Dendrobates tinctorius
Dyeing poison frog
A planted vivarium with leaf litter and a shallow water dish. Ventilation has to match the humidity so the air is not stale.
Legal status
- CITES II
Dendrobates tinctorius is recorded as CITES Appendix II under Dendrobatidae spp. in Appendix II. No EU annex letter was verified for this exact species in this record, so the annex field is empty. Confirm Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/966 before you import, sell, or rely on an annex. Not marked as an EU invasive alien species. Not marked venomous. Not named in 50 CFR 16.15. Poisonous skin secretions are not recorded as venom. Check local rules anyway. Check local rules before you keep, move, or rehome an animal. This record is not a permit and not legal advice.
Official sourceNot legal advice. Rules differ by country, and sometimes by region. Check the law that applies to you.
- Temperature
- 22–26°C
- UVB
- Ferguson zone 1. Low, under about 1.0, with plenty of shade
- Humidity
- 80–100%
- Minimum enclosure
- About 45 × 45 × 45 cm for a pair
- Adult size
- About 4–5 cm.
- Lifespan
- Often 5–10 years.
- Difficulty
- intermediate
Diet and feeding
Fruit flies, springtails, and other tiny insects, dusted. Small amounts most days.
Substrate
A drainage layer and a soil mix safe for frogs.
Health
Starvation if the flies are not actually reproducing, and skin infections in a dirty cage. Wild diet toxins are not fully understood in captivity. Treat the skin as poisonous. The legal venomous field stays false because this is not a venomous bite.
Handling
Do not handle. If you must move one, use a rinsed cup. Wash your hands.
Husbandry ranges are general guidance for captive care, not a veterinary prescription or a permit. Confirm the gradient with your own thermometers. UV zones follow Baines et al., Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 4(1), 2016, https://www.jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150. Legal fields use the source link on this species and stay empty when an annex was not verified.