The golden dart frog is one of the most poisonous animals on Earth. One little frog carries enough toxin in its skin to kill 10–20 people.

This frog doesn’t bite or sting. Its danger comes entirely from its skin. Just touching it with bare hands in the wild can let the poison slip into your body.

Hunters long ago even used its poison on blow darts, which is where the frog got its famous name.

Why Is the Golden Dart Frog So Poisonous?

The secret is a chemical called batrachotoxin. It attacks your nerves and stops your muscles from moving.

Normally, your nerves send tiny electrical signals to tell muscles what to do.

Batrachotoxin locks those signals open. Muscles freeze, including your heart. Breathing stops. Life ends fast.

What’s even crazier is the amount of poison this tiny frog carries. One frog holds about one milligram in its skin.

That’s tiny, but enough to kill 10–20 adult humans (or even two elephants).

Where Do They Get Their Poison?

You might wonder how such a small frog gets such a strong toxin. The answer is in its food.

Golden dart frogs eat tiny insects like ants, mites, and beetles that carry special chemicals. Inside the frog, those chemicals are turned into batrachotoxin and stored in the skin.

This means the frog doesn’t make the poison itself, it collects it from its diet.

Scientists noticed something interesting: frogs raised in captivity on a different diet lose their poison.

They stay bright and colorful, but their skin becomes harmless. This shows just how important rainforest food is for keeping their defense strong.

Bright Colors as a Warning

If you saw one in the wild, you wouldn’t mistake it for a leaf or rock. Its skin shines yellow, orange, or even golden green.

This isn’t just for show. The colors say: “Don’t eat me, I’m dangerous.”

This warning, called aposematism, works well. Many poisonous animals use it; from monarch butterflies to coral snakes.

Predators that ignore it quickly learn their lesson. A mouthful of burning, numbing toxin isn’t something they forget.

The next time that predator sees another similarly colored frog, it remembers the bad experience it once had.

In this way, the bright colors act as a defense on their own.

How Poisonous Is It Compared to Other Animals?

Even though it’s tiny, this frog is incredibly potent. Compare it to other famous poisonous creatures:

• King cobra: Its venom can kill an elephant, but only if it bites. The frog only needs you to touch it.
• Pufferfish: Its toxin can paralyze humans, but usually only if someone eats the fish. The frog’s poison works just from skin contact.
• Box jellyfish: Its sting can stop the heart fast. Still, the frog ranks higher when you look at dose-to-size.

At just two ounces, this tiny frog is one of the deadliest animals in the world.

How Indigenous People Used the Poison

Long before scientists studied it, people in Colombia already knew its power. Hunters would carefully touch their blow darts to the frog’s skin.

The poison stuck, and when the dart hit an animal, it worked right away. Monkeys, birds, or other prey died quickly, making the hunt easier.

That’s where the name “dart frog” comes from. Not every dart frog was used this way, but the golden dart frog was especially famous.

Is It Dangerous to Humans Today?

Could a person die just by holding one? In the wild, yes. Bare skin touching it could let poison in through tiny cuts or pores, which could make you very sick.

In captivity, golden dart frogs are safe. Without their rainforest diet, they don’t produce the deadly toxin. People keep them as pets and enjoy their bright colors without worry.

Still, wild frogs should never be touched. Even scientists wear gloves and handle them very carefully.

How the Poison Works Inside the Body

Once batrachotoxin enters the body, it spreads fast:

• It reaches your nerve cells.
• Sodium channels stay locked open.
• Signals between the brain, nerves, and muscles freeze.
• Muscles contract and can’t relax.
• The heart beats irregularly, then stops.
• Breathing muscles fail, leading to death.

It all happens very quickly. There’s no known cure. Doctors can only try to support breathing and heart function while the poison slowly leaves the system. Survival is unlikely.

Can Any Animals Survive the Poison?

Some animals have found a way. Certain snakes, like Leimadophis epinephelus, are resistant. Their bodies don’t let the poison lock sodium channels, so they can safely eat the frog.

For most animals, even a tiny bit of skin would be deadly.

Why Does Such a Small Frog Need Such Strong Poison?

It might seem strange that a frog weighing less than two ounces carries poison strong enough to kill elephants. The answer is survival.

Rainforests are full of predators, snakes, birds, and mammals hunting for food. A small, slow frog would normally be an easy meal.

But with skin packed with batrachotoxin, it’s not easy prey. Predators learn to stay away, and if one tries, the frog usually survives because the predator spits it out. The poison acts like a shield, giving the frog a chance to live, breed, and keep its kind going.

What Happens if the Frog Loses Its Poison?

Frogs raised outside the rainforest don’t develop the toxin. If wild frogs lost their poisonous food, they would still be bright, but the warning wouldn’t be true. Predators might test them again, and more frogs would be eaten.

This shows how closely their survival depends on the rainforest. Protecting their home also protects their food and their defense.

Can Humans Use the Poison in Medicine?

Scientists study batrachotoxin for medicine. Since it affects nerves, it helps us understand how the body works. There’s hope it could lead to new drugs for pain relief or nerve diseases.

Of course, the poison is too deadly to use directly. But by studying it, researchers might find safe ways to copy its effects. Even dangerous animals can teach humans useful things.

How Do the Frogs Avoid Poisoning Themselves?

One of the most amazing things about golden dart frogs is how they carry deadly poison without ever harming themselves.

Scientists found that these frogs have special gene changes that protect them from their own deadly toxin.

Their sodium channels are naturally altered so the poison cannot stick, keeping the frog safe from its own defense.

This shows how clever and surprising nature can be when it comes to helping animals survive.

Should We Fear or Admire the Golden Dart Frog?

It’s easy to fear such a poisonous animal. But fear doesn’t tell the whole story. The frog isn’t an enemy. It doesn’t chase or attack people. Its poison is just a defense.

Seen this way, the frog is a survivor. Its bright skin and deadly shield are tools to live in a dangerous forest.

Many local people respect it, and scientists handle it with care, knowing one of nature’s most powerful secrets lives inside a tiny body.

Conclusion

So how poisonous is the golden dart frog? It’s at the very top, more poisonous than cobras, pufferfish, or jellyfish when compared by dose to body size.

Yet it’s only a threat if handled carelessly in the wild.

This tiny frog shows how even the smallest creatures can hold huge power.

Ezra Mushala

Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.

snakeinformer.com

The post How Poisonous Is the Golden Dart Frog? first appeared on Snake Informer.

In general, captive poison dart frogs benefit from UVB light that mimics the level of UV exposure they would get in the wild. Many poison dart frog species live on the floor of thick primary rainforests, but they are still exposed to diffused and reflected UVB permeating the rainforest shade. 

That being said, it’s important to note that many poison dart frog species can survive without UVB lighting, provided that adequate levels of vitamin D3 are provided in the diet.

Many keepers have raised and bred several species of poison dart frogs in captivity, in the absence of UVB light – which proves that UVB is not strictly essential for all species.

However, it’s still best practice to provide low levels of UVB lighting for optimal health and wellbeing

Understanding UV light

All of the energy from the sun that reaches the earth arrives as solar radiation. This solar radiation is transmitted in waves or particles at different wavelengths and frequencies – known as the electromagnetic spectrum.  

The spectrum is generally divided into radio waves, microwaves, infrared (IR), visible light, ultraviolet (UV), X-rays, and gamma-rays.

Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths than visible light, which makes it invisible to the naked eye.

It is commonly subdivided into ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC), based on their wavelengths.

All of the UVC and most of the UVB radiation (about 95%) is absorbed by the earth’s ozone layer, so nearly all of the ultraviolet radiation received on Earth is UVA.

Amphibians need both UVB and UVA light from the sun to live healthy lifestyles but do not need UVC.

• UVA light helps regulate behaviors such as feeding, diurnal movement, mating, and similar activities. Frogs will generally have a positive response if exposed to UVA light. Increased reproductive behavior, feeding, and activity levels can often be seen.
• UVB light allows frogs to synthesize vitamin D3 inside their skin. Vitamin D3 helps the frog to absorb calcium in the gastrointestinal tract, which is crucial for bone structure and growth.
• UVC light is not required for amphibians, and at high levels, it can be harmful to most animals.

Only the sun can provide all the radiation wavelengths necessary for amphibian metabolism from a single source.

However, in captivity, it’s recommended to somewhat replicate this through a variety of different types of artificial light sources.

UVB For Captive Frogs

UVB plays an important role in the vitamin D3 metabolism of many captive frogs. Vitamin D3 allows calcium to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as having other important functions.

Vitamin D3 deficiency in frogs can lead to low calcium levels which can result in bone density issues, poor digestive tract motility, muscle weakness, reduced immune system, and neurological symptoms such as twitching and seizures.

One of the most common conditions is called metabolic bone disease (MBD) where the bones lose their calcium stores and become very weak and rubbery.

Do Poison Dart Frogs Really Need UVB?

In general, captive poison dart frogs will benefit from a UVB light that mimics the level of UVB exposure they would get in the wild.

Most poison dart frogs live in primary rainforests, with dense canopies where much of the direct sunlight is absorbed by the foliage.

However, they are still exposed to solar radiation throughout the day in light gaps, and sunflecks under forest canopies.

Sunflecks are brief patches of sunlight in the understory of an ecosystem. They are caused by either wind moving branches and/or leaves in the canopy or as the sun moves during the day.

Since poison dart frogs are naturally exposed to UVB in the wild, captive frogs may also befit from low levels of UVB lighting.

That said, many poison dart frog species have been proven to be able to survive and stay healthy with no access to ultraviolet light, provided that adequate levels of vitamin D3 are provided in the diet.

Poison dart frogs are generally insectivores, and in nature, obtain a considerable proportion of their vitamin D3 from their diet.

Dart frog keepers commonly choose not to provide UVB for their frogs, and instead supplement their diet with vitamin D3.

However, even though poison dart frogs can survive without UVB, they may still benefit from the ability to experience at least some gentle UVB during daylight hours.

How to Provide UVB Light for Dart Frogs

UVB can be provided by several types of lights. There are bulbs that provide heat, bulbs that provide light, and bulbs that provide both.

In the United States, UVB bulbs are generally available in 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0.

10.0 UVB bulbs are typically used for reptiles that thrive in full sun environments, such as deserts, for example, bearded dragons.

5.0 bulbs are generally used for reptile species such as many chameleons, that live in forests, where much of the sunlight is absorbed by the foliage.

UVB 2.0 lamps that run fairly cool are preferred for most dart frog species because of their generally low UV-B and temperature requirements.

The UVB bulb should be housed in a reflective fixture directly above the terrarium, and the frog should not be able to get too close to the lamp.

Remember to provide a few places your frog can hide in to escape from the light. You can do this by placing branches or plants in a way to provides shaded areas.

UVB bulbs should be used during the day and turned off during the night to mimic daytime and nighttime.

Every type of frog has slightly different needs but a general rule of thumb is to keep the UVB light on for 12 – 14 hours and off for 10 – 12 hours.

UVB Bulbs Degrade Over Time

It’s important to note that all UVB sources degrade over time. As the bulb degrades, visible light output can remain the same – but UVB production will slowly begin to drop off as soon as the bulb is turned on.

UVB bulbs have a coating inside the glass that allows them to emit UVB lighting. This coating wears off over time and the bulb will stop producing the UVB your frog needs.

At this point, the bulb will serve no other purpose than providing visible light and must be replaced for the continued health and well-being of your pet.

The rate at which bulbs degrade depends greatly on the type of bulb, and how long the bulb is being used per day.

In general,

• Linear and compact fluorescent bulbs will need to be replaced about every 6 months
• Mercury Vapor bulbs will typically last 1 year with a wire ballast
• Metal Halide bulbs can last up to 2 years

It’s a good idea to monitor the UV output of your bulb with a UV meter. A great one that is popular among many reptile and amphibian hobbyists is the UVB meter sold by Solartech under the brand name “Solarmeter 6.2.”

If you opt to go without a UVB meter, you should consider replacing the bulbs within the time frames recommended by the manufacturer.

UVB Effectiveness and Blocking

As the distance between the UVB bulb and your pet increases, the usable UVB radiation decreases rapidly. Most bulbs provide UV levels and readings at a recommended minimum distance from the bulb.

Make sure to consult the specific manufacturer’s recommendation often found on packaging material, or in a manual or guide found in the box.

In addition, glass and acrylic (also known as Plexiglass) block UVB rays, so if there is any glass or acrylic between your UVB source, and your pet – the pet will not receive any benefit from the UVB bulb.

Also, a screen lid can significantly reduce the amount of UVB available to your frog. In general, the closer or more dense the mesh, the less UVB passes through the screen. It’s a good idea to use as large a mesh size as possible when selecting a screen top for your pet.

When most UVB sources report their UVB output at a certain distance, this reading is often taken with no obstructions between the bulb and the UVB meter.

Can Dart Frogs Receive Too Much UVB?

Excessively high doses of UVB radiation can be harmful, or even lethal to most frog species, including poison dart frogs. This can happen from prolonged exposure to UVB, incorrectly installed UVB light sources or use of UVB light sources with too high an intensity.

It is well-known that in mammals, excessive exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays – or their artificially produced equivalent – can be harmful. The situation in amphibians has not been studied in detail but is almost certain to be similar.

Poison dart frogs have very thin delicate skin, and in the wild, they make special effort to avoid exposure to damaging ultraviolet-B radiation.

Although the UV output from many lamps sold for reptile and amphibian use is only a fraction of that found in natural sunshine, all artificial sources of UV radiation must be treated with respect.

Some UV lamps emit very high UV radiation at close range, so the manufacturers’ recommended minimum distances should always be taken seriously.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to ensure that your dart frogs are not exposed to levels of UVB which would be unnaturally high for a wild animal of that species in its normal habitat.

Extra UVB above the requirement for D3 production is of no benefit.

Sources:

Kats LB, Bucciarelli GM, Schlais DE, Blaustein AR, Han BA (2012) Ultraviolet Radiation Influences Perch Selection by a Neotropical Poison-Dart Frog. PLoS ONE 7(12): e51364. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0051364

Dr. Robert Browne, Dr. Francis Vercammen, and Rachael E. Antwis (2009). UV-B, Vitamin D3, and amphibian health and behavior (PDF).

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Mission Directorate. (2010). Ultraviolet Waves. Retrieved [June 11, 2023], from NASA Science website: http://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves

Ezra Mushala

Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.

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The post Do Poison Dart Frogs Need UVB? first appeared on Snake Informer.

Generally, poison dart frogs can swim but are not very good swimmers. Unlike aquatic frogs, dart frogs lack webbing between their toes. Instead, each of their toes has a flattened tip, and a suction cup pad to help them grip onto vegetation. They are usually found near water but spend very little time there. 

Poison dart frogs are either terrestrial or semi-arboreal – depending on the species. As such, their physical traits are significantly different from those of aquatic frogs.

Poison Dart Frog Tadpoles Are Strong Swimmers

Like most frogs, poison dart frogs hatch from eggs, and start their lives as fully aquatic tadpoles. Tadpoles are very different from adult dart frogs.

This is because they are highly adapted for their aquatic life. They have external gills, to help them breathe in the water – and also have a flat fin-like tail to help them swim.

They swim by flapping their tail from side to side and are excellent swimmers.

Tadpoles Turn Into Juvenile Poison Dart Frogs

After a few months, the tadpoles will go through a process known as metamorphosis, in which they will transform into juvenile frogs.

During metamorphosis, the thyroid gland secretes a growth hormone called thyroxine.

This hormone triggers the tadpoles to:

• Lose the gills, and develop lungs for breathing air
• Absorb the tail into the body
• Grow strong legs for moving on land
• Remodel other organs to form an adult frog

Once this process is complete, tiny froglets (miniature versions of adult frogs), will leave the water, and go on to live a terrestrial, or semi-arboreal life.

These froglets will grow into adult poison dart frogs, and when they are sexually mature – they will lay eggs and transport their tadpoles to individual pools of water.

Adult Poison Dart Frogs Are Not Very Strong Swimmers

Adult dart frogs spend most of their time in humid environments on land and very rarely go into the water. For this reason, their features are highly suited for a life on land, rather than in the water – so they are not very strong swimmers.

However, they are still fairly decent swimmers, and can easily swim around and get out of a pond or another water body – if they happen to fall in.

Why Adult Poison Dart Frogs Are Not Strong Swimmers

Poison dart frogs have small, light bodies. They also have long toes to help wrap around small branches and cling to vegetation.

Their toes have large, round toe pads that work like suction cups to help them cling to wet leaves and other smooth surfaces. These “sticky toes” mean dart frogs can even cling to glass, sometimes completely upside down!

As efficient as these features are for a terrestrial lifestyle, they are not very good for swimming.

Aquatic frogs generally have fully webbed footing and strong powerful hind legs for propelling the frog when in the water.

Since poison dart frogs lack these features, they are not strong swimmers.

How Do Poison Dart Frogs Stay Hydrated?

Frogs have thin, highly permeable skin. They do not drink water through their mouths as we do – instead, they absorb all the moisture they need through their skin.

Most poison dart frogs inhabit humid, primary rainforests, and hydrate by absorbing moisture from the air, and from small water pockets and droplets on leaves, and other surfaces.

They are not dependent on direct access to water like aquatic frogs and generally do not swim or soak in deep water.

How Do Poison Dart Frogs Swim?

Like all frogs, tree frogs swim by pushing water backward with their hind legs.

The legs are usually kicked back simultaneously, but they can sometimes move independently, particularly during slow swimming.

Can Poison Dart Frogs Drown?

Like most frogs and other terrestrial animals, poison dart frogs can drown.

They have lungs, that they use to breathe air (in addition to breathing through their skin), and if their lungs fill up with water, these frogs can drown.

If a poison dart frog gets into a deep water body, and tires out before it can swim out of the water, it can drown.

Do Poison Dart Frogs Lay Eggs in Water?

Unlike most frog species, poison dart frogs do not lay their eggs in the water. Rather, they lay their eggs in moist, protected environments on land.

This could be in leaf litter, logs, palm leaves, bromeliad plants, and even in small animal burrows – as long as they are sheltered and not exposed to the rain.

Once the female lays her clutch of eggs, the male will fertilize them and take care of them until they hatch. He will provide protection and keep the eggs moist.

Sometimes, he may turn the eggs over to make sure the developing embryos receive enough oxygen.

When the eggs hatch, the tadpoles will wriggle onto the male’s back, and he carries them to individual pools of water where they finish development.

This is typically in small pools of rainwater collected in tree holes, or bromeliads.

Once in the water, the tadpoles will swim around and eat algae and detritus, such as dead insects that fall into the water.

In some species, such as the strawberry poison dart frog (Oophaga pumilio), the females will also take care of the tadpoles by unfertilized eggs for them to eat until they turn into froglets.

This is called “oophagy” and is one of the adaptations that many amphibians have developed to survive in harsh environments.

Common Questions

 Can Poison Dart Frogs Go in the Water? Poison dart frogs can go in the water, and do so to deposit their tadpoles into small pools of rainwater collected in bromeliads. However, they will generally not go into the water outside of the breeding season, preferring to instead spend most of their time on land.

Are Poison Dart Frogs Good Swimmers? Generally, poison dart frogs are very decent swimmers. However, they lack webbing between their toes, so they are not as strong of swimmers as aquatic frogs with fully webbed feet – and powerful hind legs for propelling them in the water.

Do Blue Poison Dart Frogs Like to Swim? Like all poison dart frogs, blue poison dart frogs can swim; however, they lack webbing between their toes and are not the strongest of swimmers. They do not spend much of their time in the water.

Conclusion

Poison dart frogs start their lives as fully aquatic tadpoles; in this stage, they have gills, flat-paddle-like tails, and are very strong swimmers.

Over time, the tadpoles will grow and go through metamorphosis and transform into froglets that live entirely on land. These froglets will grow into adult tree frogs that live a terrestrial, or semi-arboreal life, depending on the species.

Adult poison dart frogs can swim, but they are not strong swimmers because their anatomy is better suited for their terrestrial lifestyle than it is for swimming.

Ezra Mushala

Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.

snakeinformer.com

The post Can Poison Dart Frogs Swim? (Everything You Need to Know first appeared on Snake Informer.

Depending on the species, poison dart frogs can live anywhere from 3 to as long as 15 years in the wild. However, in captivity, they can live much longer as most of their natural threats are eliminated. Some species have been recorded living up to 23, and some even longer. 

There are over 200 species of poison dart frogs, and the exact lifespan varies between species.

However, captive poison dart frogs will almost always live longer than those in the wild, provided they are cared for properly.

The Lifespan of 32 Poison Dart Frog Species

As earlier mentioned, how long a poison dart frog will live is dependent on the species.

For example, Dyeing poison dart frogs commonly live 15 years in captivity and have even been recorded living over 20 years. 

On the other hand, Golden poison frogs typically do not live longer than 10 years.

Below Is a Table That Shows Approximately How Long 32 Poison Dart Frog Species Live.

Keep in mind that these numbers are not set in stone. Scientific study on the lifespan of poison dart frogs is scant, and the little information there is may vary in different literature.

Also, the maximum age capable for some species may be significantly underestimated, considering the longevity of similar species.

For example, the lifespan of the Strawberry poison dart frog (Oophaga pumilio), may be underestimated considering that the closely related Green-and-black poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus) commonly lives 17 years in captivity, and sometimes even longer.

Poison Dart Frog Lifespan: Wild vs Captive

Captive poison dart frogs will typically live much longer than those in the wild – provided they are given proper care.

Wild poison dart frogs have to deal with disease, extreme weather and sometimes struggle to find food.

In comparison, captive poison dart frogs are shielded from the elements and have a seemingly never-ending supply of food.

They do not deal with the same problems or encounter the same challenges as those in the wild.

Factors That Influence the Lifespan of Poison Dart Frogs in the Wild

Several things influence how long wild Poison dart frogs will live.

1. Presence of Predators

Poison dart frogs have very potent toxins, partly due to the diet they eat – so they have very few predators.

To warn predators of their toxicity, they often sport bright or contrasting colors. This is known as ‘aposematism’ or ‘warning coloration’.

Think of it like holding up a sign that says “Stay away from me, I’m poisonous!”

An animal that eats a brightly colored poison dart frog will get very sick (or even die) and remember the experience.

The next time the animal sees another similarly colored frog, it will associate the coloration with danger and learn to avoid that particular species.

However, this does not mean poison dart frogs are completely invulnerable to predators.

There is one predator that frequently preys on poison dart frogs: the fire-bellied snake (Leimadophis epinephelus).

These snakes have developed a resistance to the toxins produced by poison dart frogs – and are known to regularly prey on Golden poison frogs, the most toxic of all poison dart frogs.

However, since fire-bellied snakes are small, they only prey on juvenile poison dart frogs.

2. Availability of Food

Wild poison dart frogs get all the nutrition they need from the wide variety of prey they eat. If there is an abundance of food where a poison dart frog lives, it can live for a long time.

However, if a dart frog lives in an area where it finds find it hard to find food, and frequently goes long periods without eating – the frog is unlikely to live a long life.

3. Disease & Injury

All frogs can suffer from a variety of illnesses and parasitic infections. They are particularly vulnerable as they age and their immune systems weaken.

Poison dart frogs are threatened by fungal infection. One particularly harmful fungus is Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

This fungus attacks the parts of a frog’s skin that have keratin in them, and can cause a poison dart frog to develop a fatal skin disease called ‘chytridiomycosis’.

Infected frogs will excessively shed their skin – and their skin may also thicken and have discoloration.

Since frogs use their skin to breathe (in addition to their lungs), this disrupts their respiration and is often fatal.

In addition, a wild poison dart frog getting a simple injury could be fatal. If the injury doesn’t kill it directly, it could reduce its ability to find food, leading to starvation.

4. Climate

In the wild, frogs are exposed to the elements and ever-changing weather.

Heat waves, dry spells, heavy downpours, freezes, and floods are all things that could significantly affect the lifespan of a wild poison dart frog.

5. Human Activity

Human activity affects a lot of wild animals, poison dart frogs included.

Loss of habitat due to illegal logging, agriculture, and human encroachment is the most significant threat poison dart frogs face in the wild.

Since poison dart frogs live in rainforests, this reduces the territory available for them to live and thrive and, and can hurt their life expectancy.

In addition, many fertilizers, weed killers, and pesticides, used in local farming can retard the growth of poison dart frogs, and disrupt their natural reproductive cycles.

Pollution can also weaken the frogs’ immune systems and make them more vulnerable to disease and infection.

Due to this, many poison dart frog species are facing declining numbers.

Factors That Affect the Lifespan of Poison Dart Frogs in Captivity

Since some poison dart frogs have very long lives, it can be difficult for someone to care for a poison dart frog for several years without a single accident, or even a brief period of neglect.

Due to this, many captive poison dart frogs do not live to their potential age.

1. Housing & Enclosure

A captive poison dart frog will need a habitat that very closely replicates its natural environment. Failing to provide this will compromise the welfare of the frog.

In addition, different poison dart frog species have very specific requirements concerning lighting, temperature, substrate, and other things.

Failing to meet the specific housing requirements of a captive poison dart frog can dramatically affect its life expectancy.

2. Diet

In the wild, poison dart frogs can get all the nutrients they need from the wide variety of prey they eat. In captivity, their diet is only limited to a few things.

If a captive poison dart frog is given a low-nutrient diet, it could develop health problems such as metabolic bone disease – and many other conditions that will negatively affect its life expectancy. It could also lead to the frog having a weakened immune system.

This weakened immune system would then make it possible for opportunistic infections to cause serious, sometimes and sometimes, fatal illnesses.

For this reason, captive frogs should be fed a varied and balanced diet so they can live long and healthy lives.

3. Accidents

Sometimes, things go wrong. For beginners, this is usually due to poor knowledge. But even for the experienced, accidents still happen.

One of the most common accidents is a frog escaping from its enclosure. Since frogs need to keep their skin moist, an escaped poison dart frog may dry out, or starve if is not found quickly enough.

The prevalence of accidents means many captive poison dart frogs die before they can live to their maximum age.

4. Neglect

Captive frogs need ongoing care. If poison dart frog is neglected for long periods, it could be harmful, or even fatal to the frog.

Also, neglect often leads to dirt and debris building up in the frog’s enclosure. A dirty environment is a perfect place for bacteria and fungi to build up.

This can lead to a frog developing skin lesions and other infections, negatively affecting its lifespan.

Common Questions About Poison Dart Frog Longevity

How Long Do Blue Poison Dart Frogs Live? Blue poison dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus) are thought to live about 4 – 6 years in the wild. However, in captivity, they commonly live over 15 years.

How Long Do Dyeing Poison Dart Frogs Live?  Dyeing poison dart frogs(Dendrobates tinctorius) are thought to live about 4 – 6 years in the wild, but they can live 15 years in captivity. Under ideal conditions, some Dyeing poison dart frogs have lived over 20 years.

How Long Do Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs Live? The lifespan of Strawberry poison dart frogs (Oophaga pumilio) in the wild is unknown. However, they can live over 7 years in captivity. Still, their lifespan may be significantly underestimated considering that the closely related Dendrobates auratus can live over 17 years in captivity.

Sources:

Nichols DK, Lamirande EW, Pessier AP, Longcore JE. Experimental transmission of cutaneous chytridiomycosis in dendrobatid frogs. J Wildl Dis. 2001 Jan;37(1):1-11. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-37.1.1. PMID: 11272482.

Jory van Thiel, Muzaffar A. Khan, et al. (2022). Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals. (PDF)

Poison Frog Colors Are Honest Signals of Toxicity, Particularly for Bird Predators. Martine E. Maan and Molly E. Cummings. The American Naturalist 2012 179:1, E1-E14.

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Ezra Mushala

Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.

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