possibly dumb question about housing frogs...

[LilithGaea]

SO...I've been wanting to get some more frogs for my brand new, tricked out, rainforest-esque vivarium, and decided I totally wanted something noisey like a Java Barking Tree Frog (mainly since the Pixie is a such quiet girl -.-). I also wanted to get another couple frogs, possibly a White's and/or a Red Eye, and asked several knowledgable frog people if it was cool to house them together, and they've all given me different answers. >.< Who's right?? Is it impossible to house these 3 particular frogs? I was happy to think I'd have a set-up that would be good for all of them, since they're so pretty and cute and awesome, but if there's a chance the RETF would eat the White's then that's no good. I haven't gotten them yet, but the ones I had seen were all about the same size. For them to get along would it be a matter of the size of the frog, or size of the tank? I didn't think RETF's were so...um...bitey. I want to do whats best for the froggle and not put them in peril :/

[Kurt]

Its never a good idea to mix amphibian species. There are a few reasons for this. Cross contamination is one, most amphibians use skin toxins to protect themselves from predation, at the same time they have porous skin that does not keep toxins out. So keeping more than one species together it is possible that they will be poisoning each other. Frogs are simple predators in the fact that most will eat what ever will fit in their mouths, which can include other frogs. A third reason for avoiding keeping different species together is cross infection. Wild caught animals are likely to be carrying parasites and other pathogens. Although it may not seem to be affecting them adversely, it could definitely harm another species, especially one that comes another part of the world.

White's treefrogs, Litoria caerulea are from Australia and the island of New Guinea, while red-eyed leaf frogs, Agalychnis callidryas are from Central America. Both species are captive bred and wild caught. If the frogs you see for sale are big, chances are they are wild caught. I definitely wouldn't mix them. White's are also one of the bigger treefrog species, I have seen them eat mice, so there is another reason not to do it. Then there is the skin toxin issue, another reason to not do it.

If you must mix species, try to keep with species that are from the same part of the world and are closely related. Even then it can be really tricky.

[nat31]

almost every frog person agrees no mixing i am sorry but i have to agree

ps:the only stupid question is the question not asked

[LilithGaea]

Ah okay thank you all for answering in a way that wasn't yelling lol.
I'll just buy one then.

[justin shockey]

get the whites just my thought

[Kurt]

Ah okay thank you all for answering in a way that wasn't yelling lol.
I'll just buy one then.

Oh, I was yelling the entire time I was typing. lol Why would anyone yell at you for asking a question?

[justin shockey]

ya he is just trying to make shore the frogs will be OK