ANTHONY’S POISON ARROW FROG

Quick Care Guide

Scientific Name: Epipedobates anthonyi
Adult Size: Approx. 2.5–3 cm | Lifespan: 10+ years | Activity: Diurnal

📏 SIZE

• Adults reach approximately 2.5–3 cm.
• Small, active terrestrial dart frogs.
• Juveniles are tiny and require very small live food.

🏠 HOUSING

• Secure, well-ventilated bioactive tropical vivarium.
• Around 45 × 45 × 45 cm is suitable for a pair or small group; larger is preferable.
• Provide deep leaf litter, cork bark, live plants and plenty of cover.
• Use a drainage layer to prevent waterlogged substrate.
• Ensure all gaps are securely sealed — juveniles can escape through very small openings.

🌡️ TEMPERATURE

• Day: 21–25°C.
• Warm area: up to around 26°C.
• Night: 18–22°C.
• Avoid temperatures above 27–28°C.
• Never allow the enclosure to overheat.

💡 LIGHTING

• Provide 10–12 hours of light each day.
• LED lighting is excellent for supporting live plants.
• Low-level UVB can be beneficial when correctly positioned.
• Always provide shaded areas.
• No night lighting is required.

💧 HUMIDITY

• Aim for approximately 70–90%, with natural fluctuations.
• Mist with dechlorinated or RO water.
• Keep leaf litter and lower substrate moist but not permanently saturated.
• Good ventilation is essential to prevent stagnant air and mould.

🦟 FOOD

• Feed small live prey such as:
  • Flightless fruit flies
  • Springtails
  • Small micro-crickets
  • Other appropriately sized feeder insects
• Feed small amounts daily or every other day, depending on age and condition.
• Dust prey with a suitable calcium and vitamin supplement.
• Never feed wild-caught insects.

💦 WATER

• Provide clean, dechlorinated/RO water.
• A very shallow water area can be provided, although a deep pool is unnecessary.
• Change standing water regularly.
• Never provide deep water where a frog could drown.

🐚 SHEDDING

• Frogs naturally shed their skin as they grow.
• Most will consume their own shed.
• Stable humidity and hydration help support healthy shedding.
• Never attempt to pull away shed skin.

🤲 HANDLING

• Do not handle routinely.
• Their skin is extremely delicate and can absorb chemicals from hands.
• If movement is necessary, use a clean container rather than catching the frog by hand.
• Avoid handling after using soap, creams, sanitiser or cleaning products.

❤️ HEALTH

• Healthy frogs should be alert, active and feeding regularly.
• Monitor body condition, appetite, skin and movement.
• Warning signs include weight loss, lethargy, abnormal skin, swelling or difficulty moving.
• Seek an amphibian-experienced veterinarian if illness is suspected.

🧹 CLEANING

• Remove faeces, dead insects and spoiled food regularly.
• Keep water containers clean.
• Remove heavily contaminated leaf litter when necessary.
• Do not completely strip an established bioactive enclosure.
• Never use household pesticides, aerosols or harsh chemicals around the vivarium.

🏡 BEFORE YOU BRING YOUR ANIMAL HOME

✓ Secure tropical vivarium
✓ Drainage layer and suitable substrate
✓ Thick leaf-litter layer
✓ Live plants and natural hides
✓ Temperature checked and stable
✓ Hygrometer installed
✓ Safe misting water prepared
✓ Fruit fly/springtail cultures established
✓ Calcium/vitamin supplements available
✓ Bioactive clean-up crew established

⚠️ IMPORTANT BITS

• Overheating is one of the biggest risks — keep temperatures controlled.
• Anthony’s Poison Arrow Frogs are display animals and should not be routinely handled.
• Captive-bred frogs do not have the same toxin profile as wild frogs, which obtain defensive alkaloids through their natural diet.
• Never use untreated tap water, pesticides or chemical cleaners around the enclosure.
• Maintain good ventilation even when humidity is high.
• Do not mix with other frog species.
• Quarantine new frogs before introducing them to an established group.