The Green and Black Poison Arrow Frog is a lively frog that makes a vibrantly colorful pet.

The Black and Green Poison Arrow Frog is very active during the day and is quite enjoyable to watch. They don't seem to mind being watched either. Due to their sensitive skin, these frogs are not meant to be handled. When these frogs are kept in captivity, they have been known to lose their toxicity, though they should not be kept with other animals or frogs that are not dendrobates. Creating a habitat and maintaining these frogs is not very difficult, and they make an excellent choice for someone attempting to keep poison arrow frogs for the first time.

The Black and Green Poison Arrow Frog grows to an average length of about 1.6 inches (4 centimeters) and can live up to 10 years in captivity. Their skin is black with green bands and spots patterned across their body. These bright colors serve as a warning signal to other animals saying, "stay away! I am poisonous." Those Black and Green Poison Arrow Frogs that are found in Hawaii tend to have skin with a more brownish black color and their green bands tend to be more metallic in color. It is not unusual to find variances in color, with bands existing in blue, brown, and yellow.

The Green and Black Poison Arrow Frog is a native of tropical rainforest in Central and South America. This region includes Brazil, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. In these regions, Poison Arrow Frogs are used by natives to poison the ends of their darts in order to kill small monkeys and birds. They were introduced to Hawaii by humans and continue to thrive there.

The Green and Black Poison Arrow Frog should be kept in a 50-gallon tank with the ration of two males to three or four females. The substrate should be composed of soil and sphagnum moss with a small gavel layer beneath this. Plants such as bromeliads, pothos, spider plants and philodendrons should also be in the terrarium. A waterfall setup is best to keep humidity high and allow the frogs a place to soak themselves. A small water dish with the water level not exceeding that of the frog's shoulders can also be used. Place halved coconuts as hiding places within the terrarium. Keep the temperature of the tank between 78 and 82 degrees F and keep the humidity at 80%. Misting the cage twice a day with warm water easily does this. An under tank heating pad and a fluorescent tube light will keep the whole terrarium at the desired temperature.

Provide the frogs with a secure area such as an upside down deli cup, coconut half, or small flower pot with a small hole in the side that is just large enough for them to enter an exit easily. Place a shallow bowl such as a petrie dish inside. In the shallow dish should be about half an inch of water, and place a plastic leaf on the dish so that just the tip is in the water. The males go through a complicated mating ritual and will fight with other males to gain and defend territory. Females will lay 5 to 10 eggs, and they should hatch somewhere between 10 and 14 days. The male checks on them periodically and once the tadpoles have hatched, they will attach to the mucus on his back and he will move them to a location where they can finish their metamorphosis. In the wild, this location would be a more watery area such as a lake or a stream. They will complete this process after six weeks.