To Mist or Not To Mist- That is the Question!

[irThumper]

Lately I have run across some opinions elsewhere (FB) that directly misting, dampening or otherwise applying water to a frog, specifically a WTF, whether by a spray bottle (micro-mist), or a few droplets or gentle stream from a squeeze bottle, is somehow harmful, injurious, stressful or downright cruel to said frog. There are exceptions to every rule (and rules often do change) but from personal experience I have not found this to be the case with either PCFs or my WTFs. Most of my frogs enjoy a little shower now and again-- I'm talking about a LIGHT fine mist, drop or rivulets of water, not Rambo running through the jungle cutting everything down with a pressure washer! As far as my own frogs go, and with my own techniques, they are fine with it... albeit Martha the Grump, and flighty frog Honey-Lime, will sometimes leave when I go to spray the tank even BUT they also do the same thing when I go to video them, change the water, or clean the cage too. Antisocial boogers, lol, but that's them. If a frog doesn't like being misted they'll let you know, so obviously don't keep it up, but if they are good with it, why not? I tend to dampen my frogs during feeding time sometimes as well, especially after they have had dusted dinners... it helps to get any dust off their faces and out of their eyes; I have an idea that absorbing a little water might help them swallow their food too, but that's just my theory.

Anyone else have ideas on misting (or not) the frogs themselves? If not, why not? Do you have concrete proof that it is harmful? (I'm researching so cite your sources please). If you do mist them what type of bottle do you use, what kind of water, and what are your techniques?

Informative answers, whether yay or nay, much appreciated. Thanks!

(PS: This specifically pertains to White's tree frogs, but I understand their are some delicate species in which this may be a bad idea, period. Any other thoughts on misting other species of frogs?)

[AbranV]

I know mine enjoy a shower every now and then. I don't see how it could be "cruel" to them. It does rain in nature, sometimes a lot harder than any spray bottle could do.

[irThumper]

I know mine enjoy a shower every now and then. I don't see how it could be "cruel" to them. It does rain in nature, sometimes a lot harder than any spray bottle could do.

Especially around here PCFs are pretty smart and will keep from getting pounded in a storm by seeking shelter too.

It's pretty obvious in vivaria if a frog is not ok with being misted, they'll just avoid it. It's up to a keeper to take note if a frog does or does not enjoy a little shower. To continue to spray a frog that hates it just for shoots and giggles would definitely be mean.

[Mushrooms]

I can't help but think that if someone has found it to be stressful for a frog then they've just essentially hosed the poor thing down, which is going to upset it! I've misted on one of my FBT's directly before and he went straight into a defensive position, however with the FBT's especially they seem to love having big drops drip down on them. I usually drip water through the mesh of their tank so its like raindrops and they will all gather under it. Whether that is because it is simulating a natural whether or because they do love water I don't know.

My WTF certainly doesn't seem to mind either, I've misted over him.a few times (not purposefully he was in the way of the bromeliad) and all he did was turn to put his face into it and have a blink. I usually very lightly mist him, more for the plants sake, just as I'm dimming down lights and turning it into night time for him, working on the theory it all gets a bit cooler and dewy at night. If he's still tucked away he will be out very quickly chilling on his branch or in his water dish.

As you said I think there are many aspects to the husbandry of any animal that are not right or wrong specifically, but just down to owners using some common sense. If your frog dislikes misting, do it very lightly, install a misting system if possible and certainly dont spray the frog!

[irThumper]

I can't help but think that if someone has found it to be stressful for a frog then they've just essentially hosed the poor thing down, which is going to upset it! I've misted on one of my FBT's directly before and he went straight into a defensive position, however with the FBT's especially they seem to love having big drops drip down on them. I usually drip water through the mesh of their tank so its like raindrops and they will all gather under it. Whether that is because it is simulating a natural whether or because they do love water I don't know.

My WTF certainly doesn't seem to mind either, I've misted over him.a few times (not purposefully he was in the way of the bromeliad) and all he did was turn to put his face into it and have a blink. I usually very lightly mist him, more for the plants sake, just as I'm dimming down lights and turning it into night time for him, working on the theory it all gets a bit cooler and dewy at night. If he's still tucked away he will be out very quickly chilling on his branch or in his water dish.

As you said I think there are many aspects to the husbandry of any animal that are not right or wrong specifically, but just down to owners using some common sense. If your frog dislikes misting, do it very lightly, install a misting system if possible and certainly dont spray the frog!

Makes sense to me! It's funny, we had FBTs once upon a time (when they were allowed here, now they aren't, meh) and when I went to mist their land areas they'd duck under the water. But if I dripped the water in they'd pop back up and float there under the "rain"

[Frogger00]

I spray my frogs directly. One of them enjoys catching the water droplets in his mouth and raising his head upward towards the water bottle. My other frog doesn't like it so much, and wipes water off if it gets on him. I don't spray him much unless he's got dirt on his head.


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[irThumper]

I spray my frogs directly. One of them enjoys catching the water droplets in his mouth and raising his head upward towards the water bottle. My other frog doesn't like it so much, and wipes water off if it gets on him. I don't spray him much unless he's got dirt on his head.


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Shirley and Jelly Bean both jump for water droplets if they see them rolling down the glass or falling off the plants Reactive little hunter complexes, lol!

[monster]

3 of my FBT's don't mind at all if they get hit with abit mist, they just sit there. But my smallest one bites it if im misting the substrate, he will actually come out of the hole in their fake log and attack it. It makes me laugh. My baby pacman doesn't like it at all so I really try not mist around him unless I have to. I think it all depends on the frog and what he likes, and I agree that if its not stressing him I don't know how else it would hurt them. The odd time if one of my kids are around while im misting I will mist them in the face and there not blind or anything.

[Frogger00]

Shirley and Jelly Bean both jump for water droplets if they see them rolling down the glass or falling off the plants Reactive little hunter complexes, lol!

I know! Sometimes my frogs just lunge at the air. Just the other day I was holding a frog of mine and he randomly started to bite my finger... Frog bites are the best until they start to swallow you! 😱


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[irThumper]

I know! Sometimes my frogs just lunge at the air. Just the other day I was holding a frog of mine and he randomly started to bite my finger... Frog bites are the best until they start to swallow you! 


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Oh, I know! I was scared to death the other day that Shirley was going to throttle herself trying to cram my finger down her throat! Nut job frog, lol.

[ColleenT]

i mist my guys every morning and night.( Greys) and they seem to enjoy it. also i have found them soaking in the waterfowl, so i know they like water. They are frogs for goodness sake.

[irThumper]

i mist my guys every morning and night.( Greys) and they seem to enjoy it. also i have found them soaking in the waterfowl, so i know they like water. They are frogs for goodness sake.

I think you meant water "bowl"...? I have images of your frogs snuggling up to wet ducks, hehehe!

I know, I have been searching and searching and can't find any scientific data that says directing a gentle mist onto a frog will harm it, unless the issue might be with distilled water? I've also found information saying there are a lot of myths about distilled water, including how it doesn't actually leach minerals from the body (human anyway) but this was written by a company that installs home distillers sooooo..... yeah.

[ColleenT]

oh good grief, yes, Water BOWL. I hate autocorrect.

[Krispy]

We have 10 firebellies 2red eyes and mr pacman. Also anoles, longtails, my bp.. blah blah. Some ive made foggers for, some i mist. We use a cheap o pump sprayer, but always on a fine mist. While i agree its prickish to blast them with a sprayer indirect mist from spraying seems to not bother my babies. Ive noticed the red eyes will sometimes move themselves into the spray when they feel like it. The firebellies sit under the cool mist fog like directly where it comes in. Pacman runs for his water when i mist bwa ha ha lmao. Makes no sense to me either there hes hillarious. All hell breaks loose with the anoles when it rains but they drink water droplets from the leaves in nature(ugh and lay eggs everywhere fml) but, i think it may vary animal to animal. They all have personalities/preferences... but as someone fairly greenish in the frog department this has been a good read and i hope i helped some with the debate.

[DigitalPunk]

I think the "Spraying them directly" is more of a issue when using pressurized sprayers. I don't think you will kill your frog by accidentally spraying them, but intentionally focusing a pleasure spray at one could be stressful and harmful. This topic is highly based on personal preference. I don't think you would be stood in front of a group of your peers and shot for gently misting your frogs.

[teslas intern]

I would say it depends on the sprayer. I don't mist my tank, but that is because I regulate humidity in other ways. Every frog I've ever seen comes out when it rains, because that is the best time to do extended exploring I suppose. I feel misting the frogs is probably fine just as long as the sprayer doesn't developer excess pressure. Might be better to use a watering can? It would be more like rain and have almost zero pressure, the volume might be a bit high though... I'd like to see the scientific evidence that missing is harmful, we are taking about amphibians, not dessert lizards or spiders...

[proudpapa56]

I will mist directly to get calcium / vitamin dust off their snouts. Nobody minds.

[irThumper]

I think the "Spraying them directly" is more of a issue when using pressurized sprayers. I don't think you will kill your frog by accidentally spraying them, but intentionally focusing a pleasure spray at one could be stressful and harmful. This topic is highly based on personal preference. I don't think you would be stood in front of a group of your peers and shot for gently misting your frogs.

Pleasure spray...? Pressure spray?? Another victim of auto-correct...? LOL! I get what you're saying, Paul, and you're right! However they do tend to put people in front of a firing squad on certain FB groups for subjects just like this-- this exact subject, actually, which is why I posted it here-- trust me on that one

[Racoonlord]

My Africa Bullfrog will just sit there while I mist, sometimes closing her eyes. I believe she is indifferent about the misting. I tend to try and avoid her and mist the ground mostly though.

[Crispy42]

My WTFs don't seem to mind the mist hitting them at all. James only protests if the misting wakes him up from a nap, but even then he just hops under a leaf and goes back to sleep. Steve has never moved out of the spray, and the mist probably just feels like a light tropical rain to them.