Tank for Gray Treefrog?

[JDS]

First I should start off explaining the situation. Originally I purchased a small batch of tadpoles from someone in a neighboring state with the intention of transferring them to a yard pond once it was setup and suitable for life. After a series of delays I haven't been able to do that, and last week the tadpoles started to morph into froglets.

So far I have 2 gray tree frog froglets in a small critter carrier from walmart with a damp/moist towel. I also went ahead and bought some pinhead crickets locally and fruit flies online for when they begin to feed. I've had a gray in the past but I was wondering if a 10 gallon aquarium converted to a vertical terrarium would be suitable for 1 to 2 pairs until I feel they're big enough to release, or until I find a bigger tank to make into a more permanent housing for them?

[DigitalPunk]

Yeah a 10G converted to a vertical will be good for 2 max until you release them

[LilyPad]

If you intend to keep any for longer than the time it takes to release them, try to make sure you have at least 10 gallons space per frog.

[JDS]

Looks like I have another tree frog morphing, bringing the total up to 3 now. I think I'll keep my eyes out for a cheap 20 to 30 gallon aquarium in the local adds. If I can find a decent enclosure I'll probably put off releasing them until next spring, unless of course they take to captivity.

As for long term food, I'm hoping my dubia colony will be large enough to feed from in a few more months time to take care of these guys over winter if it comes to that.

[DigitalPunk]

Petco is doing their $1 per gallon sale every 2 to 3 months now. One just ended a few weeks ago. If you get a true aquarium you will want to convert it to a vertical tank for it to be appropriate for Tree frogs. Exo Terra 18x18x24 is a good size tank for them. You can get them on Amazon for roughly $100

[flybyferns]

You should not hold the frogs until next spring before releasing them.
The longer you hold them the more difficult it will be for them to successfully adapt.
Especially , foraging for their own food in the wild vs it appearing in the grow-out enclosure.
They are growing and adapting to an artificial environment.
This should be done as soon as they are eating on their own.
Ideally, it should be to the -----> area they were found.
If this is not possible it should be in an area you are positive there are grays .
You will want to get them back out there asap as they will need to begin to prepare for their hibernation.

[Mentat]

Agree with Lynn; set them free now .

[JDS]

Taking them to where they came from is out of the question unfortunately. I do however know two areas that I'm positive grays can be found at. One is at a local park that has a lake, but I'm not comfortable taking them there because there is surrounding farmland that could pose a risk for pesticide or herbicide poisoning. The same applies to the other area I know that grays can be found. I'm not exactly fond of releasing them in those areas because of that.

As for Petco, there aren't any stores in this area so options for new aquariums are limited to Petsmart, Walmart, and two local pet stores.

[ColleenT]

if you decide to keep them, you can look into the Exo Terra Small tall terrarium. it is 18 x 18 x 24 high. i just got one yesterday and it's a nice size. or get a large tank and convert it into a vertical terrarium. there are plenty of instructions on this site.

[LilyPad]

I wouldn't release them in a different area than you found them in. You could end up releasing pathogens into the area that were not previously there.

[deranged chipmunk]

Agree with Lynn; set them free now .

Agreed, but have them tested first.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[JDS]

I think what I'll do is get a storage bin from Walmart and convert it to a terrarium, at least while they're growing. That will at least give me time to find a larger aquarium and do a vertical conversion on it.

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask this, but how hard would it be to use a 90 gallon hexagon aquarium for a terrarium? I know its far larger than I need, but I only mention it because of an add for one that's for sale here in a local ad that I could probably get on the cheap.

[LilyPad]

I think that would be awesome to convert. I have a 35 gal hex and have been watching for 90's on craigslist, I love the hex tanks. Ventilation can be tricky, I keep a laptop fan going above mine to keep the air moving. With the depth and only the top available for air flow, it's a must for the greys. I got the fan for maybe $5 on amazon 3 years ago. Well worth it.

[JDS]

I thought maybe it was time to post a picture of how the little grays are doing. I've been finding droppings each time I change the damp paper towel in the quarantine tank each time I change it now.

[ColleenT]

very cute. i love my Grays. be careful if one gets bigger than the other, they can try to eat a smaller frog.

[JDS]

Apparently I have a slow changer in the bunch. Last night I discovered one of the last 3 tadpoles I had morphed into another gray bringing the total up to 6. Since my last post I've converted 2 cheap sterilite semi-transparent storage bins into newer, more spacious quarantine/temporary tanks for both the 5 rapidly growing grays and the 4 small fowler's toads I also have in quarantine. So far the grays have been leaving solid feces on the wet paper towels each day with no evident signs of disease as of yet. In fact as soon as I can I'll be switching the older grays from the melanogaster fruit flies I got from Josh's Frogs to the Hydei's I just received a day ago from Josh's as well.

Before anyone asks, the newest morph has went into old critter keeper the 5 grays were in after it was sterilized and setup once again.