White’s Tree Frog
Care
Lifespan
15 - 20 years on average.
Adult size
4 - 5 inches, can reach full size within 18 months.
Housing
A glass front opening tank with appropriate ventilation such as an Exo Terra Terrarium is recommended.
As White’s Tree Frogs are arboreal, height is important in an enclosure. Babies and juveniles can be housed in smaller enclosures measuring 30x30x45cm to help establish a healthy appetite.
We recommend older juveniles and adults are upgraded to an enclosure measuring a recommended minimum of 45x45x60cm, however we strongly recommend a 45x45x90cm due to their arboreal nature.
We recommend that the enclosure is filled with branches, foliage and decorations that will promote naturalistic climbing behaviours, as well as providing the frog with plenty of places to hide and feel secure.
A bioactive setup is also an option, and one that we would highly recommend, involving live plants and a ‘clean-up crew’ within the soil. For more information about bioactivity, please talk to a member of staff or message one of our Facebook Pages.
Heating
A heat mat can be used on the side of the glass enclosure attached to a Mat Stat set at the correct temperature.
Alternatively, for a more accurate hotspot, a basking bulb can be used within a Heat Dome placed on the top mesh of the enclosure.
We recommend that a dimming thermostat is used to prevent overheating. Recommended temperatures within the enclosure are: A hotspot of 28c, and an ambient temperature of 24-26c Night time temps can drop as low as 18c. We recommend that temperatures are measured using a reliable thermometer.
Lighting
UVB lighting is a beneficial option for this species. Benefits include aiding in the shedding cycle and aiding in the synthesis of calcium, therefore preventing Metabolic Bone Disease. If you choose to provide UVB lighting, an Arcadia Shade Dweller UVB Kit placed on the top mesh of the enclosure is what we recommend. We recommend that lighting is put on a 12 hour light cycle (for example 8am-8pm) to replicate day and night.
Humidity
White’s Tree Frogs require moderate to high humidity levels of 60-80% within the enclosure. This can be achieved by using a humidity retaining soil-based substrate and by spraying the enclosure daily. Conditions should never be kept constantly wet and the substrate should not become waterlogged or soggy. Allow humidity to drop back down to 60% between misting.
Water
We recommend that fresh water is provided daily and cleaned when dirty.
Diet
White’s Tree Frogs are insectivores so they only eat insects, offering live foods once a day for babies and every 2-3 days for adults. We recommend that babies are fed 10-15 bugs a feed whilst adults 5-10, however this is only an approximation and should be adjusted based on the animal’s metabolism. Staple live feeders include crickets and locusts with fatty options like Morios or wax worms being great treats.
Supplementation
We recommend the use of a calcium supplement used on food offered during weekdays (Monday-Friday) and a multivitamin used once a week on either a Saturday or Sunday (leaving a day of the weekend with no supplements used). To supplement live food it is most recommended to add the amount of bugs being fed to a small plastic sandwich bag along with a small amount of the supplement, and then to gently shake the bag to lightly coat each insect before feeding.
Alternatively, if feeding a whole tub in one sitting, add ⅓ of a teaspoon of the supplement to the tub of bugs and gently shake. D3 supplements should be used if no UV lighting is provided to avoid metabolic bone disease however caution should be taken when using supplements with D3 as overdosing can cause neurological issues, thus we recommend just using UVB lighting.
Handling
As with most frog species, we recommend handling should be kept to a minimum and only done when required such as cleaning and maintenance of the enclosure. When handling, we recommend using dust free gloves to prevent oils from our skin causing harm to the frog.