Strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio)

Short answers

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

50 × 50 × 50 cm for a pair.

Strawberry poison frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C (max. 28 °C), at night 20–22 °C.

Strawberry poison frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional.

Strawberry poison frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Strawberry poison frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C (max. 28 °C)

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–80 % by day, ~100 % at night

UVB

Optional

Enclosure

Minimum size

50 × 50 × 50 cm for a pair

Substrate

Rainforest with plenty of bromeliads (nursery pools), leaf litter, moss

Feeding

Food

Springtails (essential), fruit flies, the smallest insects

Feeding interval

Daily, dusted

Key facts

Adult size

~1,7–2,4 cm

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

Central America (Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B, registration required

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

In pairs (1.1) or one male with two females (1.2). Never two males in one enclosure — they suppress each other until one stops eating. Females also show aggression, but noticeably less. Tadpole rearing is done by the female alone in bromeliad funnels, feeding the tadpoles unfertilised eggs every two to three days.

Notes

The female rears the tadpoles on nutritive eggs in bromeliads – dense bromeliad planting is needed. Sensitive to heat above 28 °C; captive-bred animals are non-toxic.

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

• Little devil poison frog (Oophaga sylvatica) – Expert
• Granular poison frog (Oophaga granulifera) – Intermediate
• Harlequin poison frog (Oophaga histrionica) – Expert
• Lehmann's poison frog (Oophaga lehmanni) – Expert
• 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 Strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (50 × 50 × 50 cm for a pair), substrate (Rainforest with plenty of bromeliads (nursery pools), leaf litter, moss), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.