Picking a White's Treefrog

[Unnar Karl]

Hi

My White's enclosure is almost ready and i was wondering how do i pick the healthiest frog from my local pet store.
Chubby and active ?

[flybyferns]

Hi Unnar,

It's great you are preparing ahead of time !!!

If you are 'physically' in Iceland and do not have Herp shows; well then you have no choice but to go to a pet shop.

If you have breeders in Iceland I would suggest contacting one instead of going to the pet shop, unless your pet shop person is breeding, well informed and is keeping them in ideal housing conditions? Obviously, of which , is a great sign.
Try to find out where the pet shop person is getting them ? Maybe you can tract down the source/breeder if they are not imports?

If you have to go to the pet shop, and they are importing them ----- find out if they have been "treated".
Ask as many questions as possible regarding their care during the import process.
ie quarantine/ treatment/ medications

If you are in the US - Find a breeder ! We can help you with this if you need additional information

Choose one that appears evenly shinny ( no mottled color) , not really skinny, clear eyes, is sleeping ( during the day ) , and does not appear bloated or really, really fat ( swollen) in the abdominal area. Look for signs of diarrhea in the enclosure??? It should NOT be there -- > they could all have a parasitic infection?

In fact, if there is a frog in the same enclosure that appears in distress or mottled in color --- don't buy ANY.

Sadly ( in the US ) they are often kept in over crowded condition's with sphagnum moss--- of which causes stress and fecal impaction.
The risk of fecal impaction is exacerbated by the fact that their feeders (crickets), are left to free roam causing them to get a cricket and moss in their mouths at the simultaneously

Know how and where to contact a Herp vet - prior to your purchase.

Keep us posted

[Unnar Karl]

Thanks Lynn, this is exactly the info i was looking for !

I live in Iceland and there are no breeders or herp shows here.
The frogs from the pet shop are from UK breeders.

I was also wondering, what substrate is best for white's ?
Coco fiber? mixed with moss?
I am going to be transfering him into a small bare bottom tank for feeding so there is no risk of impaction.

[elly]

I would personally choose one of the smallest frogs that looks healthy. A younger frog might have spent less time in the small, possibly crowded tank.

Coco fiber should be okay, along with moss if it isn't in chunks.