About Strawberry Poison Arrow Frogs

Belonging to the genus Dendrobates pumilio, the strawberry poison arrow frog, also known as the strawberry dart frog, has a distinct appearance and deadly skin. Its epidermal glands produce toxins that will sicken or kill much larger animals. The creature's bright red skin warns predators that it will not be an item on their menu. Despite their lethal reputation, advanced serious amphibian collectors can domesticate the frog.

  1. Habitat

    • Poison arrow frogs live in tropical climates in Central and South America. They received their names "poison arrow" or "poison dart" because natives in the Amazon use their toxins to poison the tips of spears when hunting for birds and monkeys. As rainforests disappear, so does the species, because it needs to live in a humid place. Like other amphibians, these frogs live in and near bodies of water.

    Diet

    • About an inch in size, these frogs only can eat even smaller things. Their diet often consists of insects such as wingless fruit flies, ants, spiders, termites and pinhead crickets. If you keep one as a pet, dust their meal with a pure calcium supplement once a week. These frogs usually eat once every three days.

    Breeding

    • Poison arrow frogs breed externally. During the rainy season, the male lays his sperm in a safe underwater location and brings his female companion to the same place to deposit her eggs. The frog couple will visit the nest occasionally to make sure their brood is safe and three to five tadpoles will hatch successfully. As tadpoles have a tendency to eat each other, poison arrow frogs leave them in separate locations as they mature into frogs. Theoretically, these frogs may be bred in captivity by simulating the rainy season in their tank by dropping the temperature for a couple months. However, even experienced keepers have great difficulty breeding these frogs in captivity.

    Domestication

    • Strawberry poison arrow frogs can be kept as pets. In captivity, they lose their toxicity and can be handled safely. However, their diminutive size and slippery skin make them easy to lose, so do not handle them unless you need to. You can house them in a 10-gallon enclosure with small damp spaces such as cork bark or coconut huts that replicate their habitat. Do not house male frogs together as they tend to fight among themselves. The ideal living situation would either be a lone occupant or a male and female couple.