Dart Frog Care for Beginners

Contrary to the name, captive poison dart frogs are not poisonous. Wild dart frogs, however, do carry poison. Fortunately, many dart frogs sold through breeders are bred in captivity and do not contain poison. They do not contain poison because of the food they consume while in captivity. Foods fed to dart frogs in captivity do not contain the insects or alkaloids needed for the production of the frog's natural toxins. Fully grown dart frogs are small and only grow to around 2 inches. Before jumping into owning a dart frog, you must understand the care that goes into owning this species.

  1. Habitat

    • Young dart frogs need small areas. Because of the size of a juvenile dart frog, smaller areas allow for easier hunting. Provide juvenile frogs with a small plastic container. Include sphagnum moss or non-organic substrate at the bottom of the container. Dart frogs enjoy leaves, as well. Include a few leaves that are washed off and free of pesticides. You must keep the lid of the container on as much as possible. This keeps the humidity up, which keeps the frog hydrated. After six weeks, move your dart frog to a larger cage -- 10-gallon tanks are ideal for up to two frogs. A layer of cleaned, hydroponic clay pellets serves as the bottom layer in the tank. Place sphagnum moss and leaves, as well as twigs in the tank. You must provide plenty of high-humidity plants in the tank, as well. Use small, potted plants. This makes cleaning the tank and maintaining the plants easier. You must spray the plants daily with water. When you purchase a tank for your frog, you must have a solid lid. Mesh lids let the humidity escape. Ideally, the humidity level of the tank must stay about 80 percent. Tank temperatures must stay between 72 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Placing an aquarium lamp with a 20-watt fluorescent bulb above the tank helps maintain the humidity level. However, you must check the temperature and humidity levels daily so the frog does not become overheated or under-heated.

    Feed

    • Dart frogs are insectivores. Because of the frog's size, small, live insects such as flightless fruit flies and crickets are ideal foods. Certain dart frog owners prefer feeding flightless fruit flies over crickets. Fruit flies are easier to cultivate. Crickets have a tendency to grow quickly and become too big for the frog to handle. Juvenile dart frogs typically eat 20 to 30 fruit flies per day. Juvenile frogs need feeding constantly throughout the day. A grown dart frog eats 50 to 75 fruit flies throughout the day. When the frogs are fully grown, you must feed them at least four days a week. Dark frogs do not need a water bowl. In tanks with proper humidity, dart frogs absorb the water through their bodies. All food needs a dusting of calcium and vitamin supplement before feeding to the frog.

    Breeding

    • Dart frogs reach the ideal breeding age at around 1 year. Once dart frogs are paired off, you must provide breeding areas for successful breeding. Place a petri dish underneath half a coconut shell with a small semi-circle cut in the side for a breeding area. You can also use small film canisters. Once you place the breeding areas throughout the tank, frogs are more willing to breed. After the frog lays eggs, you must remove the eggs for incubation. Store the eggs in an air-tight sandwich container with a wet paper towel at the bottom of the container. Keep a lid on the container and store it in an incubator at around 78 degrees F. With regular watering and close monitoring, eventually, the eggs hatch into tadpoles. Care for the tadpoles in a separate container of water until they grow older.

    Handling

    • Dart frogs are hands-off pets. Not only is the frog's skin delicate, but constant handling is very stressful for the frog. However, in situations where handling is required, you must pick up the frog very carefully. Cup your hands over the frog and do not hold on tightly. If you do not feel comfortable putting the frog in your hands, use a small film canister with a lid.