Dumpy tree frogs

[Pandamanda111]

Hello
I used to have a dumpy tree frog, but he died after 3 years (last year). we decided that we would like to get another, and I want to do a better job this time.
If I get a 20 gallon terrarium, how many can go in there? is there a stocking rule I should know?

if I'm wearing gloves, would that be safer for holding him?

thanks
-Mandie

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Hello Mandie.

Whites need vertical space more than anything.
Bill is one of the best Vivarium builders here.
Hopefully he will see this.

I have seen 10Gallon tanks set on end and converted into a dart frog vivarium.
I havent see it done to a 20G long. yet. I don't know if it can be done since it is so tall when set on the end.

I have a exo terra. Natural Terrarium Medium/X-Tall

60 x 45 x 90 cm / 24” x 18” x 36” (WxDxH)
and had three young adults in it 2 male 1 female and they got along just fine.

I had some large fake leaves that had long stems set in mortar in a flower pot.
and they loved to camp out on the leaves.

I also got a medium floating turtle docks and used high power magnets to secure them to the sides.
I drilled a hole in them to fit a small glass bowl that I would put crickets in.

Before you buy anything check out amazon for good deals on equipment.
Hope this helps.

[Pandamanda111]

oh okay thank you! right now, we have an exo terra 12x12x12...would that be suitable for a whites tree frog?

[Mentat]

A 12x12x12 is too small for a White Tree Frog AKA Dumpy Tree Frog. 20L would fit one laid on its short side. Here is more information on frog enclosure requirements: Frog Forum - White's Tree Frog Care - Litoria caerulea .

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

No sorry that is way too short and small even just for one frog.

edited:
As usual Carlos beats me to it. LOL

[CJ PELCHER]

NO..needs to be an arboreal tank.... at a minimum 24 inches tall.

[Pandamanda111]

So not even the 12x12x18 one would be suitable? Does any company make a 12x12x24?

[ejh805]

I don't think so. But there are 18x18x24 that are excellent.

[kueluck]

That's still way to small for one WTF. I have 3 of them in a 36x18x36 and they use every bit of space. If you want them to live a long healthy life you need to make sure they have the best habitat possible. IMO you should have the right enclosure before you get the frog.

So not even the 12x12x18 one would be suitable? Does any company make a 12x12x24?

[Pandamanda111]

okay thanks so much for your help
I'll see if my mom will let me get an 18x18x24! how many should go in there? 1?

[ejh805]

I don't keep whites and am not really qualified to say lol.
But an 18x18x24 translates to about 30 gallons. You can probably take a look at one of the caresheets either on here or other sites and find a definitive answer. I would guess 2, but like I said before I don't have personal experience with them.

[CJ PELCHER]

The bigger the tank the better...I stated that 18x18x24 is the MINIMUM size for one. IF you have more... YOU REALLY NEED A BIGGER TANK to have a happy frog. As Gail mentioned up top..the tank she has is IDEAL for a whites....they will use ALL the space you give them. I have a 36x36x72 and a 36x18x36. Those are tanks IDEAL for tree frogs. THEY ARE NOT CHEAP...so if you have a lucky mom you will get her to get one that size for you. ALSO please keep in mind I have LIVE plants in my tanks. I do not deal with artificial plants as i don't think its fair to the animals. GOOD LUCK i hope you end up with a LARGER tank for your beloved herp =)

[Pandamanda111]

thank you for your help
I am not trying to upset anybody, and i love animals and would never want to be cruel to any, but there is no chance my mom will let me get a tank that big while the frog is small, so I think I will start with the 18x18x24, and when he gets bigger I will get a larger tank if somebody could link me to an article or thread on substrate choices and water containers then that would be super fabulous!! hopefully I'll have a frog to post pictures of very soon! I will be getting a blue dumpy tree frog

[Pandamanda111]

hey wait a second...I have goldfish, and I have an extra 25 gallon tall tank...if I sterilized it, would that be good for a frog? I'm not sure how I would get a screen hood though?

[Pandamanda111]

would somebody be so kind to help me with lighting? we currently have a 2 bulb fixture, one for light, and one that's purple for heat.
sorry I have all the wrong things, this is what the pet store guy told me to buy 2 years ago.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Ok
You are halfway there.
can you take a picture of the fixtures,
Here is my set up and if it was the 36 inch tall you could have 2 adult whites with no problems 3 absolute max.

As you can see it also has the two light fixtures.
One is a ceramic heat element and the other is a infra red lamp.
I also have a zoo med heat pad on the side.
For the day light I have the exo terra CFL hood with two 60W 56K white CFL bulbs on a timer that is on a 12hr cycle.

The device on the side is a zoo med repti foger
all the heating and the fogger is controlled by a zoo med hygrotherm HT-10
So I don't have to worry about a thing it does all the work.
Yes there is a bit of money there but if you source all of it on line you can get everything much cheaper
than buying it at the pet store.

The hygrotherm controller I found on amazon for $40.00 almost $50.00 lower than petsmart.
The fogger for $33.00 on amazon. A great deal! Cheaper than I bought one a few weeks ago.

And if you can the exo terra 36 X18 X 36 is $290.00 including shipping that is a really good deal.
If I had the space I would get it.

But please promise that you will get the enclosure setup and running first before you get the frog or frogs.


My self I want to get darts and I am setting up my other tall exo terra
but it will take at least 3 months to get it started.
I am setting up with live mushrooms that are bio-luminescent meaning that they make their own light.
And glow in the dark.

[Pandamanda111]

thanks so much for that great response! let me see if I can find the light....
yes, I plan on buying the enclosure before the frog

[Pandamanda111]

here we go this is what I have
Zilla Incandescent 20" Dual Bulb Reptile Fixture:Amazon:Pet Supplies

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

You could use that on the exo terra but I would use it for the daylight bulbs that don't put out a
lot of heat like the CFL bulbs. because they would be kinda close to one of the plastic supports on the top.
The deep dome fixture I have are small enough that they can rest on the metal screen and the heat doesn't
bother the metal screen.

And to answer your request on care and substrate,

White's Tree Frog Care - Litoria caerulea

I Would use eco earth it is a coco fiber that looks like dirt but it is much easier to clean
and replace.

[Pandamanda111]

oh okay! thanks. so I should use that fixture along with a heat lamp?

what about newspaper or paper towels? that would make cleanup sooo easy