Proud New Frog Owner - Blue Chubby Frog or Dumpy Frog

[Bolisnide]

Hi, I’m fairly new at all this frog stuff...
My son wanted a frog, and was told at the pet store the Blue Chubby Frog or Dumpy Frog was the best for beginners, and could be easily handled. so that’s what we got, and he is just adorable! A juvenile only about 2 inches long.
The 10 gallon terrarium has about 2" coconut shavings, and on top of that about 2" of moss. I’ve moistened the substrate with non-chlorine water. I’ve stuck a heat pad on the side. I’ve placed a shallow dish with water on one side, and placed some fake plants and a tree limb going diagonally across and up the side of the tank for him to climb. I’m also using a fluorescent bulb (during the day) that came with the tank when we originally used it for fish. (all of this per the advice of the pet store) Temperature hovers around 65, and humidity around 60.

I have some questions:
1. The frog has been hiding since we brought him home (for 2 days) buried under the substrate, is this ok? normal?
2. the frog will not eat any crickets, how often do they eat?
3. I can’t get the heat above 65 with just the heat pad, so today I added a red overhead lamp for use during the day (in addition to the fluorescent) and plan on using it alone at night. Temp is now at about 75. Again, is this ok?

I assumed the frog would be more active, but he doesn’t move at all. My son and I unearthed him this morning and held him a little, then he shot out pee! Is he ok? Is he just adjusting to his new home?
Also, the coconut shavings seem to stick to him, he was covered when we unearthed him, should I take these out and only use the moss?

Hoping someone can guide us on how to give this little ’Froggy’ (my son’s name for him) a wonderful life and home.
(Posted same on another website, hoping for feedback!)
Thanks!

[Kurt]

Be careful with the heat lamp, as they can dry out the frog's enclosure and thus, the frog. Seventy-five is a good temperature for your frog, sixty-five is too cool for a day time temperature.
You can cover the coconut substrate with leaf litter. "Live oak" is your best choice as it doesn't break down as quickly as other types of leaves. It can be purchased from either Black Jungle or Josh's Frogs. Welcome to Black Jungle Terrarium Supply - The Natural Choice! and Josh's Frogs - Largest online herps feeders and reptile supplies store
I would give the frog a few days to settle in. Try not to be "in its face" too much. The lack of an appetite has many possible causes. The first one could be the low temperature you have had him at. Second possibility is he is just settling into a new situation/environment. The third could be an illness, but let's put that thought aside for a now and explore the first two. There is also the possibility that he is eating and you are just not seeing it.

[Bolisnide]

Thanks so much for your time! After doing more research online, I believe he is a 'White Tree Frog', not a Blue Chubby/Dumpy, unless these are different names for the same species. He looks just like the images I've found online for a 'White Tree Frog'. He's bright green, a little chubby, and has the yellow eyes with horizontal pupils.
We moved the terrarium to a warmer part of the house and did away with the heat lamp... wouldn't want to dry things up.
The temp seems to be at 74 now, and humidity at about 65.
The frog has eaten 2 crickets, I assume, as there are not any more in the enclosure.
I found him in a different spot in the cage, and a large poop where he was before.
And we have not bugged him at all, so hopefully he's adjusting.
I'll resource the leaf litter you mentioned, and give that a try on top of the coconut shavings.
Thanks again!

[Kurt]

You're welcome. Yes, dumpy is another name for the White's treefrog, Litoria caerulea. I have never really heard it called a a blue chubby before. In Australia, they call them green treefrogs.

[mim]

our two whites were like that wen we first had them. they were constantly hiding and we didnt see much of them for quite a while (plus they were quite small so good at hiding!) and wen i did decide to handle one of them it did a big wee, but we left them alone to get used to their new house. i imagine its quite traumatic for them. weve had them for just over a month now and willow is startin to come out in the evenin and sits on her plants and lets u take photos of her. our other is a lot more shy but we still see him hidin (he is the smaller frog so we figure he is more submissive). we tend to see them most at dinner time so if ur kids up thats the best time to show him the frog. my lil boy convinced me to buy him frogs but he doesnt bother with them as the frogs r always asleep in the day. they r great fun to watch. they are drivin our cats wild! good luck

[Bolisnide]

Hi Kurt,
Well there is so much more to having a pet frog than I was led to believe by the pet store... which is very surprising and a little dis-heartening. It makes me sad that these animals are sold as pets without the right/enough info. He didn't even know the proper name of the frog, which I now know is the White's Treefrog - thanks!
Anyway, I found your care sheet on this sight, which has been tremendously helpful.
I am excited that the frog seems more active at night, is eating, the temp seems fine now and humidity good. He was in the water dish for sometime last night after eating 2 crickets!
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks. And I think we are now on the right track.
By the way, do think it wise to get a larger tank? He's only in a 10 gallon, which considering the size he will eventually be, seems quite small. When do think we may have to upgrade?
And, mim, thanks for your comment. It's nice to know that what we experienced isn't so out of the ordinary...