Small creatures. Extraordinary world.   •   A Really Byte field guide
Dendrobatidae · Species field note

Golden poison frog

Phyllobates terribilis

Golden poison frog

Wilfried Berns · CC BY-SA 2.0 de. Cropped for display. Full photo credit & licence

Region
South America
Main habitat
ground
Adult body length
About 4–5 cm; females often larger
Keeping suitability
For experienced keepers

A little natural history

A Colombian forest-floor frog famous for extremely potent toxins in wild animals. Captive-bred frogs fed suitable captive diets differ chemically, but should still be observed with minimal handling.

The wonderfully odd bit

Males carry newly hatched tadpoles to water on their backs.

Would this frog suit a home?

Only consider well-documented captive-bred stock with specialist advice, reliable small live foods and carefully maintained conditions. Never collect or handle wild poison frogs.

Only consider legally obtained, captive-bred animals. Check permits and restrictions where you live, test the habitat first, and arrange an amphibian-experienced vet. This brief profile is not a complete husbandry sheet.

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