Red-headed poison frog (Ranitomeya fantastica)

Short answers

Red-headed poison frog: How big does the enclosure need to be?

45×45×60 cm.

Red-headed poison frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 21–25 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 18–20 °C.

Red-headed poison frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 2.0).

Red-headed poison frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–15 years.

Red-headed poison frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

21–25 °C

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

85–95 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 2.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

45×45×60 cm

Substrate

Drainage plus coco humus, plenty of bromeliads, film canisters as spawning sites

Feeding

Food

Fruit flies (small), springtails

Feeding interval

adults daily

Key facts

Adult size

1,5–2 cm

Life expectancy

8–15 years

Origin

Peru – rainforest

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keeping a pair is least stressful, as males compete over territory and calling sites. A small group with a surplus of females is possible in a large, well-structured enclosure, but watch for individuals being pushed out. Rear juveniles separately from adults: not because they would be eaten – they are too small for that – but because larger animals reach the food first and small ones fall behind. Provide plenty of retreats and feed separately where there is a size difference.

Notes

Very small and arboreal – it needs plenty of bromeliads with water axils for rearing the tadpoles. Feeder animals have to be correspondingly tiny.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Poison frogs (Ranitomeya amazonica) – Intermediate
• Poison frogs (Ranitomeya imitator) – Beginner to intermediate
• Poison frogs (Ranitomeya variabilis) – Intermediate
• Yellow-striped poison frog (Ranitomeya flavovittata) – Intermediate
• Reticulated poison frog (Ranitomeya reticulata) – Intermediate
• Blessed poison frog (Ranitomeya benedicta) – Intermediate
• Sira poison frog (Ranitomeya sirensis) – Intermediate
• Summers' poison frog (Ranitomeya summersi) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Red-headed poison frog (Ranitomeya fantastica) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (45×45×60 cm), substrate (Drainage plus coco humus, plenty of bromeliads, film canisters as spawning sites), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.