Golden Poison Frog

Overview

The golden poison frog is considered the most toxic frog species in the world ¹². Wild frogs secrete batrachotoxin, a toxin that medical researchers study ². It is one of only three frogs documented being used to poison hunting darts ². Adults are about 47 to 55 mm (1.9 to 2.2 in) long, and females are larger than males ¹. Despite the name, color varies from yellow and deep yellow to orange, mint green and sometimes white, always in a uniform color without spots or stripes ¹.

The toxin is not made by the frog itself. It comes from the wild diet, and captive frogs lose their toxicity without that prey ¹⁴. LafeberVet still advises treating every dart frog as toxic until shown otherwise, because not every frog in the trade is captive bred ³.

A note on our sources. Veterinary care sheets cover dart frogs as a group ³⁴⁵. The husbandry below uses those group targets plus species natural history from the Animal Diversity Web ¹.

Natural history

Golden poison frogs live in a small area of lowland rainforest on the Pacific coast of Colombia, around the upper Río Saija drainage ¹. The region is extremely wet, with hilly terrain at around 100 to 200 m elevation ¹. They are active by day and strictly terrestrial. They have not been seen climbing, even in captivity ¹.

In the wild they eat mainly small ants, plus termites, beetles and other small invertebrates, and that diet supplies their toxins ¹. They are found in fewer than five areas, numbers are falling with deforestation for agriculture, and the IUCN lists the species as Endangered ¹.

Enclosure

• Floor space first. This is a ground-dwelling species ¹, so choose an enclosure with a generous footprint. LafeberVet suggests one to four dart frogs in a heavily planted 20-gallon terrarium ³. Chicago Exotics recommends at least 24 × 12 × 16 inches, and larger is better ⁵.
• Planted and secure. Use live plants, leaf litter, cork bark and hides, with a gap-free lid ⁴⁵.
• Ventilation. A screen section and good drainage keep air moving while the vivarium stays humid ⁴⁵.

Temperature & lighting

Avoid radiant heat sources, which dry out amphibian enclosures ³. Tree of Life warns that temperatures over 82°F can be fatal for dart frogs ⁴. Provide low-intensity full-spectrum lighting ³ on a 12-hour cycle ⁴. If you use UVB, mount it over screen, not glass ⁴⁵.

Humidity

Keep relative humidity high: 80–100% (LafeberVet) ³, 70–100% (Tree of Life) ⁴ or at least 75% (Chicago Exotics) ⁵. Mist regularly so the substrate stays damp but not waterlogged ³. Provide a shallow dish of dechlorinated water ³⁴.

Substrate

Use a layered, bioactive build: a drainage layer, a fabric barrier, fertilizer- and pesticide-free soil, then moss and leaf litter on top ⁴⁵. Springtails and isopods help break down waste ⁴⁵.

Diet & supplementation

• Prey. Small insects such as fruit flies, termites, aphids and pinhead crickets ³. Golden poison frogs typically won't tackle prey larger than an adult cricket ¹.
• Supplements. Dust food with a vitamin and mineral supplement twice weekly for juveniles and once weekly for adults ³. Insect-only diets without supplements cause metabolic bone disease ⁷. Chicago Exotics recommends a supplement containing calcium, vitamin D3 and vitamin A ⁵.

Handling & temperament

These are "look but don't touch" frogs ³. Their skin is fragile ³, and if you must handle one, use moistened gloves ³⁴. Move frogs by coaxing them into a clear tub ³. Wash your hands after working in the vivarium. Amphibians can carry Salmonella ⁹.

Health

Common issues

• Nutritional disease, including metabolic bone disease (soft jaw, fractures, spinal curvature), from poor supplementation ⁴⁷.
• Dehydration when humidity drops ⁴.
• Bacterial and fungal skin infections, linked to dirty substrate or poor ventilation ⁴⁸.
• Stress from too little cover ⁴.

When to see a vet

Book a vet check and fecal parasite test soon after you bring new frogs home ⁵. See an amphibian vet for weight loss, poor appetite, skin color changes, red spots, weakness or loss of balance ⁸.

Breeding overview

Courtship and egg-laying have been observed in captivity ¹. Males attract females with a long, melodious trill ¹. Breeding groups of one female with two or more males have been recorded ¹. Like other poison frogs, they lay small clutches in moist, sheltered spots, and tadpoles are carried to water ¹⁶. Females are larger, and males call and develop thumb pads ¹³.

Legal & ethics

• CITES. Phyllobates terribilis is listed on CITES Appendix II ¹⁰, so international trade needs permits.
• Captive-bred only. The species is Endangered in the wild ¹. Buy only captive-bred frogs from breeders who can document their origin.

Sources

1. Phyllobates terribilis · Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
2. Poison frogs · Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
3. Basic Information Sheet: Poison Dart Frog · LafeberVet
4. Poison Dart Frog Care · Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center
5. Dart Frog Care · Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
6. Poison Frog · San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
7. Nutritional Diseases of Amphibians · Merck Veterinary Manual
8. Common Infectious Diseases of Amphibians · Merck Veterinary Manual
9. Salmonella, Feeder Rodents, and Pet Reptiles and Amphibians · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10. CITES listing: Phyllobates terribilis · Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and CITES Secretariat)

Last reviewed 2026-10-24 by Novel Fauna. This guide is general husbandry information, not veterinary advice. When an animal is sick, see a veterinarian experienced with exotic animals.

Revision history

1. 2026-10-24 Library complete: 20 more cited guides (70 total), Invertebrates group, care targets migration 0020, source title fixes 5cf06a2

Evidence grades: Novel Fauna editorial: source classification, not yet expert-reviewed, 2026-10-25. What the grades mean.

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