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Care Sheet: Phantasmal Poison Frog (Epipedobates tricolor)

Common Name: Phantasmal Poison-arrow Frog.

Scientific Name: Epipedobates tricolor.

Distribution: Ecuador.

Size: 2.5cm.

Sexing: It is quite difficult to determine the sex of these frogs, the most reliable way is if the males can be heard calling for a mate or to mark its territory. Females do tend to have a more rounded body shape but this is not always reliable.

Colouration: These small Poison-arrow frogs are marked with yellow, tan, green, blue or cream longitudinal stripes on a background of red. The stripes appear wider in wild caught examples.

Requirements: These small frogs are fairly territorial and do best in a large terrarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for a group of 6 adults. They require a well-planted woodland type set-up with a substrate of bark chips or topsoil covered with live moss. Furnishings such as logs, cork bark and live plants (Ferns, Bromeliads, Tillandsia, Orchids) can be arranged to provide a number of climbing, perching and hiding places. A large shallow water bowl (no deeper than the frog's height at rest) must be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. The water will need to be changed daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water whilst changing the water it is a good idea to visually inspect the tank and remove, clean and replace any soiled items. The tank will need to be heated to a temperature somewhere in the region of 18-25°C this can be done with an under-tank heat-mat controlled by a thermostat. It is not advisable to use spot / heat lamps with amphibians and so a separate light source should be provided by the means of a fluorescent UVB tube. Once every two-three weeks the tank and its contents should be completely cleaned and sterilised using an amphibian / reptile friendly disinfectant.

Feeding: Adult frogs require feeding every day, they will take a mixture of suitably sized insects including small crickets, ants, termites, whiteworm, and fruitflies. A calcium and vitamin supplement should be used once a week. Young frogs will take aphids and springtails. These should be fed several times a day and a calcium and vitamin supplement used two-three times a week.