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Strawberry Poison Frog (Blue Jeans)
Oophaga pumilio
The Strawberry Poison Frog is a brilliantly colored micro-amphibian renowned for its complex maternal care. Highly territorial and active, it demands dense bromeliads and constant high humidity.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Dendrobatidae
Subfamily:Dendrobatinae
Genus:Oophaga
Species:Oophaga pumilio
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
80 - 100 %
Day temperature
24 - 27 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
Ambient temperature
24 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 30 L
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed across Central America from Nicaragua through Costa Rica to Panama. They inhabit humid tropical lowlands, cocoa and banana plantations, and secondary forests. This species is highly arboreal, relying on epiphytic bromeliads that grow on tree trunks, which they use for shelter and as breeding pools (phytotelmata) for their tadpoles.
Taxonomy and Genetics: The strawberry poison frog is one of the most polymorphic species of vertebrates, with over 30 distinct color morphs found throughout its range. The standard morph features a bright red body with contrasting dark blue legs and arms. They are miniature frogs, with adults measuring only 1.8 to 2.5 cm. Their toes are slender and equipped with pads for climbing.
Behavior and Habits: Diurnal and highly active. Males are extremely territorial and vocal, calling from elevated perches to defend their territory and attract mates. The species is named for its extraordinary maternal care: the female deposits unfertilized eggs in the water-filled leaf axils of bromeliads to feed her developing tadpoles, which is their sole food source.
Morphology: Sexual dimorphism is subtle. Males and females are similar in size, but mature males possess a darker, expandable vocal sac under the throat, which becomes slightly wrinkled or loose after vocalizing.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a vertically oriented terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm) decorated with dense live plants, climbing branches, and moss. Epiphytic bromeliads (especially Neoregelia) are absolutely mandatory, as the water pooled in their leaf axils is essential for the frogs' nesting and the survival of their tadpoles.
Lighting and Heating: Prefers temperatures between 24-27°C during the day, with a nightly drop to 20-22°C. Excellent lighting is necessary for plant growth, particularly for bromeliads. A low-intensity UVB light is beneficial to support calcium absorption and simulate the natural forest canopy light.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires exceptionally high relative humidity (85-100%). Due to their small body size, they dehydrate rapidly if humidity drops. An automatic misting system is highly recommended. The water pools in the bromeliads must never dry out, as they are crucial for tadpole rearing.
Feeding and Supplementation: Feed exclusively on micro-insects due to their small size. The primary diet should consist of fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and springtails. Dust all feeder insects regularly with a high-quality supplement containing calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D3 to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Compatibility: Intraspecific competition is intense. House them in single pairs or small, well-established harems in large terrarios. Housing multiple males in a standard-sized enclosure will result in aggressive wrestling matches, causing fatal stress to subordinate individuals. Do not mix with other species.
Health and Common Diseases: Recommended only for experienced keepers. Their high metabolic rate means they cannot tolerate fasting for more than 48 hours, requiring a reliable, constant supply of live micro-prey. Avoid handling, as their permeable skin is highly sensitive to the oils and pathogens on human hands.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widely distributed across Central America from Nicaragua through Costa Rica to Panama. They inhabit humid tropical lowlands, cocoa and banana plantations, and secondary forests. This species is highly arboreal, relying on epiphytic bromeliads that grow on tree trunks, which they use for shelter and as breeding pools (phytotelmata) for their tadpoles.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsCentral America and Caribbean
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 2.5 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 2.5 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 2.5 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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