Kokoe poison frog (Phyllobates aurotaenia)

Short answers

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

60×45×50 cm.

Kokoe poison frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–27 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 19–22 °C.

Kokoe poison frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2 %).

Kokoe poison frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Kokoe poison frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–27 °C

Night temperature

19–22 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

80–90 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×45×50 cm

Substrate

Coco humus, a thick layer of leaf litter, roots, a shallow water spot

Feeding

Food

Fruit flies, springtails, micro crickets

Feeding interval

daily

Key facts

Adult size

3–3,5 cm

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

Western Colombia – the Chocó

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keeping a pair (1.1) is the easiest to oversee. A small mixed group works well because the species is social and males sing rather than fight; drawback: you have to watch whether one frog is pushed away from the food. Raise juveniles apart from the adults so they do not lose out at feeding time. Never keep it with other Phyllobates species, as they hybridise.

Notes

One of the three species whose skin toxin was traditionally used on blowpipe darts. Terrarium animals do not produce the toxin for want of the food source – wild-caught animals, by contrast, are highly toxic and do not belong in private hands.

Do you keep this species?

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

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Related species

• Lovely poison frog (Phyllobates lugubris) – Intermediate
• Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) – Beginner to intermediate
• Golfodulcean poison frog (Phyllobates vittatus) – Beginner
• 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 Kokoe poison frog (Phyllobates aurotaenia) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×50 cm), substrate (Coco humus, a thick layer of leaf litter, roots, a shallow 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.