Hey! That's Not a Fish! or It's Not Easy Being Green
Apr 17 '02 (Updated Apr 25 '02)
The Bottom Line Tree Frogs can make a wonderful fish alternative!
*This opinion is about keeping tree frogs as pets. If anyone can suggest a better place to put this, please let me know! Thank you!
I have been keeping tree frogs for the last two and a half years. Frogs are a wonderful and interesting alternative to keeping fish, without quite the amount of work. Thinking about it? Here are some things you should know to get you started. As always, feel free to leave a comment, or E-mail me with any questions!
What kind of frogs to get?!
There are a lot of options available for first time frog owners. Red Eye Tree Frogs are very cool looking little herps but they are a more fragile species, and can be difficult for a first time frog owner to keep alive. They are also expensive. For a beginner herper, I would suggest a Green Tree Frog (hyla cinera) or a litoria caerula, or White’s Tree Frog. White’s are also known as Dumpy Tree Frogs. I keep both species, and enjoy them very much!
Green Tree Frogs are native to the Southern United States. Most Green Tree Frogs are wild caught, not captive bred, and because of this, they are more likely to die of complications which are unrelated to your care of them. They can be found at pet stores, and should not cost more than $10. Their call is surprisingly loud. Sort of a cross between a duck and a small, hyperactive dog.
White’s Tree Frogs are native to Australia and Indonesia. The Aussie variety tends to be a green to a greenish blue, and the Indo. variety tends to be an olive green to brown. These frogs are somewhat larger, and have a slower deeper croak. You may have seen these guys on book covers or greeting cards. They have an adorable, chubby appearance, and it looks like they are smiling. These frogs may also be purchased at pet stores, for around $20-$30.
* A note on pet stores:
While there are a number of reputable pet stores in the country, people who love herps tend to boycott places like PetSmart and other local shops because of the way the frogs are shipped and cared for. Telling you more about this here would be very lengthy. I suggest you visit: www.kingsnake.com Kingsnake.com has wonderful info on Frogs, learning forums, and links to breeders.
Cage Requirements
The general rule of thumb for these frogs is a minimum of 20 gallons for the first frog, and an additional 10 gallons, per frog thereafter. Different species of frogs should never, ever live together. For substrate, you will want to use co-co bedding or bed a beast. You can find these materials, as well as most of the others I will mention in this opinion at: www.blackjungle.com.
Your frog will need some hidey-logs, or even a small terra-cotta pot (my white’s loves his!) you’ll also want branches and a solid, shallow water dish. Place aquarium backing around the three sides of the tank that aren’t facing the room, as this will allow your frog privacy and make it feel less nervous.
Cage Mates
If you decide to put two frogs of the same species in a tank together, be sure that they are the same size, or one will become a meal. As humans, we like to think of these guys as wanting friends, but they are not social creatures. Whatever you do, don’t EVER mix species. Ever. Don’t leave me a comment telling me that your newt and your frog are best pals, because I will be forced to prove you ignorant. Don’t worry about sexing your frogs. It is very, very hard to do. You’ll know the sex of your frog if it calls. If your frog calls, it is a boy. Special conditions need to be set up to encourage breeding, so don’t worry about unplanned eggs, as this is extraordinarily rare!
Food and Water
The staple of their diet is (eew) crickets. Nasty little insects! They eat 2-4 crickets, every other day. You’ll need to dust the gut-loaded (- this means the crickets have eaten vitamins to transfer to the frog) crix with vitamin powder on occasion, especially if you have a young frog. You can feed them other household insects- they LOVE moths! If you catch insects from outside, be sure there are no lawn chemicals or pesticides in use. Also, no ladybugs or lightning bugs, and beetles (anything with a hard carapace) are a bad idea. Their water should be filtered. Frogs do not drink, but absorb through their skin. They will soak in their water bowl, and will sometimes go to the bathroom in it. Be sure to change the water daily, and to keep a clean cage. Crickets always end up in the water dish, and drown easily, so keep an eye out for that when feeding.You never want a bowl that is so deep that the frogs head isn't sticking out when he in soaking. Tree frogs aren't fantastic swimmers- don't give them a chance to drown!
Cleaning the Cage Never use chemicals or detergents in your cage. Simple hot water should do for wiping down the sides of the cage, and rinsing off/out bowls and the sides of the cage.
Your new, aloof, friend
I mentioned earlier that frogs absorb through their skin, and thus, should never be handled. If you need to handle one, be sure your hands are very clean- (no soap residue!), and that they are moist. Children may have a problem with this. Think of your frog like a fish- beautiful to look at, not to hold. Frogs are nocturnal, and if you go to sleep early, you may not see them do much other than just hanging around (literally, since they hang from the glass when they sleep). You may be reminded that you have a pet frog when he wakes you up at 4 am singing his little heart out!
Froggy Fanatic
Overall, frogs are a very interesting and pretty species to keep as pets, especially if you choose a hardy species. This opinion is meant to give you an overview, and not absolutely all of the information is here. Do your research before buying one- Many live up to 20 years, so you may have your new friend for a long time!
Note!
Spring and summer are here, and at this time of the year, a lot of kids will be out hunting for frogs and toads. I always try to encourage the kids that I know to find a frog or toad and then "spy" on it, leaving it alone. The fact of the matter is that kids are going to want to keep them for pets, and some parents are okay with this!
If you are one of these wonderful parents, what I ask you to consider, is to set up a tank for it as mentioned above, and take care of it over the summer. Teach your kids about how amphibians absorb through their skin, and shouldn't be handled, and teach them the importance of changing water daily. Your kids may get a kick out of moth hunting to feed their new friends (remember- no lightning bugs, ladybugs or other beetles!). Keep the frog/toad for the summer, and as August approaches, set it free where you found it. Remember that many of these guys will need to hibernate during the winter (unless you live in the deep south), and they will have a hard time doing this in a beginner tank. Set them free, and if your child is heartbroken, think about getting a captive bred frog from the petstore!
Hoppy Reading!
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Member: Annie
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