Defining Characteristics:

• Great beginner frog
• Contrasting Coloration
• Bold
• Easy to Breed
• Quiet Call
• Very Large
• Can be kept in groups when young
• Best kept in pairs as adults

Name: Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'. Some individuals of this population which had more gray legs were once (and sometimes still are) referred to as Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Gray'. In the hobby, these poison dart frogs are commonly called powder blue tincs, or simply powder blues or powders.

Recommended Vivarium Size & Setup: A 10 gallon aquarium is suitable for a single Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue', but Josh's Frogs recommends a 20H or 18x18x18 glass terrarium for 1-3 frogs.

ABG mix or Josh's Frogs Dart Frog BioBedding in conjunction with our other bioactive layers (false bottom, substrate barrier, sphagnum moss and leaf litter) are great substrate options for your dart frog setup! Both of these mixes support microfauna populations, which help break down waste and mold within the tank.

Want to spice up your enclosure with live plants? Our experts have curated kits of easy-to-care-for and SAFE plants for your dart frogs. Check them out here!

Not sure how to set up a vivarium? Check out this video: Dart Frog Vivarium Set Up - Start to Finish

Temperature (°F): They can tolerate a temperature range of 65 to 80 degrees, but prefer temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Temperatures over 85° are dangerous.

Measure temps with a digital thermometer.

Humidity: Like most poison dart frogs, Powder Blues prefer a humidity range of 70 – 100%, but can tolerate humidity down to 50% for short periods of time if the frogs have access to water. Low humidity levels, especially without access to water, can quickly be fatal.

Measure humidity with a digital hygrometer.

Size: These are one of the largest forms of Dendrobates tinctorius. Adult female Powder Blue tincs are larger, measuring in at approximately 2.5 inches. Male Powder Blue tincs are a bit smaller, averaging about 2 inches at maturity. All of the Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' froglets Josh's Frogs sells are well started juveniles, and measure approximately 1 inch long.

Age: Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' is capable of living well over 20 years in captivity under ideal conditions, although a lifespan of 10 years is more common. In the wild, it is thought that tincs may live 4-6 years. All Powder Blues for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are 2-3 months old.

Feeding: Like most poison dart frogs, Powder Blue poison dart frogs prefer smaller foods. All of the tinctorius dart frogs Josh's Frogs sells will readily eat Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies.

Adult Powder Blues will readily consume Drosophila hydei fruit flies and pinhead crickets. All ages of poison dart frogs will enjoy springtails and isopods. All feeder insects should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement.

For more information on what poison dart frogs can eat, please read our blog: Feeding Dart Frogs: What, How Often, and How Much?

Color/Pattern: A very variable poison dart frog, all Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' are mostly black  in color with a varying degree of yellow or white striping on the back. This poison dart frog has very variable leg color and pattern. Named for the predominately powder blue color of their legs, these frogs can have gray or blue legs with varying degrees of black spotting (no spotting in rare individuals).

In the past, these frogs were separated after import as 'powder blue' and 'powder gray' tincs. After breeding these frogs in captivity and observing the resulting variable offspring (blue legs threw offspring with gray legs, and vice versa), it was determined that both Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' and D. tinctorius 'Powder Gray' are the same morph, and can be mixed/housed together.

Josh's Frogs does not recommend, support, or endorse line breeding as we believe this leads to weaker captive animals and nature has done a wonderful job of creating an amazing variation in color and pattern of poison dart frogs already.

Social Behavior: Powder Blues do well housed in groups up to sexual maturity, as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends approximately 10 gallons per frog.

As they reach sexual maturity at 10-12 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of Dendrobates tinctorius may change, and all but one female may need to be removed. Female D. tinctorius may fight with each other over a mate. For that reason, many breeders recommend keeping Powder Blues in pairs as adults.

Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of dart frogs - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing!

Breeding: Powder Blues are very simple and easy to breed. Like most Dendrobates tinctorius, Powder Blues are best bred in pairs as adult females may fight with each other in the presence of a male. Generally, eggs are deposited on a smooth broad leaf, or on a petri dish under a cocohut. The eggs hatch into tadpoles, which then take 60-80 days to complete metamorphosis into miniature versions of the adults.

For more information on breeding and raising poison dart frogs, please read our blog: 5 Tips for Breeding Dart Frogs

Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair (male & female).

Natural Range: Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' hails from the southwestern side of Suriname. Powder blues live east of the Tapanahony River, where the river originates, in the Eilerts de Haan Mountains near Brazil. This locale is surrounded by typical 'Cobalt' looking tinctorius, and it obviously very closely related.

History in the Hobby: Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' was one of the earlier tincs available in the hobby, having been imported from Suriname by 1994 (if not a year or two earlier). Powder Blue tincs have been present in the hobby ever since, but are often overlooked as a 'common' (and thus undesirable) frog. Due to their large size, bold behavior, and ease of breeding, I'm sure Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' will continue to be in the hobby for years to come.

Links of Interest:

• Dendrobates tinctorius Morphguide article on Powder Blues
• A good thread on Dendroboard about the Powder Blue/Gray debate

Still not sure if Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue' from Josh's Frogs are the right poison dart frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!