Adding a new frog?

[Kaila]

I would like to get a new whites tree frog this week to add to my large terrarium with the whites that I have now. I know I need to quarantine the new frog for a bit before I introduce him to the new one but is there anything else I need to do to add a new frog? My whites has been living alone for 4 years since I got him. Will he be okay if he gets a friend?

[maxQ]

*disclaimer* (I am not the expert) but I think it depends on the size of the new guy and how many of the older guys, I have seen two adults beat up on the lil guy.

[Kaila]

Right now I only have 1. He's not that big I don't think but I can measure him when I get home from work and post his measurements if that will help with answering this question.

[deranged chipmunk]

The problem you are going to have with an adult and juvenile lies in competition for food for the little guy. I have housed large and small white's together and never saw any bullying per se, but I did have to feed the youngin separately for a couple months until he could compete with the other killers in the tank for food.

[Kaila]

So as long as I hand feed the young one until he's big enough to fend for himself I shouldn't have a problem?

[deranged chipmunk]

"Shouldn't" being the key word there. Nothing is guaranteed. If you can find an adult to add to the enclosure, that would be your best bet.

[Kaila]

At what age is a frog an adult? Or does it just depend on the size? I could always keep him in a separate enclosure until its around the size of the other one.

[deranged chipmunk]

White's become full grown around 18 months to 2 years old. Sexually mature around 3 years. But if the second one is roughly half the size of the adult, you should be ok. I have heard of adult white's with a juvenile in it's mouth

[Kaila]

Oh no! I don't want that. Ill compare them in size when I get the new one. And if its too small Ill keep it in a separate enclosure until its grown. Also, if the new ones female (I'm pretty sure my current one is male) do I need to worry about them breeding?

[deranged chipmunk]

Breeding? No, no worries about that. They need to be "cycled" before they can breed. Heavy feedings, rain chamber, the works. They aren't like some frogs which breed whenever they are ready to. They are more along the lines of a red eye tree frog when it comes to breeding.

[Lija]

Bill covered what might happen, and yes, frogs should be similar size, otherwise smaller one might become food or just being bullied badly.

what i wanted to say is quarantine should be for at least 60 days, if it is CB frog, way longer - 6 month for WC before you introduce them to each other. during that time fecal exam should be done, for WC - a few fecal exams. and actually i would very very strongly advise to get a cb, wc whites might be headache from vet. perspective.

[Kaila]

It would be CB and what are the fecal exams for?

[Mentat]

It would be CB and what are the fecal exams for?

A fecal exam will determine if frog has parasites (worms, protozoans, etc.) in their intestines. CBB frogs have less chance to carry, although some do. Due to some parasite life cycles; a minimum of 2 fecals done 2 weeks apart is recommended. If your frogs are healthy and parasite free and the new frog has them, you could infect all from being in same enclosure or sharing items like cleaning equipment. Good luck !

[Bolisnide]

I would like to get a new whites tree frog this week to add to my large terrarium with the whites that I have now. I know I need to quarantine the new frog for a bit before I introduce him to the new one but is there anything else I need to do to add a new frog? My whites has been living alone for 4 years since I got him. Will he be okay if he gets a friend?

Wait, Kaila- what is the status of your current frog? He was very sick if I recall on one of your other recent posts. Before even considering another frog, you should make sure your current one is healthy again. Did you advise a vet? Is he better now, only a few days later? Did you re-do your viv by taking out all that bark and changing the substrate?
Once your current frog is healthy again, and your viv up to specks, you can then follow the excellent advice above by quarantining your new aarrival in an appropriate quarantine tank.