I need more information on Whites Tree Frogs

[Kristen87]

Sorry to hijack, Don are you saying they don't need a UV light? I thought they would need it for vitamin D so they can absorb calcium... Or is vitamin D supliment dusting enough? I'm in the process of setting up a new tank for my whites and want to know whether to buy a UV for the new tank or just plain lighting.

[DonLisk]

Sorry to hijack, Don are you saying they don't need a UV light? I thought they would need it for vitamin D so they can absorb calcium... Or is vitamin D supliment dusting enough? I'm in the process of setting up a new tank for my whites and want to know whether to buy a UV for the new tank or just plain lighting.

That is really a controversial topic and a great question. Here is why:
Since they are tree frogs and only active at night, they rarely get any sunlight in the wild so would it be beneficial.
Now on the other side, sunlight penetrates oceans, through leaves in the trees, and even damages (with UV) materials through a window, and even can give you a sunburn on a cloudy day. So, the frog should or would receive UV defused where its located during the day in the wild hmmmmmm

From what I understand, they do not need UV for the absorption of calcium and calcium is actually added to their blood cells through the digestion process and not absorption.

I think they can utilize UV but it shouldn't be provided with a bulb of over 2.0 since they don't bask and would only receive UV defused by the things above and around them in the trees they live and hide in.

I don't use UV lighting for my darts or tree frogs but do continually supplement calcium every other feeding.

[Kristen87]

Awesome, thanks. I knew turtles could get metabolic bone disease if they have inadequate UV lighting, because the vitamin D in UV boosts the absorption of calcium in the intestines necessary for healthy bone growth, but with frogs not having a carapace made of bone, not being diurnal and not being reptiles that bask in the sun for warmth I wasn't sure about their UV requirements... So MBD isn't an issue with nocturnal frogs that you've heard of?

[DonLisk]

Awesome, thanks. I knew turtles could get metabolic bone disease if they have inadequate UV lighting, because the vitamin D in UV boosts the absorption of calcium in the intestines necessary for healthy bone growth, but with frogs not having a carapace made of bone, not being diurnal and not being reptiles that bask in the sun for warmth I wasn't sure about their UV requirements... So MBD isn't an issue with nocturnal frogs that you've heard of?

Not that I have heard of but i have never heard anything negative about use of 2.0 lighting also :-)

[Kristen87]

Good point... Might get a 2.0 then to be on the safe side Thanks for your help!