In addition to the large poison dart frog species, a variety of smaller species are also available. I strongly recommend you establish relationships with knowledgeable vendors, preferably breeders, and make sure they’re willing to provide follow-up support. You can run into a variety of potential problems with wild-caught frogs. Wild-caught poison dart frogs do show up fairly regularly in the hobby, but I suggest sticking with captive-bred frogs. Captive-bred poison dart frogs are available from breeders, at pet stores and at reptile shows. Poison dart frogs are commonly bred in captivity. At this point the most widely used name in the hobby is poison dart frogs, often shortened to just dart frogs. Sometimes people call them arrow frogs or poison arrow frogs, but this is inaccurate, as the frog’s poisons were never used to tip arrows, only blowgun darts. The poison is what gives the frogs their name, and over the years these frogs have been called by a number of different names by hobbyists. The exact nature of these ingredients is poorly understood at this point, but one thing is known for sure, these poisons are not in their diet in captivity. (Wild-caught poison dart frogs should always be treated with caution, due to the possibility that there skins may contain poisons.) In order to create their toxins, poison dart frogs need certain chemicals, which are present in the insects they eat in the wild. Even wild-caught frogs gradually lose their poisons in captivity. Are they dangerous? Are they safe to keep in the home, or best left to zoos? So, here is the straight story!įirst, and most importantly, poison dart frogs are completely non-toxic when captive bred. With their ominous sounding name, and the hype about their poisons, it’s no wonder there is a fair amount of confusion about their status. The most common concern about these frogs is related to their poisons.

There are many misconceptions about poison dart frogs and their care.

Do pet frogs hibernate