Tank – Appropriate size for
the frog:
12x12x18/18x18x24
o Substrate – 6-10 qt
o Digital Thermo-hygrometer
o Water Dish
o Branches and décor
o Foliage
o Misting Bottle
o UVB recommended but not
requiredTree frogs prefer a vertically oriented habitat and do great in bioactive setups. Very small babies can be kept in larger plastic critter keeper style enclosures to allow for observed growth. 12x12x18 cages are a great size for young frogs/smaller species. 18x18x24 or similar is the ideal size for larger species such as white's tree frogs.
Tree frogs need a substrate that is good for holding humidity. Jungle Mix, Reptisoil, and Bio Dude Terra Flora all work well. Moss can be added to keep humidity levels up.
The basic layering in your substrate should be as follows: drainage layer, bioactive substrate (such as terra fauna), moss layer, springtails and isopods, and finally a leaf litter layer.Tree frogs should be kept at room temperature, 72-78 degrees in the terrarium is ideal. A small heat lamp may be needed if temperatures are cooler. 5.0/6.0% UVB in spot lighting or a small linear light is recommended.
If using live plants, full spectrum lighting is required, which can be provided in both T5 linear form or LED lighting.Tree frogs need high levels of humidity, around 70% with frequent misting to stimulate drinking. They should also have access to clean water in a dish for soaking a drinking. If the proper humidity level is still not held with daily misting, the screen top of the enclosure can be partially covered, or moss can be added. The soil should not stay constantly wet and should dry some between misting.
Live insects should be fed daily for babies and 3 times per week for adults. 10-15 appropriately sized insects per feeding. A calcium supplement should be added to the insects a couple times a week.
Tree frogs should be given lots of hiding places and sitting spots, a proper tank should be full of branches and foliage.
There are lots of plant options for your bioactive tree frog tanks. Since they are stout bodied animals that like to jump, thicker stemmed plants with larger leaves are preferred. Pothos is a great choice. Ferns, other ivy's and moss ground covers are also great options for a tree frog tank.Spot clean your frog's cage as needed. Any waste on the glass can be wiped off with water. Avoid using cleaners with your animal still residing in the tank. The substrate should be changed every 4 months unless a bioactive setup is being used.
Tree frogs have permeable skin like all other frog species and handling should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Clean damp hands or damp unpowdered gloves can be used to move frogs safely.
Metabolic Bone Disease occurs when the frogs are given insufficient calcium and vitamin D3. Symptoms include deformed limbs, brittle and soft bones, lethargy, and decreased appetite. This is easily prevented by providing the appropriate diet, including insects dusted with a quality calcium supplement.
Dehydration can occur with insufficient humidity and misting.
Tree Frog
Tree frogs are a diverse family of amphibians that includes over 800 species. Not all tree frogs live in trees. Rather, the feature that unites them has to do with their feet—the last bone in their toes (called the terminal phalanx) is shaped like a claw. Tree frogs also have toe pads to help them climb and many have extra skeletal structures in their toes. Tree frogs can be a variety of colors, but most of the species found in the United States are green, gray, or brown. Some of them, like the squirrel tree frog (Hyla squirella), are chameleon-like in their ability to change color.
Although tree frogs can grow to be a range of sizes, most arboreal species are very small because they rely on leaves and slender branches to hold their weight. At 4 to 5.5 inches (10 to 14 centimeters) long, the white-lipped tree frog (Litoria infrafrenata) from Australia and Oceania is the largest tree frog in the world. The largest tree frog in the United States is the non-native Cuban tree frog, which reaches 1.5 to 5 inches (3.8 to 12.7 centimeters) in length. The world’s smallest tree frogs are less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) long!