Geetings, FNG here with questions on Amazon Milk Frogs.

[Crosis]

Greetings!

So as the title says, new guy here, looking to pickup some Amazon Milk Frogs as my first real dive into the amphibian world.

I've hatched toads, to tadpoles, to froglets, to baby frogs, and then released them back into the wild and kept tabs on them from there (all successful releases).
But I have never kept them for long after getting my hands on the eggs.


That being said, I chose milk frogs, as they appear to be a frog that can be handled regularly (As long as you wash before and after) and based on reviews appear to not mind being handled. I have a 5yo and 7yo, who will want to handle them as often as they are allowed.



Tank -
I picked up a 30" l x 24" w x 24" h tank that has a removable metal mesh roof, and about 2" from the bottom has an 8" h x 30" l removable metal mesh screen.

Plants -
I am still looking into recommended plants, very open to idea's on this front on what is recommended.

Furnishings -
I have a Tropical Foam Insert (T-Rex Rainforest Rapid Tropical Foam Insert 20 Gal) I can use to help house live plants, keep moisture in the air, and have a small waterfall - it will encourage moss growth. This will leave plenty of open area on the top, side, and front of the tank. I was looking into possibly doing a more custom insert, either another foam piece, or a custom Great Stuff Foam build that takes up the whole back wall and incorporates the insert and has area's that mimic hollowed out parts for the frogs to spawn in and area's for plants to grow. I was also looking into raising the "bottom" of the tank by 1.5" and having all the water flow through the eco dirt (Zoo Med Eco Earth Value Pack - Bedding & Litter - Small Pet - PetSmart) using a screen to keep the dirt from filling in the water area so the pump can keep flowing for the waterfalls.

Heating and Lighting -
I have plenty of experience with ceramic heating elements and lighting with my years of taking care of snakes (Ball Python and Burmese Python), my African spurred tortoise, and keeping fish (Fresh and Salt water).

Misting/Humidity -
I was looking at having a misting device (Amazon.com: Exo Terra Monsoon RS400 Rainfall System: Pet Supplies) with the constant waterfall as well.


I can provide some pictures and design idea's after I get home from work...

Based on the descriptions, what does everyone think?


Questions:
Best humidity level to keep AMF's at?
Best Temperature to keep the tank at for AMF's?
Recommended food source for overall balanced diet?
Recommended foliage to best simulate a natural environment?

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF! AMFs are quite fragile when froglets and juvies; so would avoid all handling until frogs are at least 2 in. SVL. Even then, frogs are "look at" type of pets and though a couple species tolerate minor handling, some individuals could be stressed by it.

Enclosure decor is something to tailor for your taste as long as frog's parameters are met. IMO the foam insert you described is going to take a sizable chunk of living space from your enclosure. If planning for live plants and a water fixture will need to set up a false bottom or drainage layer (myself prefer the former). That alone and the soil on top could take out 5-6 in. of height from whole enclosure. To see what I'm discussing, please go to vivarium section and see the builds in there, specially this one: http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...aludarium.html.

IRT the Monsoon; myself prefer manual misting for my set-ups. If I was to install a sprinkler, would go with a Mist King unit. Good luck !

...Questions:
Best humidity level to keep AMF's at?
60-70%.

Best Temperature to keep the tank at for AMF's?
Shoot for 75F with a 5 degree drop ant night! They can tolerate from 70-85F.

Recommended food source for overall balanced diet?
Insects sized same as distance between frog's eyes. Gut load cricket's with carrots, lettuce, and crushed oats/cherios 24-48 hours before feeding. Dubia roaches same sizes. Night crawlers sized same length as frog for juvies/adults or mouth size for babies (cut from pointy end). Bigger frogs can handle a once a month treat of small mouse (i.e. pinkies). Dust with supplements per these charts: http://www.frogforum.net/food-feeder...schedules.html.

Recommended foliage to best simulate a natural environment?
Go here for ideas: http://www.frogforum.net/plants-plan...nt-thread.html.

[andaroo]

I have a monsoon system and they are actually really good and simple to set up. They re-designed it so make sure its the new & improved one (theres a red sticker on the box that says so) and leave the cap off the container so the water can evaporate out into the air and not inside the container and on to the control box that has all the motors in it as they have been known to get water damage that way (may have been the old design but better safe than sorry!)
As for milks go they don't need misting regularly and like to bask (i wouldnt go higher than 90f for a basking spot) so they don't need high humidity and a light misting before the lights go off at night is sufficient. Also these guys need UVB 10%. Atleast 5% UVB if you don't trust me lol. They are out in the high up in the trees in the sunlight in the wild unlike other frogs that hide under leaves. They can be very jumpy so wouldn't recommend young kids holding them. Mine are used to being handled and occasionally one gets away lol.

[Mentat]

... Also these guys need UVB 10%. Atleast 5% UVB if you don't trust me lol...

Could you please explain why they need UVB and how they absorb and process UVB in their bodies? Thank you !

[andaroo]

Could you please explain why they need UVB and how they absorb and process UVB in their bodies? Thank you !

It's all here:

UVB and Amphibians... Theory and Musings - Reptile Forums

[Mentat]

It's all here:

UVB and Amphibians... Theory and Musings - Reptile Forums

Sorry, but that article does not answer my questions. I disagree with your argument and UVB recommendations, because they are based on a non scientific post titled by it's author "UVB and Amphibians... Theory and Musings" which starts with "...This is going to be a rambling exploration..."

[andaroo]

Sorry, but that article does not answer my questions. I disagree with your argument and UVB recommendations, because they are based on a non scientific post titled by it's author "UVB and Amphibians... Theory and Musings" which starts with "...This is going to be a rambling exploration..."

Lol yeah ok... I have been on that forum for years and I know that girl works in the amphibian section at a zoo. Don't criticize her article by the way she worded her beginning paragraph. She knows there's people like YOU that think UVB and amphibians is BS because they can live without it with powdering their food. They use UVB on all their amphibians and if you even read the article it's very informative. Believe whatever you like. These frogs ARE exposed to it in the wild they sit high in the trees out in the open in the sun. It's basic science that d3 comes from the sun and d3 is what is what optimizes calcium absorption. Providing UVB I feel gives the frog a more natural setup than a plain old light bulb. I'm not sure why anyone would be so opposed to this? Other than it could be a waste of money but the bulbs aren't that expensive and if there IS a chance it could help why not?