# What Do Poison Dart Frogs Eat?

> What poison dart frogs eat: Insectivore (ants, mites, termites), foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Tropical rainforest floor of the Americas.

- **Species:** Poison Dart Frog (*Dendrobatidae*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Insectivore (ants, mites, termites)
- **Habitat:** Tropical rainforest floor of the Americas
- **Lifespan:** ~10 years
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/poison-dart-frog/what-do-poison-dart-frog-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/poison-dart-frog/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Poison dart frogs are small, brightly colored amphibians from the rainforests of Central and South America. Their vivid colors warn predators that they are toxic. The most poisonous species, the golden poison frog, carries enough toxin to be dangerous to humans. They get their toxins from their diet of ants and mites, and frogs raised without those prey are not poisonous. Many live around 10 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Colors and toxicity

Poison dart frogs are a classic example of warning coloration: their bright blues, yellows, oranges, and reds tell predators they are dangerous to eat. Toxicity varies widely by species. The golden poison frog of Colombia is one of the most toxic animals on Earth, with skin toxins potent enough to threaten a human.

## Help protect the Poison Dart Frog

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/poison-dart-frog/what-do-poison-dart-frog-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.