Ranitomeya summersi, sometimes referred to asSummers poison frog,is a species ofpoison dart frogsfound in the centralHuallaga Riverdrainage and adjacentCordillera Azul National Parkin central Peru.Before 2008, the species was considered a subspecies ofRanitomeya fantastica.TheIUCNconsiders it an endangered species because of limited habitat range, habitat loss, and collection for the pet trade.

Quick Stats:

Enclosure: 30cmX30cmX45cm (12X12X18) or bigger

Heat: 18C-27C (65F-80F)

Humidity:70-90%

Food: JuvenilesD. melanogaster, Adults may takeD. hydei, smallisopods,springtails. Pinhead crickets.

Lifespan: Approximately 10+ years

Description
Large for a Ranitomeya, big females measure in at about 21mm, and males are typically slightly smaller. Females are consistent egg layers and therefore typically wider or rounder than males.Summersi frogs share the common pearlescence of the Ranitomeya genus.

Distribution and Natural Habitat
Summersi are native to Peru, in the Amazon basin.

Like all Ranitomeya, the summersi frogs are diurnal meaning they are awake during the day. They are both terrestrial and arboreal and live in the low hanging leaves of the jungles they inhabit. In the wild they are constantly foraging for small insects, invertebrates and arthropods on and around their plants. 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. Life in the Vivarium

Like all dart frogs, summersi 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, summersi 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.

Summersi thrive at temperatures near 21C (70F) but can survive a range of 18C-27C (65F-80F). Never exceed 29C (85F) 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 summersi in a 7 gallon aquarium. We recommend a 30cmX30cmX48cm (12X12X18) enclosure but bigger is always better. This size vivarium is suitable to house 2-3 adult summersi.

As juveniles you can house several summersi together, however as they mature you may want to watch for aggression. In our experience summersi can be housed in mixed groups, but if any fighting is observed you will be required to remove the offending frog. Groups should be male heavy. The size of the vivarium provided and the individual personalities of each animal will dictate how many frogs you can keep in an enclosure. It is common to keep a pair or trio of frogs in one enclosure. If you want to keep a group, add at least 1 gallon of space per additional frog.

It is common for a healthy Ranitomeya to 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 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.

Summersi require small live prey to hunt. This is easily achieved by providing them with flightless or wingless fruit flies. Baby and juvenile summersi will eatDrosophila melanogaster fruit flies, and large adults may seek outDrosophila hydei.Springtailsare also a wonderfully sized snack for fingernail frogs. 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 recommendDendrocare 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 isrecommended to build a bioactive vivarium for your dart frogs. This is achieved by introducingisopodsand 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.