet. Buy captive-bred animals only.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Lovely poison frog (Phyllobates lugubris) – Intermediate
• Golfodulcean poison frog (Phyllobates vittatus) – Beginner
• Kokoe poison frog (Phyllobates aurotaenia) – Intermediate
• Black-legged poison frog (Phyllobates bicolor) – Intermediate
• Yellow-bellied poison frog (Ameerega hahneli) – Intermediate
• Anthony's poison frog (Hyloxalus nexipus) – Intermediate
• Bassler's poison frog (Ameerega bassleri) – Intermediate
• Poison frogs (Ranitomeya amazonica) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (50 × 50 × 50 cm for a pair, around 400 cm² more floor space per additional animal; from about 80 × 40 × 60 cm for a group), substrate (Drainage plus rainforest substrate or pine bark, moss, leaf litter, bromeliads, a water spot), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.