Imitator Poison Frog — Fact Sheet
Ranitomeya imitator · Imitator Poison Frog
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 1.8-2.5 cm |
| Lifespan | 8-15 years |
| Lifestyle | Tiny diurnal dart frog for planted vivaria |
| Minimum adult enclosure | 45 x 45 x 45 cm for a pair |
| Temperature | 21-25°C day, 18-22°C night |
| Humidity | 75-95% with drainage and airflow |
| Legal | CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; keep origin records |
🏠 Setup
- Use a dense planted vivarium with leaf litter, cork, bromeliads or film canisters.
- Secure vents and doors; froglets and fruit flies escape through tiny gaps.
- Avoid deep open water and mixed-species displays.
- Quarantine new frogs 60-90 days; consider fecal and chytrid testing for uncertain animals.
🪳 Feeding and supplements
- Feed tiny live prey daily: fruit flies, springtails, small isopods, aphids and pinhead crickets.
- Start food cultures before buying frogs.
- Lightly dust most feedings with calcium; rotate multivitamin, vitamin A and D3 according to UVB and product strength.
🩺 Watch for
- Weight loss, hiding, weak tongue strike or poor feeding.
- Metabolic bone disease, vitamin A imbalance, swelling, skin sores or abnormal posture.
- Drowning risk from deep water; escape/dehydration risk from loose vents.
- Keep locality, line, parentage and captive-bred records with all offspring.