The Blue Poison Arrow Frog is perhaps the most striking of all frogs kept by hobbyists today. Their unusual coloration makes this active little frog a lovely and interesting display animal.

The Blue Poison Arrow Frog is a member of the poison arrow group of frogs. This group of frogs is also known as "dart-poison frogs", "poison dart frogs", "dendrobatid frogs" or "dart frogs". This class is comprised of four main groups; Phyllobates, Dendrobates, Minyobates, and Epipedobates. The Blue Poison Arrow belongs to the Dendrobates group. Of all the poison arrow frogs the Blue Poison Arrow is perhaps the most eye-catching. This may account for his popularity among hobbyists. All poison arrow frogs are poisonous and the Blue Poison Arrow Frog is no exception. The name Poison Arrow Frog stems from the fact that natives would dip their darts and arrows into the poison of these frogs. The degree of poison varies from species to species, while the Blue Poison Arrow Frog is not among the most poisonous, its poison is toxic and care must be taken. As is true with most poison dart frogs, their toxicity levels decrease in captivity, because the toxins they produce are derived from the insects they eat in the wild. The keeping of Blue Poison Arrow Frogs is not considered extremely difficult, however, experience with keeping poison frogs is recommended. They are also expensive frogs. They are terrestrial frogs, but they are rarely found far from water. The ideal environment for the Blue Poison Arrow Frog is moist and dark. Their natural diet consists of various insects including, fruit flies, crickets, termites and ants. The Blue Poison Arrow Frog can be territorial, and very aggressive. Using their poison as a defense mechanism, in fact, they may be bolder than you would suspect, given their minute size. Their poison is quite unique, and not many predators can withstand it. Only one known predator, a snake (Leimadophis epinephelus), seems to be immune to it. The poison is secreted through the skin. As a group, poison arrow frogs have about 200 micrograms of poison in their systems each. It would take only 2 micrograms to kill a human.

The mature Blue Poison Arrow Frog can measure up to 6.5 centimeters in length, but they average between 3.0 and 4.5 centimeters on average. Likewise some individuals may be as small as 2.0 centimeters at adulthood. They usually weigh approximately 3 grams. Males can be distinguished from females by their larger front toe pads and the existence of vocal sacs. Females are also on average larger and fatter than their male counterparts. Both sexes come in a variety of blue colors, including powder blue, cobalt blue, and sapphire blue. They also have black spots on their heads. The skin of the Blue Poison Arrow is covered in mucus, which gives it a sticky feeling. This adaptation allows tadpoles to cling to their mothers during transport and also serves to hold in needed moisture. They also have suction cup pads on their feet, which allow them to be adept climbers.

The neotropical range of the Blue Poison Arrow is in the Sipaliwini area of Surinam. Their habitat is largely rainforest. They are quite common in these areas. Their numbers are, however, being threatened by rainforest depletion and the pet trade.

Blue Poison Arrow Frogs are not suitable frogs for beginners. A single frog should be housed in at least a ten gallon terrarium. Within the aquarium it is important to provide a good setting with open hunting areas in addition to good hiding places consisting of heavy plant cover. They should be given some things for climbing, though typically they will remain on the floor, climbing only a few inches. Because the Blue Poison Arrow Frog loves water, a water-area is strongly recommended. Some fanciers even install miniature waterfalls in their vivariums. Temperatures should be maintained between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (24� -30� C). They should be offered a variety of small insects such as termites, crickets, ants, and fruit flies.

Average clutch size for the Blue Poison Arrow Frog is five to six eggs, and females will lay under covering. When the female lays, take the eggs out and place them in a shallow container with water surrounding the eggs but not submersing them.Tadpoles will hatch from the eggs between about 12 and 18 days later. Tadpoles are sometimes kept together, but many breeders keep them separated because they are occasionally cannibalistic. Tadpoles will transform into froglets in 70 to 85 days.