Oophaga pumilio Almirante
Oophaga pumilio Almirante (pronounced Ooo-fag-ah pu-me-lee-oh al-mer-on-tay) are red-orange and silvery-blue frogs that are only about 2 cm in size. They are diurnal like the other dart frogs, so they will be active and hungry during the day. Small in stature but high in volume, the call of the Almirante will ring out across your home, reminding you of a jungle bird. Fairly confident and easy to care for, pumilio is a good species for the learned beginner or intermediate keeper, though breeding can be a bit difficult.
Quick Stats:
Minimum enclosure: 30cmX30cmX45cm (12”X12”X18”)
Heat: 18°C-27°C (65°F-80°F)
Humidity: 70-100%
Food: Juveniles D. melanogaster, Adults may take D. hydei, small isopods, springtails.
Description
Oophaga pumilio Almirante dart frogs are not too variable in their coloring. These frogs are an astounding reddish orange color on their heads and bodies. Their legs are a shimmery silver-blue or slightly bronze color. Their noses typically have more concentrated red color, and this tapers into orange down the body. This can vary somewhat in each individual frog. Average for an Oophaga, big females measure in at about 22mm, and males are typically slightly smaller.
Distribution and Natural Habitat of Oophaga pumilio Almirante
Oophaga pumilio Almirante are native to Central America. Found in Nicaragua, across into Costa Rica and northern Panama, these frogs are terrestrial and typically make their homes on the ground of their tropical jungles. Pumilio is considered by the IUCN Red List as “Least Concern”, making Almirante stable in the wild and fairly frequent inhabitants within their geographic range.
Behavior
Like all Oophaga, the Almirante frogs are diurnal meaning they are awake during the day. They are terrestrial and typically prefer to stay on the ground of their habitats, but they will occasionally climb as well. Some of the plants in the jungles contain various alkaloids and toxins, the micro fauna eat these plants and in turn get eaten by the frogs. This causes a downstream effect and these amazing frogs have evolved to harness the toxins as a means of self-defence. A combination of their striking colors and the toxins stored in their glands help ward off potential predators. In captivity the Almirante do not contain any of these toxins due to the diet provided to them. They don’t have access to the food they would be eating in the wild. Almirante live near streams and ponds, or right on the edge of slow moving water. While being frogs they are not very good swimmers and great care should be taken when making a suitable vivarium for them to live in. Once mature, the males will boldly perch in the open and call out to attract females. The Almirante call is quite loud. It sounds like a bird’s short “chirp chirp” and can vary in length and slightly in frequency. When a female selects a male, the pair will hop away to a nice quiet place in the leaf litter and mate. Pumilio males are violently territorial and will fight to protect their jungle spaces.
Life in the Vivarium
Like all dart frogs, pumilio require a humidity range of 70-100%. They can survive for brief intervals at 50% humidity if clean water is provided for them to soak in. You can place a bromeliad or small shallow dish of water in the enclosure or add a pond feature to achieve this. Remember, Almirante cannot swim well, so ensure that the water source is shallow and easy to get out of. The water level should be no higher than the smallest frog can sit in with his head and upper torso out.
Pumilio thrive at slightly higher temperatures than other dart frogs, near 24°C (76°F) but can survive a range of 18°C-27°C (65°F-80°F). Never exceed 29°C (85°F) as this can be fatal to the frogs. Generally a heat source such as a pad or light is not needed on a dart frog vivarium, apart from any lighting for plants. Do not rely on sunshine from a window, because the sun through the glass will heat up to extremely unsafe temperatures very quickly. Keep note of any air conditioning or heaters used in your home as well, as they may affect the temperature in your frog cage.
It is possible to house a single Almirante in a 10 gallon aquarium. We recommend a 45cmX45cmX45cm (18”X18”X18”) enclosure for a group – but bigger is always better.
It is possible that your Oophaga will live to 10+ years in a vivarium. Please consider this before deciding to take them home to your family. As with most amphibians they are considered a “hands off” pet similar to a fish. Due to their delicate and permeable skin, it is not advised to handle your frogs. The chemicals, oils and debris on your hands could prove fatal to your dart frog pet when it is absorbed through their skin. It is recommended that you wear powder free rubber or latex gloves if you are required to handle your dart frogs. In an emergency, such as an escape from the enclosure, try to capture them as fast as possible (bare hands will do… if needed) as they will try to hide quickly, and unfortunately this will become fatal very rapidly.
Pumilio require small live prey to hunt. This is easily achieved by providing them with flightless or wingless fruit flies. Baby and juvenile Almirante will eat Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies, and large adults may seek out Drosophila hydei. Springtails are also a wonderfully sized snack. The flies and springtails on their own are a poor nutritional source. We recommend “dusting” your fruit flies with a high quality vitamin and mineral supplement. We use and recommend Dendrocare all in one vitamin/mineral supplement. You can combine and use other supplements available to you, however please ensure you research what ratio or frequency you can supply vitamins as some can be lethal in high dosages.
It is recommended to build a bioactive vivarium for your dart frogs. This is achieved by introducing isopods and springtails into the environment. These little land crustaceans (no they are not insects!) will eat the decaying and decomposing bio matter as well as any excess feces in the vivarium. Some of these micro fauna will be eaten by your dart frog, as a little snack.
As with all our frogs, we do not recommend that you house multiple species or morphs together. Please supply each group with a vivarium to call their own.
Breeding Oophaga pumilio Almirante in Captivity
Oophaga pumilio Almirante have proven rather difficult to breed in captivity. Their beauty and uniqueness means that breeders continue to work with them. 4 to 6 eggs will be laid in the leaf litter or on a bromeliad leaf, typically slightly elevated from the floor. The male will clean and protect the eggs until they hatch. Once the eggs hatch, the female will carry the tadpoles to a nearby pond or other still or very slow moving water source. The female pumilio will then feed her tadpoles by laying an infertile egg in their pool with them, for them to feast on. This is called obligate egg feeding. She will do this on average every 2-3 days until the tadpoles emerge from the water. The eggs take approximately 10-14 days to fully develop. The tadpoles will take approximately 60-80 days to fully metamorphosis into colorful little froglets.
Final Notes
Oophaga pumilio Almirante are a beautiful orange and silvery-blue or bronze pumilio frog. Their basic care is easy enough for beginners, but their breeding requirements are more advanced, making them intriguing for both new and old frog keepers alike. Their loud voices and bold nature will give any viewer a slim peek into the Central American rainforest.
