Summers' Poison Frog

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to central Peru, in the San Martín region. It inhabits the leaf litter of tropical dry and lowland forests.

Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Dendrobatidae (poison dart frogs). It is a tiny frog species, reaching a size of only 1.5 to 2.0 cm.

Behavior and Habits: Diurnal and active. It spends the day foraging through leaf litter for micro-prey. Males exhibit territorial calling behaviors.

Morphology: Stunning coloration characterized by bold orange and black bands. Females are slightly larger and rounder.

Terrarium Setup: Requires a humid terrarium of at least 45x45x45 cm for a pair. Substrate should include clay balls, peat, and leaf litter. Plant heavily with Bromeliads.

Lighting and Heating: Daytime temperature 24-26°C, nighttime 18-20°C. Provide low-level UVB lighting to support bone health and calcium absorption.

Humidity and Hydration: Humidity must be kept high (80-95%). Mist daily and provide shallow water areas (frogs can easily drown in deep water).

Feeding and Supplementation: Feed strictly on tiny live insects (flightless fruit flies, springtails, pinhead crickets). Dust prey with calcium and D3.

Compatibility: Best kept in pairs or small single-species groups. Do not house with other poison dart frogs to avoid hybridization.

Health and Common Diseases: Highly vulnerable to drying out and fungal skin infections (chytridiomycosis). Strict terrarium sanitation is vital.