# Golden Dart Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) Care Sheet

**URL:** https://reptilecommunity.com/t/golden-dart-frog-phyllobates-terribilis-care-sheet/258
**Category:** General Reptile Chat
**Created:** [November 29, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://reptilecommunity.com/t/golden-dart-frog-phyllobates-terribilis-care-sheet/258 "2025-11-29T22:47:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ReptileCommunity](https://reptilecommunity.com/user_avatar/reptilecommunity.com/reptilecommunity/32/3_2.png) [@ReptileCommunity](https://reptilecommunity.com/u/ReptileCommunity)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://reptilecommunity.com/t/golden-dart-frog-phyllobates-terribilis-care-sheet/258/1 "2025-11-29T22:47:08Z")

</div>

# Golden Dart Frog (_Phyllobates terribilis_) Care Sheet

​A guide for keeping this large, highly terrestrial, and active frog. **Captive-bred frogs are non-toxic.**

## ​1. Overview & Commitment

- ​ **Common Name:** Golden Dart Frog, Phylobate (Focus on _P. terribilis_)

- ​ **Scientific Name:** _Phyllobates_ spp.

- ​ **Natural Habitat:** Highly terrestrial, spending time foraging on the floor of humid rainforests in Colombia.

- ​ **Size:** Very large, up to **5 cm (2 inches)**.

- ​ **Lifespan:**  **15 – 25+ years**.

- ​ **Temperament:** Bold, highly visible, and constantly foraging.

## ​2. Vivarium/Enclosure

- ​**Minimum Enclosure Size (Pair/Single):** **60 x 45 x 45 cm (24 x 18 x 18 inches)**. **Floor space** is most important for these bold foragers.

- ​ **Enclosure Type:** Glass terrariums with moderate screen top for slight ventilation.

- ​ **Structure:** Abundant leaf litter and large cork bark flats, as they are often seen on the ground. Live plants should be robust to handle their size.

## ​3. Substrate (Bioactive Setup)

- ​ **Layers:** Mandatory **drainage layer** , thick **soil/moss layer** , and a deep layer of **leaf litter**.

- ​ **Cleanup Crew:** Springtails and Isopods are essential.

## ​4. Heating & Temperature

- ​**Daytime Range (Crucial):** **22°C – 26°C (72°F – 78°F)**.

- ​ **Nighttime Drop:** Acceptable to drop to **18°C (65°F)**.

- ​ **Heat Safety:** **Do not exceed 28^\circ\text{C} (82^\circ\text{F})**. Monitor closely, as their larger size can make them prone to overheating.

## ​5. Lighting & UV

- ​ **Light:** Full-spectrum LED grow light.

- ​**UVB (Recommended):** Low-level UVB (5-6% T5 tube) is beneficial.

- ​ **Photoperiod:** 12 hours on/12 hours off.

## ​6. Humidity & Hydration

- ​ **Ambient Humidity:** Must be maintained between **80% and 100%**.

- ​ **Misting:** Automated or manual misting 2–3 times daily with **RO or distilled water**.

- ​ **Water Feature:** A small, shallow dish or water feature is easily used by these robust frogs.

## ​7. Diet & Feeding

- ​ **Staple Diet:** _ **Drosophila hydei** _ (larger fruit flies) and small invertebrates.

- ​ **Supplemental Feeders:** Pinhead crickets, springtails, and large isopods.

- ​ **Feeding Schedule:** Offer food daily or every other day.

### ​ **Supplementation:**

- ​**Calcium Powder (Pure):** Dust fruit flies **every feeding**.

- ​ **Multivitamin:** Dust fruit flies **1–2 times per week**.

## ​8. Handling & Maintenance

- ​ **Handling:**  **Never handle.** The boldest of the group, they are easily visible, reducing the need for handling.

- ​ **Social:** Generally kept as **established pairs** (M/F) or singles. They are highly territorial and prone to aggression, especially between males.