Rio Santiago poison frog (Excidobates captivus)

Short answers

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

40×40×50 cm for a pair, planted.

Rio Santiago poison frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C, basking spot No basking spot — direct heat is harmful, at night 18–21 °C.

Rio Santiago poison frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Weak UVB recommended (UVB 2.0), no strong lamp.

Rio Santiago poison frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–15 years.

Rio Santiago poison frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot — direct heat is harmful

Humidity

80–95 %, mist daily

UVB

Weak UVB recommended (UVB 2.0), no strong lamp

Enclosure

Minimum size

40×40×50 cm for a pair, planted

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate with a drainage layer, moss, leaf litter, bromeliads and film canisters as spawning sites

Feeding

Food

Springtails, fruit flies and aphids, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

1,7–2,1 cm

Life expectancy

8–15 years

Origin

Northern Peru

Protection status

CITES II, IUCN "Vulnerable" — proof of origin required

Brumation

No winter rest, at most a short dry spell to trigger breeding

Cohabitation

Keeping a pair is least stressful. Given the incomplete conservation data (IUCN: Data Deficient) and low availability in the trade, pay particular attention to documented captive-bred origin.

Notes

Long thought lost, and rediscovered in 2008.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Rio Santiago poison frog (Excidobates captivus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Marañón poison frog (Excidobates mysteriosus) – 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
• Poison frogs (Ranitomeya imitator) – Beginner to intermediate
• Poison frogs (Ranitomeya variabilis) – Intermediate
• Blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates azureus) – Beginner to intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Rio Santiago poison frog (Excidobates captivus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (40×40×50 cm for a pair, planted), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with a drainage layer, moss, leaf litter, bromeliads and 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.