At the zoo today....

[Sasha]

I wanted to get a little advise before I send off an email. I'm always on the hunt at zoos to see if they have whites tree frogs. This morning by accident I discovered that the zoo I go to all the time does in fact have them. Here is my question, the sign on the tank said "Green Tree Frogs, Hyla Cinerea" and the frogs were in a tank and the bottom was mostly water about 4 inches with some little fish in it, is that safe???? They had some drift wood and some plants for them to climb on and that is exactly where they were sleeping. I am not really familiar with the Hyla species so I don't know how well or if they swim. Of to the side of the tank was an area of dirt that kinda sloped into the water and they could get out, but towards the middle of the water area there was nothing for them to climb on. Also, the first thing I noticed was that one of the frogs was not a Hyla Cinerea it was a Litoria Caerulea (White's green tree frog) and I know that the only reason they go in the water is to soak for a bit. I've seen a White's struggle to get out of water, it's not pretty.

Sorry I did not get a picture, I suck! What do you guys think? Should they be in a tank that is 3/4 filled with water? I'm new frogs so I think anything that says "tree frog" is exactly that and should not be put in a fish tank.

[Sasha]

The other thing that bothered me was the temp was 74 degrees and the humidity was only at 45%!

[frognerd101]

If it is a zoo, then they should know what they are doing. I have been to many pet stores where they keep Litoria Caerulea (Whites Tree Frog) in a semi-aquatic tank with it half full of water, and it makes me sick. I have my White's Tree frog in an arboreal tank with branches and leaves and a substrate of eco earth with a shallow water dish. I would say that as long as they have land to perch on, that they should be fine.

[UncleChester]

H. cinerea lay their eggs in the water, if they had no swimming ability they'd be in trouble as a species. However, mine doesn't make it a habit of lingering in the water and spends 99% of its time up high.

You should absolutely let them know the other frog is labeled wrong. That's just, well wrong. Whether they'd take constructive criticism on their enclosure is another matter, but probably worth a try.

[deranged chipmunk]

I would have thought that odd if i hadn't read this article first
White's Tree Frogs

[UncleChester]

I would have thought that odd if i hadn't read this article first
White's Tree Frogs

The tank in that link looks poor to me. Unless the frogs spend a significant amount of time under water (which I don't believe Whites do), their usable living space is pretty small.

Kurt also mentions keeping his Whites in a flooded tank: Frog Forum - White's Tree Frog Care - Litoria caerulea but from the description I gather he allows much more vertical space above the water line.

A large water feature shouldn't be a problem for a tree frog that uses ponds as part of its life-cycle. But if they aren't the kind that hang out in it, ample above water perching spots should be provided. Just my opinion.

[deranged chipmunk]

I don't necessarily agree with the way the frogs are kept. I am of the mindset that just because they can be kept in a flooded tank doesn't mean they should be kept that way. I found the article interesting because it shows just how wide a range of conditions that they can not only be happy in, but actually flourish. Sometimes i think we forget that the care sheets we read are not the end all definitive resource on caring for our little amphibious friends