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The frog for June is Dendrobates azureus. D. azureus originate from the Sipaliwini Savanna between Suriname and Brazil. Currently, wild caught specimens are not allowed out of either country. Luckily, there are many captive bred animals available in the U.S. and abroad.
D. azureus is a striking, blue frog. Their behavior in the terrarium makes them excellent display animals. Most beginners find that D. azureus tends to be on the expensive side. The reason for this is not because of their rarity, or because they are difficult to keep, but because of the demand for the bold, blue frog. They are hardy frogs, and can be maintained just as easily as D. auratus or D. tinctorius, although it might be wiser for a first time frog keeper to work with some of the less expensive species, until they feel confident about their dart frog husbandry. D. azureus should be kept between 75 – 80 degrees. The temperature should not be allowed to get higher than the low 80’s, as these animals can heat stress easily. Breeding D. azureus is best done in pairs. Females of this species can be aggressive towards each other, and can cause serious injury or death, if allowed to fight for too long. If given enough space, this can sometimes be avoided, however, we feel that it is better to be safe, than sorry. Mature males of this species can be easily recognized when compared to a female by the enlarged toe pads on the male, and the overall size of the animals. Females will be significantly larger than the males. D. azureus will breed in a bower, as will most frogs in the this group of Dendrobatids, which includes D. tinctorius, and D. auratus. The male’s call is a very soft, metallic buzz, similar to D. tinctorius. Courtship is often evidenced by the male calling to the female as she strokes his back. The eggs can be removed, and the tadpoles can be raised individually on a diet of high quality tropical fish food. Despite its relative abundance, D. azureus is one of the most sought after dart frogs in the hobby. They are not very shy, and can be easily seen even in a well planted terrarium. Their relatively large size, hardiness, and bold disposition, along with its striking blue color, makes it an excellent addition to anyone’s collection.
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