Pet poison dart frogs

[Jake]

Yes, you can safely handle them if it is necessary. They don't like it. The only thing you should worry about is if you have any open sores on your hands. Captive dart frogs are not nearly as toxic as wild ones.

[tylototriton]

Yeah. Like Jake said, handling should be kept to a minimum with Darts. You are correct though, Darts derive their toxins from alkaloids in their diets. In the wild they would be eating things like ants and beetles that contain these alkaloids, thereby allowing them to produce the toxins. Since these food items are often lacking in captivity they usually lose toxins. i believe it has been found though that WC individuals can retain their toxins for many years after introduction into captivity, although their toxicity will decrease.

Alex

[nx2ured]

Even though they are not toxic in captivity, why in the world would you want to handle them? It only stresses them out.

[jody]

thats the idea I had, that the frogs made the toxins out of the bugs they ate. Manufactured their own potent thing from toxic compouns in their food. rather than reusing poison made by the bugs.

[Kurt]

thats the idea I had, that the frogs made the toxins out of the bugs they ate. Manufactured their own potent thing from toxic compouns in their food.

That's not true for all frogs. Some are toxic period. Bufonids come to mind.

[Ron]

Actually, ALL amphibians could be considered toxic. Given their damp skin, it's a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, etc...so they all excrete some level of toxicity as a defense, regardless of what species. Can you handle Dendrobatids in captivity? Yes, and the vast majority of them could be handled in the wild as well. However, my worry would be less about what harm could come to the handler and more about what harm could come to the frog.

But you're right: their toxins are sequestered from the insect they eat that contain toxins, such as oribatid mites, ants, etc. which obtained them through the plants that contained them.

[Tom Highum]

Actually I think they now believe that they get the poison from beetles. And about the ground for breeding bacteria thing. I believe some frogs have skin secretions that actually fight bacteria and parasites. I believe white's do this.