Home | Livestock | Shop | Care Sheets | Feeding | Health | Articles | Q&A | Gallery | Events Diary | Guest Book | Links | Forum

Care Sheet: Blue Poison-arrow Frog (Dendrobates azureus)

Common Name: Blue Poison-arrow Frog, Blue Azureus.

Scientific Name: Dendrobates azureus.

Distribution: Sipaliwini Savannah of Southern Surinam.

Size: 3.5 - 4.5cm.

Sexing: When at an adult size it is quite easy to determine the sex of these frogs, the most reliable way is if the males can be heard calling for a mate or to mark its territory. Females are often larger and more rotund than males and males of this species also show enlarged heart shaped toe pads.

Colouration: These Poison-arrow frogs are a glossy bright-blue colour, with irregular black spots and blotches on the dorsal surface. The limbs are a deeper blue.

Requirements: These small frogs are very territorial and so require a fairly large terrarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for a group of 4 adults. They require a well-planted woodland type set-up with a substrate of bark chips or topsoil covered with live moss. Furnishings such as logs, cork bark and live plants (Ferns, Bromeliads, Tillandsia, and Orchids) can be arranged to provide a number of climbing, perching and hiding places. These frogs are fond of moving water and so it is a good idea to use a waterfall sin the terrarium alternatively a small water bowl (no deeper than the frog's height at rest) must be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. The water will need to be changed daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water whilst changing the water it is a good idea to visually inspect the tank and remove, clean and replace any soiled items. The tank will need to be heated to a daytime temperature of 26-27ºC with a drop at night to 20-22ºC this can be done with an under-tank heat-mat controlled by a thermostat. These frogs need a humidity in the range of 90% so daily misting is necessary. It is not advisable to use spot / heat lamps with amphibians and so a separate light source should be provided by the means of a fluorescent UVB tube. Once every two-three weeks the tank and its contents should be completely cleaned and sterilised using an amphibian / reptile friendly disinfectant.

Feeding: Adult frogs require feeding every day, they will take a mixture of suitably sized insects including small crickets, ants, termites, whiteworm, and fruitflies. A calcium and vitamin supplement should be used once a week. Young frogs will take hatchling crickets, aphids, springtails and fruitflies, these should be fed several times a day and a calcium and vitamin supplement used two-three times a week.

All material on this site is Copyright © Andrew Tillson-Willis, the reproduction of any material is strictly prohibited unless express consent is given by the copyright holder.