Keeping Green Tree Frogs. Hard work?

Question

My husband brought home an Green Tree Frog (Australian) for my son. It's a refugee from a banana box. We can't let it go as it is no longer in it's natural climate and wouldn't survive. I have been researching how to look after them and it seems like a pretty complex set-up is needed. Heaters, lights, filters, humidity, licenses.

Is it really as hard as it sound? What can I expect to spend to get a proper set-up? Are they rewarding pets? My son loves it of course but I just want to make sure it is worth it before we go to all this effort & expense.

Answer 1

When I was young I absolutely loved holding frogs from my pond, and it was very exciting! It is very much worth it, they are great pets! It isn't as hard as it sounds... You can expect to invest quite some money, but once it passes you will have supplies to get your son's new froggie.They are very rewarding pets!!!

Answer 2

I it's Australian, it's probably not a green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) which is indigenous to the southern United States.  What you have is most likely called a "Dumpy Treefrog,"  Litoria carulea, also known by the name White's Treefrog.  They grow to a pretty average size, are hardy, eat ravenously, and are extremely rewarding and filled with personality.  If you have some other species of frog, these tips will still apply:

1.  You don't need a heater, of any kind, be it a heat lamp, heat rock, or heating pad.  That's a good way to cook your froggie.  Whoever told you that is probably just trying to sell you merchandise you don't need at the expense of your animal.

2.  As for lights, they will probably be your most expensive purchase.  I recommend UV bulbs, and any local pet shop should be able to steer you in the right direction.

3.  Use live plants, they will make your animal happier and healthier, and will also create humidity in the tank through photosynthesis, which form water as a byproduct.  Do not fully cover the tank, you need some air flow, unless you are dealing with dart-poison frogs which are South American.  You need a UV bulb for your plants to grow.  Philodendron, also known as pothos, grows easily from cuttings as well as roots, is attractive, cheap, and you can buy it at Wal-Mart or Lowes or anywhere else with plants.

4.  You don't need a filter.  White's treefrogs are arboreal.  They will send most of their time in the foliage anyway, so just get a small water  bowl.  If you don't care about aesthetics, any household cup will do.

5.  You don't need a liscense.  Don't worry about it.  If it's deadly, yes, if it's endangered, definitely yes, but if it's a White's Treefrog, no.  I wouldn't go telling everyone because it could be breaking some importation laws, but that would be the fault of the banana company.

6.  Aquariums can be pricey, I recommend a vertical tank, probably a 15-20 gallon.  Use coconut bark for substrate, available at most pet stores.

7.  For feeding, use crickets, dust them with calcium powder, also available at pet stores.  Put the crickets in a cup with powder, shake gently, dump 'em in the tank, watch 'em get eaten.

I hope that's everything, and good luck.

Answer 3

get an under tank heat mat if u live in a cold climate fix it up to a thermostat (which can be a bit pricey but are well worth it) yep u probably have a dumpy tree frog (called the green tree frog in Australia and white's tree frog in the UK)

the thermostat (get a good one like a habistat) will make sure the mat doesnt get too hot and injure your frog while keeping the vivarium warm enough for it to be happy dont use basking lights.

but otherwise jesse has it spot on

and keeping whites/dumpy's is pretty easy once u have all the correct set-up working nicely