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Oophaga pumilio Care and Breeding
This article covers everything you need to know about Oophaga pumilio, including care, breeding, and unique behaviors. Learn about their habitat, size, diet, and the fascinating courtship and tadpole-rearing practices.
Oophaga pumilio, commonly known as the strawberry poison dart frog, is a small and brightly colored amphibian native to Central America, particularly in Panama and Costa Rica. This species is well-known for its wide variety of color morphs, with dozens of documented morphs in the wild. As the name "Oophaga" suggests, these frogs are egg-eaters, meaning that their tadpoles feed exclusively on unfertilized eggs. In the wild, their toxicity comes from consuming alkaloid-rich ants, but in captivity, they lose this toxicity due to their diet.
Oophaga pumilio typically reaches a size of 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1 inch) and has a lifespan of around 10 years in captivity with proper care. The species is primarily found in the tropical forests of Central America, particularly Panama and Costa Rica.
Care
Terrarium Size and Keeping
For a pair of Oophaga pumilio, the recommended minimum terrarium size is 45x45x45 cm (18x18x18 inches). The males are highly territorial, so it is not recommended to keep more than one male in an enclosure. We have also observed aggression between females, but it is significantly less than with males. This means that for best results when breeding, and to avoid stress for the animals, it is best to keep them in pairs. However, if a small group is raised together (please avoid siblings to reduce inbreeding), they seem to get along better, even after grown. Our data on this species also indicates that they can be seen the most whenever there are a lot of places for them to hide, so try offering them plenty of hides.
Temperature
The ideal temperature range for Oophaga pumilio is 22–28°C (72–82°F) during the day. Nighttime temperatures can drop to around 20–22°C (68–72°F). These frogs are sensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations, so maintaining a stable environment is key. We have have seen reports of people measuring temperatures of over 32°C in their habitat, and males were still calling. We strongly recommend keeping their maximum temperature at 28°C, as the conditions inside a terrarium can never perfectly correspond to the actual habitat.
Humidity
This species requires high humidity levels of 70–100% to thrive. Mist the tank regularly to keep humidity high, and ensure the substrate retains moisture. Proper airflow is also essential to prevent mold and ensure the frogs remain healthy. If the humidity falls under this value for a short period of time, and there are plenty of high humid spots in the terrarium (like bromeliads), the frogs seem to still be active and we have not observed any negative effects. However it is important to note this is not ideal, and relying on these high humidity areas to keep your animals healthy will have negative effects on the animals long term.
Lighting
Oophaga pumilio needs 12-14 hours of light per day, with a UVB light source recommended for a few hours a week. We made a behavioral analysis of the Oophaga pumilio 'bribri' morph, and our data showed no correlation between the activity of the animals and lighting in the terrarium, so the intensity of the light can be chosen solely on what the plants need.
Breeding
Breeding Setup
For breeding, create a safe and quiet environment with plenty of vertical surfaces for climbing. Keep the humidity high, and offer the animals plenty of food. They will mostly use film cannisters for egg deposition, so make sure to offer plenty. Bromeliads are also a big part of their breeding cycle, but as long as other tadpole deposition sites are offered (water filled film cannisters, pipes, etc.), they will also use them.
Mating Behavior
Males of this species are territorial and will compete with other males for the attention of a female. Once a female is interested, she will pad the male on the back, signaling that she is ready to mate. The male will lead the female to a hidden egg deposition site, often preferring film canisters or similar spaces where the eggs will be protected.
Egg Laying
After mating, the female lays her eggs in secluded locations, typically in moist, sheltered areas. IN captivity, they will mostly use film cannisters. She will deposit several eggs at a time. The male stays close to the female and helps fertilize the eggs, but there is no amplexus.
Tadpole Care
One of the most fascinating aspects of Oophaga pumilio breeding is the tadpoles' feeding behavior. As the species name "Oophaga" suggests, the tadpoles feed on unfertilized eggs provided by the female. About once a week, the female will visit the tadpoles, depositing multiple infertile eggs at each one. The tadpoles consume these eggs along with some of the female’s dead skin, which seems to accelerate growth. It is highly recommended to leave the tadpoles in the parents' tank, as the parents will continue to care for them.
While theoretically possible, feeding tadpoles outside of the parents' tank can be challenging. Some hobbyists have had success using egg clutches from other females, but this is not ideal. Additionally, crushed chicken egg yolk has been used in some cases, though it can quickly dirty the water. Tadpoles are cannibalistic, so they must be housed separately if not kept in the parents' tank, but the parents will typically ensure the tadpoles are well-cared for.
Once the tadpoles have developed their front and back legs, we usually remove them from the parents tank and let them finish developing in a separate enclosure. We do this because catching these froglets in the parents enclosure in nearly impossible!
Seasonal Cycles
For this species, we recommend simulating a dry season for 2-3 months during the winter, in order to let the females recover from producing eggs non stop over the rest of the year. We have observed that the froglets born after this dry season tend to be significantly larger than the ones at the end of the rain season.
Unlike most other dart frog species, O. pumilio will significantly change their behavior during the dry season, and will be much harder to see, so don't get too worried if you don't see them for a week or more during! As long as humidity and temperature are in the right range (about 70% RH and 20-22°C), keep adding dusted fruit flies to their terrarium a couple times a week, and they will be fine!
Morph Overview
References:
Animal Diversity Web - Oophaga pumilio. Available at: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Oophaga_pumilio/ (Accessed: 06.01.2025).
Dendrobase - Oophaga pumilio. Available at: https://www.dendrobase.de/html/D_oophaga_pumilio.html (Accessed: 06.01.2025).
iNaturalist - Oophaga pumilio. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/66278-Oophaga-pumilio (Accessed: 06.01.2025).