Defining Characteristics: 

• Great beginner Obligate
• Variable red coloration
• Moderately bold
• Moderately loud call
• Small
• Best kept in pairs or trios
• Exhibit parental care

Name: Oophaga pumilio ‘Nicky’ was named after the daughter of the person who first discovered the species on Isla Escondida in Colombia. Isla Escondida roughly translates to “The Hidden Island” and it is here you can find Oophaga pumilio ‘Nicky’ tucked away in an area only encompassing a fraction of the island.

Recommended Terrarium Size: A 10 gallon aquarium or equivalent sized vertical tank such as a 12x12x18 is suitable for a single adult, but Josh’s Frogs recommends 20 gallons for a pair or trio of adults. Adult group sizes should not exceed 3 individuals.

Temperature (°F): They can tolerate a temperature range of 65 to 80 degrees, but prefer it slightly warmer than other darts, thriving in the 75-78º range. Temperatures exceeding 85º can be dangerous and even deadly.

Use a digital thermometer to monitor your enclosure's temperature.

Humidity: Like most poison dart frogs, pumilio 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.

Use a digital hygrometer to monitor your enclosure's humidity.

Size: Adult female and male O. pumilio ‘Nicky' are similar in length, measuring around 3/4 of an inch.

All of the O. pumilio 'Nicky’ froglets Josh's Frogs sell are well-started juveniles, and measure at least 1/2 inch long.

Age: The exact lifespan of this species isn’t entirely known, but similar species are capable of living well over 10 years in captivity under ideal conditions, although a lifespan of 5-8 years is more common.

All Obligates for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are at least 3 months old.

Feeding: Like most poison dart frogs, Oophaga pumilio prefer smaller foods. All of the Obligate dart frogs sold by Josh's Frogs will readily eat Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. 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: Sexing of this species can be tricky. The most reliable way to sex pumilio is to listen for their call. Only males of this species will call, so if you hear your adult frog calling, then you most certainly have a male. However, just because you don’t hear an adult regularly calling doesn’t automatically determine it's a female.

Another good indicator is looking at the throat of the frog, as males will generally develop black skin on their throat caused by the skin stretching from calling.  Josh's Frogs sells 2-3 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: Oophaga pumilio ‘Nicky’ are fairly consistent in color and pattern. Exhibiting a body color varying from dark maroon to bright scarlet, occasionally speckled with black spots or blotches, they are a striking little obligate dart frog!

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

Social Behavior: Oophaga pumilio 'Nicky' do well housed in pairs or trios their entire life as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends 5-10 gallons per frog. As they reach sexual maturity at 8-10 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of pumilio dart frogs may change and frogs may become territorial.

Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of dart frogs together - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing! We recommend purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair.

Breeding: One of the most fascinating aspects of keeping Oophaga pumilio is certainly in breeding. Pumilio and other species in the genus Oophaga are what are known as obligate egg-eaters (or Obligates for short), meaning that tadpoles of this species can only survive by consuming infertile eggs laid by the female.

These frogs are also unique in that both the male and female exhibit parental care. After mating, the female will lay 3-10 eggs on a smooth surface, often bromeliad leaves. The eggs take anywhere from 10-14 days to develop and during this time they will be watched over by the male.

Once the eggs hatch, the female assumes responsibility and will transport the tadpoles on her back to water sources, such as in the water collected by bromeliads and other plants. At this point the female will routinely check on her offspring and lay them a delectable meal of infertile eggs.

The tadpoles will continue to grow and eventually develop limbs, absorb their tails, and exit the water which usually takes around 2 months. Josh’s Frogs recommends leaving froglets in the adult tank for at least one month, making sure they have plenty of leaf litter to hide in and springtails to eat, adding more microfauna weekly.

Once juveniles are large enough to consume flies they can be safely removed from the adult tank and placed in their own grow-out tank, which can be a ~5 gallon tank or similarly sized plastic bin.

Natural Range: Oophaga pumilio ‘Nicky’ are located on the reserve on Isla Escondida in Colombia.

History in the Hobby: Oophaga pumilio are among the most highly sought after dart frogs in the hobby, due to their striking and variable coloration as well as their interesting breeding and social behaviors. Thus, this species has been readily imported (both legally and illegally) since the early 1990s.

Josh’s Frogs strongly recommends purchasing strictly captive-bred animals from reputable breeders, as the popularity of this species has unfortunately incentivized the efforts of poachers.

Links of Interest:

• ADW: Oophaga pumilio: INFORMATION
• AmphibiaWeb - Oophaga pumilio

 Still not sure if Oophaga pumilio ‘Nicky’ from Josh's Frogs are the right poison dart frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!