Introduction
Dendrobates Imitator Intermedius
Dendrobates azureus
Welcome to Midwest Dartfrogs located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Poison dart frogs or poison arrow frogs as they are sometimes called are a group of oftentimes brightly colored frogs that exist across much of Central and South America. They obtain their toxins from their diet and three of the species, Phyllobates terribilis, Phyllobates bicolor and Phyllobates aurotenia possess sufficient poison to kill humans and are in fact the infamous 'poison arrow frogs'. Natives will coat the secretions from their skin onto darts.
However, in the absence of their native diet of insects, poison dart frogs lose their toxicity over time and frogs born and raised in captivity do not possess the toxins of their wild cousins.
These jewels of the rain forest are critically endangered for two major reasons. The first is destruction of their native habitat. Many of these frogs exist in very small and isolated ecological niches. The destruction of a fairly small region can lead to extinction. The second threat is a fungus called chytrid. This fungus is leading to a worldwide decline in global amphibian populations and has led to the extinction and near extinction of several species.
In October 2004, we obtained our first dart frogs, two green and black auratus. We were so fascinated with them that we never looked back and today our collection contains over 50 morphs (varients) across 2 dozen species. The classification scheme for dart frogs is being revisited as we speak so that number of species may change....suffice it to say we have a large variety of frogs. Our frog room is filled with frog song from lights on to after lights out and is truly a relaxing place to visit.
On this website you'll get a chance to see the frogs we are working with and also obtain information about the care and breeding of these fascinating animals. We also offer offspring of our frogs for sale and those can be found here.
Feedback and questions are always welcome - just shoot us a note at the email link above. Thanks for looking!
Bill and Gina Heath
However, in the absence of their native diet of insects, poison dart frogs lose their toxicity over time and frogs born and raised in captivity do not possess the toxins of their wild cousins.
These jewels of the rain forest are critically endangered for two major reasons. The first is destruction of their native habitat. Many of these frogs exist in very small and isolated ecological niches. The destruction of a fairly small region can lead to extinction. The second threat is a fungus called chytrid. This fungus is leading to a worldwide decline in global amphibian populations and has led to the extinction and near extinction of several species.
In October 2004, we obtained our first dart frogs, two green and black auratus. We were so fascinated with them that we never looked back and today our collection contains over 50 morphs (varients) across 2 dozen species. The classification scheme for dart frogs is being revisited as we speak so that number of species may change....suffice it to say we have a large variety of frogs. Our frog room is filled with frog song from lights on to after lights out and is truly a relaxing place to visit.
On this website you'll get a chance to see the frogs we are working with and also obtain information about the care and breeding of these fascinating animals. We also offer offspring of our frogs for sale and those can be found here.
Feedback and questions are always welcome - just shoot us a note at the email link above. Thanks for looking!
Bill and Gina Heath
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Website last updated July 15, 2008