Right after the moment you take the decision to keep a dart frog, it’s essential to know about the size of the species. Having the proper idea about how big can a dart frog get will help you order the right poison dart frog for you.

Most of the dart frogs are way too tiny but some have good size, especially the female ones.

In captivity, the average size of a poison dart frog can range from 0.75’’up to 1.5’’. You would be surprised to know that the growth of his beautiful frog can be accelerated or stopped by multiple factors.

Let’s see the size of the dart frog with full details.

How big can a dart frog get

How big can a dart frog get

Though the average poison dart frog falls between 1 to 1 and ½ ‘’. With a size of 2.25’’ and 2’’ the female dyeing poison arrow dart frog and golden poison dart frog are the largest among all dart frog species.

In the following part, you will see versatile dart frogs of different sizes..

The average size of Poison dart frogs

The average baby poison dart frog mostly become ½ ‘’ in size. So you can guess these are extremely small compared to other baby frogs. However, the baby will eventually grow and in their adulthood, their size will be around 1-2 inches. The male frog will always be little in size compared to the female fart frog.

Most of the female subspecies of poison dart frogs become more than 1.5’’. On the other hand, most male frogs are around 1’’-1.5’’ in size.  In the upcoming part, you will see the size of different species and the subsidence of the dart frog.

The average size of Poison dart frogs
Image Credit: Lucas Bohunovsky, Instagram

Dyeing Poison Arrow frog Size

This South American dart frog species can grow around 2.25’’ but that’s the female’s size. However, the male size is close to the female, varying from 1.5’’-2’’.

Let’s take a look at the versatile species of this frog…

Scientific NameSize
Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Vanessa’Male: 2’’
Female: 2.25’’ 
Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Boulanger’ Male: 1’’
Female: 1.25’’
Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Azureus’ ( Blue poison dart frog)Male: 1.5’’
Female: 2’’
Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Cobalt’ Male: 1.75’’
Female: 2’’
Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Brazilian Yellow Head’Male: 1.5’’
Female: 2’’
Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Oyapok’Male: 1.25’’
Female: 1.5’’-1.75’’
Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Green Sipaliwini’ Male: 1.75’’
Female: 2.25’’
Dyeing Poison Arrow frog Size Chart
Dyeing Poison Arrow frog

Bumblebee dart frog Size

The bumblebee dart frog is a tiny creature, typically only growing to be about an inch long. While this may seem small, the bumblebee dart frog is actually one of the largest species of frogs in its family. 

However, its size can vary quite a bit depending on the specific subspecies. The male bumblebee dart frog can grow up to 1.25’’ while the female can reach 2’’ size. 

I am adding a table below where you can see the sizes of different types of Bumblebee dart frogs..

Scientific NameSize
Dendrobates leucomelas ‘Fine Spot’ Male: 1.25’’
Female: 1’’
Dendrobates leucomelas ‘British Guyana’Male: 1.5’’
Female: 1.75’’
Dendrobates leucomelas ‘1996 Import’Male: 1.25’’
Female: 1.5’’
Dendrobates leucomelas ‘Banded’Male: 1.5’’
Female: 2’’
Dendrobates leucomelas ‘Kahn Line’Male: 1.25’’
Female: 1.5’’
Bumblebee dart frog Size Chart
Bumblebee dart frog

Golden Poison Dart Frog Size

Golden dart frog is one of the most famous among all morphs of poison dart frog. These marvelous frogs can get a full size of around 2’’ in females and 1.75’’ in males.

Check out the following table to see multiple golden dart frog’s size..

Scientific NameSize
Phyllobates terribilis ‘Orange Black Foot’ Male: 1.75’’
Female: 2’’
Phyllobates terribilis ‘Mint’Male: 1.75’’
Female: 2’’
Phyllobates terribilis ‘Yellow’Male: 1.75’’
Female: 2’’
Phyllobates terribilis ‘Orange’ Male: 1.75’’
Female: 2’’
Golden Poison Dart Frog Size Chart
Golden Poison Dart Frog

Read Also: Most Poisonous Frogs In The World

Green and black poison dart frog Size

The average size of a Green and Black Poison Dart Frog is around 1 inch. The size of the male dart frog of this species can vary from 0.75’’-1.25’’. Females can reach a maximum size of 1.5’’.

The below table will help you to know the different green and black dart frogs’ size..

Scientific NameSize
Dendrobates auratus ‘Río San Juan’ F1Male: 1.25’’
Female: 1.5’’
Dendrobates auratus ‘Panamanian Blue & Black’Male: 1’’
Female: 1.25’’
Dendrobates auratus ‘Super Blue’ Male: 1.25’’
Female: 1.5’’
Dendrobates auratus ‘Nicaraguan Green & Black’Male: 1.25’’
Female: 1.5’’
Green and black poison dart frog Size Chart
Green and black poison dart frog

Strawberry poison dart frog Size

The stable poison dart frog belongs to the Oophaga genus of dart frog. These amazing creatures can have a size varying from 0.7’’ to up to 1’’.

This is one of the smallest sizes among all poison dart frogs.

Strawberry poison dart frog

Factors That Affect the Size of Poison Dart Frogs

Have you ever wondered why some poison dart frogs are smaller than others? Several factors can affect the size of these amazing creatures. In the following, we will examine a few of them that are significant:

1. Humidity Level

One factor that can affect the size of poison dart frogs is the humidity level. These frogs tend to do best in environments with high humidity levels, as this helps them to stay hydrated. 

If the humidity level is too low, the frog will lose moisture and become dehydrated, which can lead to a decrease in size.

The right amount of humidity, which is around 80-100%, would boost their growth.

2. Temperature

Another factor that can influence the size of poison dart frogs is temperature. These frogs are ectotherms, which means that their body temperature depends on their surroundings. 

If the temperature is too cold, the frog’s metabolism will slow down and it will have a hard time digesting food. This can lead to a decrease in size due to weight loss.

Conversely, if the temperature is too hot, the frog will overheat and may also lose weight. 

To keep them in their optimum health, there should be no change in the desired temperature which range from 75-84 degree Fahrenheit.

3. Food & Supplement

The type and amount of food that a poison dart frog eats can also affect its size. If a frog does not have enough food, it will not grow to its full potential. 

In general, frogs need a diet that is high in protein in order to grow properly. Adding to that, in captivity, these frogs do not have the wider variations of food available.

So, you need to provide the little buddies with supplements that would help them absorb the required nutrients and vitamins. Which will eventually lead to the best growth.

4. Hibernation

Another factor that can play a role in determining the size of poison dart frogs is hibernation. During this period of dormancy, frogs do not eat or drink, so they obviously cannot grow during this time. The length of time that a frog spends in hibernation can therefore affect its size.

Keeping the climate of the vivarium and the proper food would stop them from getting into hibernation.

5. Stress

Last but not least, stress can also influence the size of poison dart frogs. If a frog experiences prolonged periods of stress, it may stop eating and start losing weight. There is a possibility of death in extreme cases.

Do you want to see the full growth of your colorful buddy? Don’t overcrowd their tank, maintain the proper weather in the tank, stop handling too much and you will see them getting bigger.

6. Sickness

Dart frogs are susceptible to a number of diseases, which will hamper their growth of frogs. Even many of which can be fatal. Illnesses such as Chytridiomycosis are very harmful to their health making it difficult for frogs to recover.

As a result, it is important to take steps to prevent dart frogs from becoming sick. One way to do this is to maintain a clean and healthy environment. This means keeping the enclosure free of debris and providing plenty of ventilation.

It is also important to quarantine new frogs before adding them to the population. By taking these right precautions, you can help keep your dart frogs healthy and avoid any hampering of their growth.

Factors That Affect the Size of Poison Dart Frogs
Image Credit: M.J., Instagram

Wrapping up

As I said earlier the dart frogs have a small size. They will be in their full body size in a year. If you can control the factors that cut off the growth of your frog then you can expect a full-grown dart frog in your tank.

I hope the short article answered your query about how big can a dart frog get.

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