Treefrog Care

Treefrogs are extremely diverse animals, but this pamphlet gives some basic, general care. With a few basic methods it can be easy to keep these unique and often beautiful animals.

Food:  A simple rule is 3 to 4 crickets per inch of frog per week.  Avoid mealworms.  Supplement crickets with vitamin powder every other feeding.  Many treefrogs will adapt to hand feeding.

Water:  Keep the water bowl very clean and change it daily.  A filtered water section is a good idea. Change one fourth of the water every 2 weeks. Add chlorine neutralizer to the water first, or use bottled water. Cleanliness is important.

Vegetation:  Live plants that can tolerate humidity can be used for climbing structures.  Elmer’s has a variety of terrarium plants.  Choose sturdy, wide leafed varieties.

Set-up Methods

Method 1: Small plastic tank

-2 small live plants
-small water bowl
-terrarium moss (moist)

Pot plants in soil. Rinse moss once a week. Change water daily. Pot plants or bury roots in gravel. Clean powerhead weekly. Cover gravel with moist moss.

Method 2: Glass tank with waterfall

-minimum 10 gallon tank
-fish tank hood (avoid screen)
-pea-sized gravel
-flat stones, or driftwood
-powerhead
-tubing
-moss

Method 3: Glass tank with rainfall

minimum 10 gallon tank, hood, pea-sized gravel, perforated tank divider, powerhead, tubing, moss

Cut one third off divider, use this as a retaining wall for the gravel. Puncture tube every 2 inches. Run tube along top of aquarium. Water will circulate from gravel back into pool.

Heat:  Some treefrogs like temperatures as high as 80 degrees. Most will live in summer, spring and fall room temperature. A heater should be used in the winter months. A Visitherm submersible heater is recommended for best results.

Tank Covers:  Hood: Avoid using screen lids with treefrogs-it can cut their soft skin. Use a full aquarium hood, which will last longer than a screen and will also keep the humidity in more effectively.

Species

Cage type (method #)

Heat

Other facts

Green Treefrog

#1 or 2

room, above 65

males will bark, will hand feed

White’s Treefrog

#1(10gal.or up)

room, between 70-80

friendly, will hand feed, grows up to 5" long

Red Eyed Treefrog

#3 well planted, heated

80 degrees

fragile if not kept correctly, feed often, keep several males to each female and breeding is possible

White Lipped Treefrog

#2 or 3, well planted

room, above 70

can be fragile, do not handle, plant tank well

Gray Treefrog

#1 or 2

room, above 65

sometimes jumpy

Personalizing Your Terrarium:  Terrarium building can be considered a form of art, and as a result can be quite beautiful. Here are several examples and the supplies you will need to create a beautiful terrarium:

Tank, powerhead, hood or screen, pea-sized gravel, flexible tubing, foam filter insert, plants, perforated divider, rocks, driftwood, heater (submersible) 
Good terrarium plants: pothos ,ribbon plant , Chinese evergreen, peace lily (Brazilian sword), arrowhead, philodendron, mondo grass, moss , ferns, club moss, java fern, acrous grass

Water Changes:  Try to change the water partially every two weeks. ( Always add a chlorine remover to water first ). It is good idea to start the terrarium over after 2-4 months of it running. However, if the plants are healthy and show no sign of deterioration, it is best to let the cycle remain.

Recommended Books
109156 Frogs, Toads, Treefrogs Barrons Books $6.95
901040 Tree Frogs ADVV Publications $7.99

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