Whites Tree Frogs

[Syrinx]

Hello,

I'm excited that we're getting 3 Whites Tree Frogs on saturday. I had a tank setup but was told by the Mrs that i couldn't get them till christmas, i had the tank set up for about 3 months and was looking after it as if the frogs were already in there as a way of getting to know the tank and its pros & cons.

I took the set up down in protest almost, and put it all in the loft. Then I saw 3 for sale on a website called Preloved and they were cheap and after showing the wife she couldn't refuse. The person i'm buying them off says it would be okay to set the tank back up and put them strait in there on Saturday. Can you guys confirm this is okay?

I understand about de-chlorinated water etc and the temperatures the tank needs to be. What i'm wondering also is if they'll be okay if i changed the tank around December time?. The tank we have is 45x45x60cm Exo Terra... the tank we want is 90x45x60cm exo terra... the reason for the extra width is because i'd like to do 60cm land 30cm very very shallow water maybe varying in depths. Is this something that you'd consider doing?

Also they think the frogs are 3 females judging by the names, if we wanted a male and more frogs in the future how many could you fit in a 90x45x60cm Tank? I don't want to fill it to full capacity just want 2 more in the future preferably males. I've read a lot on here about making sure they are the same size but then read males are smaller. Has anyone had problems introducing the smaller males or do the females say to themselves "he is just a male not a meal"

Thanks in advance

Ed

[Frogman1031]

Hi!

While you CAN put the frogs straight into the tank, a quarantine type setup is important to put the frogs in for at least 30 days.

A quarantine setup should include only the basics
-moist unprinted paper towels as substrate
-a water dish for soaking
-a place for the frogs to hide
-a few fake plants to climb on

It is important to monitor feeding and poop during this period.

Since you have three, i would not recommend letting their food run loose. Bowl feeding would be a good idea. But you should try to tong feed them so you know for sure exactly how much each frog is eating.

Remember to dust the food with vitamins and calcium and gut load them.

Generally, tree frogs do not swim well. Some individuals do seem to have a talent in the area of swimming though. I would recommend not having the water be deeper than the frogs chin. Also, i have found that adding a pond/water feature just ends up making a big mess. But if you are up to the challenge, go ahead.

In that size tank, even three is pushing it. I would not get another frog without getting a bigger tank.

Do you have confirmation from the seller that the frogs are all female? If not then there is a chance you will have a male among them.

[Syrinx]

Hello,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I will definitely follow your advice about a quarantine tank...

I have Tree Frog dust by Komodo already waiting to be used I have got tongs to so again I will follow your advice about feeding, they have been fed on crickets so far by current owner. What vitamins am i looking for, i may already sufficient ones but just to check?

I won't be getting more frogs until we get the larger tank, i certainly wouldn't get more for the smaller one.

With the water area i'm not going to make it deep enough for them to go under but its handy to know what depth you think is best Thank you basically it would be a big water dish.

I haven't asked directly about the sex of them, i asked for their names and they were all girls names. But then again i had a male cat called Sassy because somehow the vet for a year said he was female until we changed vets and the new one got so offended he made it his mission to show us Sassy was a male.

Thanks again

[LilyPad]

I looked up the komodo tree frog dust and cannot find whether or not it contains calcium and D3. If not, you need to get a D3/calcium dust also.

If your water area isn't big/deep enough to be filtered, it needs to be changed daily. That would be something to keep in mind.

I also would quarantine for 30 days. Not only can you monitor their eating/pooping easier, but if they do have some sort of infection or parasite, you will not need to destroy an entire viv to clean it out.

Welcome to the forum, Ed! Here is a good care sheet for you to read through Frog Forum - White's Tree Frog Care - Litoria caerulea

[Lija]

Welcome to the forum Ed!

[Syrinx]

Hello and thanks for the welcome

I have Nutrobal that i supply in a dish, Calcium liquid that i add to the water dish and Komodo Cricket dust for locusts for my Geckos.

I was going to use the Komodo Tree Frog dust instead of the cricket dust and provide crickets rather than locusts.

Good points about the quarantine I will set that up tonight.

The water area was going to be deep enough for a filter but it will be sunken in pebbles (large size) the pebbles will make the water up to the frogs chin and get shallower. I'm up for cleaning it everyday if necessary but when i tested the set up for 3 months the filter kept the water super clear. Obviously there was no animals in there so i thort maybe every 2 or 3 days change. With no animals it was about every 2 weeks. It has a waterfall in it so that circles the water too. it seemed well worth the effort for a small amount of water but it looked great (to me) . When i set it all up again i'll take pictures.

Out of interest what type of hides up high do you use? I have loads of foliage but someone recommended large bambo canes suspended.

Thanks

Ed

[LilyPad]

Calcium liquid isn't absorbed as effectively as dust. I would get some calcium powder, here is a schedule for it - http://www.frogforum.net/food-feeder...schedules.html

As long as the pebbles are big enough that the frogs cannot fit them in their mouth, that is okay, if they can fit in their mouths, you could have a problem there. Personally, I have a water area that is 4 inches deep for my greys and have found them to be great swimmers. It has river rocks so that it gradually gets deeper, making it easy to get out, and there has never been an issue. I have heard that whites are fairly good swimmers also. I love water features, but make sure all your pumps and filters are easily accessible for maintenance. Nothing like having to tear apart half of your viv because of a sputtering pump.

This thread may be worth reading through to help fine tune things with your first viv - http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...ion-101-a.html

In both of my tree frog tanks, I have branches in there but have a vine suspended across. Make sure everything is really secure, whites are heavy and will only use a branch/vine that feels stable to them.

[deranged chipmunk]

Tree frogs not good swimmers? Whaaaat? Ok, so some don't swim particularly well, like retf's, they just aren't built for it. But some, like cuban's and white's are not only good swimmers, they are superb swimmers. I kept my white's in a paludarium with 4" of water and they loved it! They spent a lot of time in the water and the tank ran at 78% humidity, so it's not like it was a lack of humidity drawing them there.

Bit large water features can be a royal pain in the butt. My suggestion is to plan it out thoroughly.

Why oh why would you want to add males? Your house not quiet enough? You hate sleep? Lol male white's call loud. And I mean loud! And at all hours of the night! Be careful what you wish for!! Lol

That was all I wanted to add. Eli and Amy have you pretty well covered otherwise


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

[Syrinx]

I seem to get conflicting views on whether they are good swimmers or not, i'm happy to do it as deep or as shallow as would be fun and safe for them maybe i'll start shallow and get deeper as time goes on.

You're right we are getting the males for the noise haha and some form of realism in the pretend environment, we have quite a busy household and i don't sleep much, so when you say plan it out thoroughly i have gone thru it in my head hundreds of thousands of times haha i've sat in front of the tank for hours. I like the idea of it taking up some of my time actually doing it rather than thinking about it

Thanks for the info and help

[deranged chipmunk]

You'll always get conflict in views. Unfortunately, a lot is "from what I read" versus actual experience. A lot of people are scared to mix frogs and water, mainly for that reason. This was my first white's paludarium. 125 gallons of goodness. The water was 10" deep. Never had a frog drown and used to watch the juveniles jump in and swim from one end to the other, climb out and do it again lol



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

[LilyPad]

4" deep water area, with some river stones at the edge to make getting out simple. Have caught my greys swimming through it very proficiently many times.

[deranged chipmunk]

4" deep water area, with some river stones at the edge to make getting out simple. Have caught my greys swimming through it very proficiently many times.

Hey, some of those plants look familiar


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

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF! For 3 White's; the enclosure size you mention would be OK; but 90 cm. height is better. Once you add water; false bottom, etc. you will loose at least 15 cm. vertically, more if water is deep.

This is a good read on QT: http://www.frogforum.net/general-dis...uarantine.html. Myself recommend get a fecal done on all frogs upon arrival and if positive for any parasites; get meds from a vet. Then do a second fecal 15 days after or when vet advices.

If you get other frogs later; have to repeat QT procedure with new ones before mixing all and never share anything (feeding tools, water dishes, etc.) or return any uneaten feeders to a common bin. Good luck !

[LilyPad]

Hey, some of those plants look familiar


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

Hmmm ... I wonder why? LOL

[Syrinx]

The tanks you've set up look awesome very realistic & seeing them is helpful thanks

I've set up the quarantine tank, I used a completely different tank so I can set up their home next weekend ready for them to move in after their quarantine period.

I'll take them to the vet next week as I would do that with any new animal I get anyway. I've never had an animal that didn't have something wrong with it to start off with. Last night the seller emailed me to say one of the frogs had a stroke. But when looking into it it sounds like a spinal injury. I'll do what I can for it but I got a right telling off from the Mrs. I won't take just 2 good ones man as it doesn't seem fair on the poorly one. Maybe you can tell me if I'm being a ***.

Any more opinions on the quarantine tank would be welcomed

Thanks

[Frogman1031]

If the seller is still trying to sell you a sick frog then i really don't think that is very professional. Ive never heard of this place that you are buying from nor have a seen reviews. I also have never heard of a frog stroke. My personal theory is that the seller was careless and the frog fell or got injured some other way. Now he is blaming the frogs circulation system to make up for his mistake. Spinal injuries very rarely end well for anyone and they are often paralyzed. If the frog has a spinal injury the paralysis may not appear for a while if it occurs. It will need you to take it everywhere. To get in and out of the water bowl. To eat. And forget shedding. I dont want to alarm you into thinking the absolute worst but i think that you should not buy this third frog

[Syrinx]

It's not a shop, it's like Craigslist if I've got the name right. People that just want to get rid of their animals for one reason or another.

I'm not alarmed & already fear the worse but I won't give in before even seeing her & if I'm taking the other 2 to the vet anyway then I may as well take the poorly one even if it is in the end put down. It can't be good for the frogs mind being poorly & now having no friends. Maybe I'm humanising it too much. Thanks for being honest about what probably will happen thou.

[Syrinx]

Here is the poorly one. He has eaten 1 cricket & 1 locust. He/she is very active. Jumping nicely obviously not right thou.

The other two have changed colour & boy they are mad feeders. One before I was ready jumped at the tongs. They started off brown they are now bright green!! The bigger one has already explored everything, the other has sat at the bottom after climbing to the top & got bored. The poorly one has surprised me how active it is.

Some random photos attached too.

[Frogman1031]

Thats very nice! Im glad that the sick frog is doing well. If he is jumping and eating he must not be feeling any discomfort. Keep a close eye on him/her. If time passes and he never shows any symptoms then he may be able to live a semi-normal life. Stick with your plan to take them to the vet too! Hope all goes well good luck!

[Syrinx]

Thank you we'll do the best we can, the poorly brown one & smaller green one seem to be best of mates, the poorly one keeps nudging the smaller green one & they seem to be getting comfort from each other. I don't know if that means they are both ill or whether the green one knows the brown one is ill or whether they don't know anything about health but like each loads. I'm in total love with them. My little boy loves them too, he is only 13months old but he was so excited. He pointed at the brown one and said "dada" and pulled a face as if to say "arrrrr bless it" my son has a close relationship to our elderly ferrets, the dog and the geckos, he is so gentle with them, well sometimes he gets a bit much for the dog. My wife knew I'd get attached to them strait away and has admitted she was concerned about us getting an ill one because things affect me to easily. With animals anyway.