One of the first questions someone has when they first see these frogs is: ARE THEY POISONOUS? The answer is simple and yet complex. In captivity these frogs are not poisonous. It is believed that they gain the chemicals they need to produce the toxins from the insects they eat in their native environments. So, without this special diet they are unable to produce the toxins that have helped give them the name "poison dart frogs". Housing: In general housing requirements for various dart frogs is similar. The following information will give general needs that all dart frogs have. I would encourage you to inquire or study the specific requirements of the frog you are planning on keeping and design the tank with those specific needs in mind. Because these frogs are from the tropical rainforests of Central and South American they require humidity to be between 80-100%. This is accomplished by designing a terrarium that has a minimal amount of ventilation. Although some ventilation is necessary for air circulation and healthy plant growth too much will enable all humidity to escape, allowing the tank to become dangerously dry for the frogs. It is also advised that the entire tank be misted on a regular and frequent basis to simulate rain, maintain a high level of humidity, wash any debris off of the plants and also to provide the plants with water. Their tank also needs to be kept in a temperature range of about 78-85 degrees. Sufficient lighting is more important for healthy plant growth than for the frogs. It is important that a regular photo period (day/night cycle) is set up for the frogs though. This can be accomplished by hooking any terrarium lights up to an inexpensive timer and setting the timer for 12 hours "daylight" and 12 hours "night". As long as these simple requirements are met and the general tank requirements for the specific species you are planning on keeping are met than tank can otherwise be setup to your liking. There are many options of plants that are suitable and that will thrive in a rainforest terrarium. It is important to use plants that are fertilizer and pesticide free to avoid possible health issues to the inhabiting frogs. Plants not only make for a beautiful, natural looking tank but will also provide your frogs with cover and hiding spots. I have seen a lot of different tanks that people have "landscaped" and planted for their frogs, many of them beautiful. One thing that I have noticed is that some of the tanks, although gorgeous, are a little unrealistic of the habitat these frogs live in. I guess there are two approaches to tank setup, one that is natural to the forest floor and the other being designed to be a little more pleasing to the eye. Below are a couple different photos of the forest in Peru (thanks Greg). You could even take a walk in the woods and be inspired by the different "scenes" that you see. One thing is for sure, the forest floor is covered in leaf litter. I hope that these things help inspire you as you create a natural, beautiful tank for your frogs.
Food: Because of their small size, dart frogs require small food items. Half grown crickets are out of the question for almost all dart frogs. The food of choice for most frog keepers are the flightless fruit fly. These flies are easily kept and cultured with little care and should be dusted with calcium and multivitamin prior to feeding. Other popular and easy to culture insects are springtails, wax worms and four beetle larva.
This book is from the “Professional Breeders Series” written by Henkel and Schmidt. It is packed full of very helpful information on a variety of dart frog species. I would highly recommend getting a copy for yourself. It gives general housing requirements and also mentions a little about the breeding habits of these beautiful frogs.
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