Phyllobates terribilis ‘Mint’ froglet

Application to Purchase Required - live animal purchases require a review of your setup. After placing your order, a Customer Care Specialist will reach out to review your husbandry and habitat. Approval for purchase is NOT guaranteed and if denied, the order may be cancelled. Upon approval, you will receive a link to set up a shipping date for your live animal. All animals ship via Fed Ex overnight.

Species Overview

Common Name: "Mint" Poison Dart Frog
Scientific Name: Phyllobates terribilis
Size when shipped: Juveniles quarter-sized or slightly larger; robust body type
Adult size: Around 2" (5–6 cm), one of the largest commonly kept poison dart frogs

Lineage:
Captive-bred line produced by Dart Frog Connection in 2015.

In-house testing/treatment:
Each frog is carefully evaluated in-house for:

• Chytrid Fungus
• Rana Virus 
• Clean fecal 
• Healthy body score

• Normal activity and behavior
  

Only animals meeting our standards are made available for purchase.

Defining Traits

• Keeper level: Confident intermediate dart frog keepers and up. Larger habitat is required.

• Temperament: Bold, active, and highly visible during the day. Unique chirping call which makes them excellent display subjects. 

• Biological niche: Diurnal, terrestrial leaf-litter predator in humid lowland rainforest. 

• Native range: Pacific coastal rainforest of western Colombia (Chocó region).

• Group vs. non-group:

  • Juveniles: can be raised in small, same-size groups in large, heavily planted enclosures. Do not mix multiple sizes as bullying may occur. 

  • Adults: can be housed in small groups with lots of line-of-sight breaks; monitor for bullying. Our long term breeding group is an army of 8. 

• Terrestrial vs. arboreal: Primarily terrestrial; uses leaf litter, low plants, and hardscape more than high climbs. Does appreciate vantage points for vocalization and territory displays. 

Care at a Glance

Vivarium size

• Minimum for a pair/small group: 40 breeder

• Larger groups: 75 gallon or larger

• Deep leaf litter, live plants, cork, and lots of microhabitats are strongly recommended

Temperature

• Day: 68–76°F (20–24°C)

• Night: ~65–70°F (18–21°C)

• Avoid temperatures of 80°F (27°C) or higher

Humidity

• High humidity: ~80–100% with good airflow

• Daily misting with dechlorinated or RO water

• Substrate and leaf litter should stay moist but not stagnant, utilizing a drainage layer

Diet

• Staple feeders:

  • Flightless fruit flies. Hydei for adults

  • Bean Beetles 

  • Adults can handle pinhead crickets 

  • Isopods and other small invertebrates

• All feeders should be gut-loaded and dusted with a high-quality calcium and vitamin supplement on a regular schedule. Adults can be supplemented with Vitamin A plus twice monthly. 

• It is recommended to culture your own flies using our Repashy fruit fly media kit. 

Recommended Bioactive Setup 

These frogs truly shine in a mature bioactive terrarium. We recommend:

• Terra Flora substrate or ABG mix

• High-drainage tropical substrate system with a dedicated drainage layer

• Mixed leaf litter (magnolia, live oak, etc.) for security and microfauna habitat

• Clean-up crew: tropical springtails and isopods such as dwarf whites

• Dense live planting with low–mid canopy tropical plants and bromeliads

• Natural hardscape: cork flats/rounds, branches, and hides

• Quality LED lighting designed for plant growth

• Digital thermometer/hygrometer to monitor conditions

Caresheet & Resources

Full caresheet:

Click here for caresheet

IUCN conservation status:
View Phyllobates terribilis on the IUCN Red List

Important Policies (Please Read Before Purchasing)

After purchasing, upload your habitat for approval here: 

After approval, we will email you the animal purchase contract found here

Read our Live Arrival Guarantee prior to purchasing here

Scheduling:

We care about long-term success. All live animals require a scheduled shipping date set after the approval process.  To book your shipping day, click here.