Defining Characteristics:

• Great beginner frog
• Bright red and green coloration
• Moderately bold
• Easy to breed
• Loud call
• Small
• Great in groups

Name: Epipedobates anthonyi 'Santa Isabel', commonly known as the phantasmal poison dart frog frog, is a small, bold, and colorful frog. These frogs are also known as SIs or Santa Isabels.

Recommended Vivarium Size: A 10G aquarium is suitable for 2-3 Epipedobates anthonyi, but Josh's Frogs recommends a 20H or larger vivarium - these frogs do great in groups, and a larger vivarium means more frogs can be housed together. Not sure how to set up a vivarium? Please watch our video on How to Set Up a Vivarium.

Want to spice up your enclosure with live plants? Our experts have curated kits of easy-to-care-for and SAFE plants for your dart frogs. Check them out here!

Temperature: They can tolerate a temperature range of 65 F to 80 F, but prefer temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Temperatures over 85F are dangerous.

Humidity: Like most poison dart frogs, anthonyi prefer a humidity range of 80 – 100%, but can tolerate humidity down to 50% for short periods of time if the frogs have access to water. Low humidity levels, especially without access to water, can quickly be fatal.

Size: Adult female and male Epipedobates anthonyi are similar in length, measuring in at around 1". All of the Epipedobates anthonyi 'Santa Isabel' froglets Josh's Frogs sells are well started juveniles, and measure approximately 1/2” long.

Age: Epipedobates anthonyi 'Santa Isabel' is capable of living well over 10 years in captivity under ideal conditions, although a lifespan of 5-8 years is more common. All anthonyi for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are 8-12 weeks old.

Feeding: Like most poison dart frogs, anthonyi prefer smaller foods. All of the thumbnail dart frogs sold by Josh's Frogs will readily eat Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. Adult Epipedobates anthonyi will readily consume Drosophila hydei fruit flies and pinhead crickets. All ages of poison dart frogs will enjoy springtails and isopods. All feeder insects should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement. For more information on what poison dart frogs can eat, please visit our How-To Guide on Feeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Sexing: Epipedobates anthonyi 'Santa Isabel' are fairly easy to sex as adults. Females are much wider than males, especially before laying eggs. Josh's Frogs sells 3-4 month old juveniles that are not sexable unless otherwise noted. For more information on sexing poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Sexing Poison Dart Frogs.

Color/Pattern: Santa Isabel anthonyi are fairly consistent in color and pattern. These frogs start out life as a brown/tan froglet with barely any striping. With time, the brown/tan coloration develops into a bright red color, and the stripes turn from yellowish to green. Josh's Frogs does not recommend, support, or endorse line breeding as we believe this leads to weaker captive animals and nature has done a wonderful job of creating an amazing variation in color and pattern of poison dart frogs already.

Social Behavior: These frogs do well housed in groups their entire life as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends approximately 5 gallons per frog. As they reach sexual maturity at 5-8 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of anthonyi may change and females may eat each other's eggs, although most will even breed together in the same film canister! Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of dart frogs - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing! Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair.

Breeding: Best bred in groups, males call to attract a female to a suitable egg laying site. Then, 10-20 eggs are laid under water (often in a film canister or a bromeliad). The eggs hatch into tadpoles, which then take 60-80 days to complete metamorphosis into miniature versions of the adults. Tadpoles will feed on dead fruit flies, the standard frog and tadpole bites/sera micron fare. For more information on breeding and raising poison dart frogs, please visit our How-To Guide on Breeding Poison Dart Frogs.

Natural Range: Epipedobates anthonyi 'Santa Isabel' is native to Ecuador.

History in the Hobby: Our Epipedobates anthonyi 'Santa Isabel' breeders are from many older bloodlines present in the US trade. This frog has been around for a long time in the hobby.

Links of Interest:

Wikipedia article on Epipedobates anthonyi

The Phantasmal Poison Dart Frog on AmphibiaWeb

Dendroboard.com - anthonyi Care Sheet

Epipedobates anthonyi IUCN Redlist

Still not sure if Epipedobates anthonyi 'Santa Isabel' from Josh's Frogs are the right poison dart frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!