Gray Tree Frog Care - Hyla versicolor and Hyla chrysoscelis

[John]

American Gray Tree Frogs make great pets and their captive care and breeding is straightforward. Kurt Kunze and I walk you through every facet of caring for and breeding these wonderful frogs, as well as their natural history. The article is full of full colour photos that you won't find anywhere else on the Internet.


The article is located here:

FrogForum - Gray Tree Frog Care

Please post any comments or suggestions you might have for the article, here on this page. Thank you.

[Maple]

Cool . I have tow gray tree frog's and I like them. Do you breed tree frog's?

[John]

I've bred Gray Tree Frogs if that's what you're asking.

[ericlucci]

Hello, i have just found a gray treefrog, and my plan was not to keep it, but i just love it and was coming to see if i could find information on how to take care of it. I was wondering if the care sheet meant that no light is needed, but a fluorescent light or something would be good?

[Kurt]

Current research suggests that UVB light would be beneficial to your frog, so yes, I would have a light upon your enclosure.

[ericlucci]

ok thanks

[Susan Churchill]

We recently installed a pool in our backyard and we live in the woods. I heard loud songs from outside and found at least 16 Gray Tree frogs sitting on the sides of the pool. They were also on my fountain. I have become enchanted and want to make sure these wonderful creatures remain in the wild and are prolific! I am now helping to raise about 200 Gray tree frog tadpoles in my fountain. They are yet to grow legs, but love the romaine lettuce I feed them daily and love the water lilies, etc. I have set in the fountain. I am looking forward to a new generation someday climbing into my trees and serenading my family

[Kurt]

Sounds lovely.

[John]

I recently spent some time in Alabama and was lucky enough to hear Hyla chrysoscelis and a lot of Hyla avivoca. In Georgia you have Hyla chrysoscelis. They are in no way endangered but please do enjoy your rearing experience.

[Susan Churchill]

Regarding gray tree tadpoles in my fountain....they have yet to sprout legs but seem very healthy. I must have 150 in the first generation, about 4 to 4 1/2 weeks old. I have put in rocks above water and lily pads. I am afraid there will not be enough room for all the froglets. Should I lower the water in the fountain and have lots of "land" available? Also, once their tails start to absorb can they climb out on a branch and start fending for themselves. My whole purpose is to increase their population.

[Susan Churchill]

Would the number of tadpoles in my fountain contribute to their late development. They are well fed and the fountain is pretty large, about 16" deep and 2'deep and 4'wide. Many are getting larger daily. A second generation seems to be getting bigger faster than the first. Any comments?

[Kurt]

If its over crowded that could affect the growth rate, as can the temperatures and the quality/amount of food given.

[Susan Churchill]

Thank you.

[Kurt]

You're welcome.

[Andoconda]

I have Gray Tree Frogs and they turned into froglets about 5 days ago. They won't eat these bloodworms we got for them. Do you have any suggestions? I might try waxworms but I'm not sure if those are to big. Please comment if you have any suggestions.

[Susan Churchill]

Aren't they the cutest things! A few of mine have completely resorbed tails and I think that is when they get hungry. I have gone to PetSmart to get 1/4" grasshoppers. The med/lg ones are the same size as the froglet. I have also heard about wingless fruit flies. They were out the other day. Good luck.

[Susan Churchill]

Oh, another thing....the froglets and frogs will only eat LIVE insects. They will not eat ants and beetles. I have not kept mine captive. They were bred in a fountain and I did put them in a safe spot while they resorbed their tails. I then felt it was time for them to go out on their own, just like in nature. I got them off to a better start than they would have had in the wild. My husband said if all the froglets lived we would have about 250 around our pool (yikes and yuck). The froglets are a bit like teenagers.....you raise them until they become fairly independent and then you watch them making their own decisions and screwing up a lot..i.e. jumping out of the fountain and drying out like a raisin. (double yuck). Good luck.

[Andoconda]

Thanks for the advice!

[SludgeMunkey]

Managed to get a recording of some Grays tonight. Since I am at work and stuck using my phone, I sent a link to you via email, John. Feel free to strip the sound for the caresheet.

The video can be found on YouTube also. My account there is under the handle "Trombagal". There is also one of grays and a lone cognatus calling.

I'll make a post here with the videos if I can ever get away from work...

[John]

I didn't get an email Johnny. I'll try to get around to adding that sound but it's pretty far down my list.