Gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) lighting

[Mr Leopard]

Thanks for the replies.

I forgot to ask if a 10 gallon aquarium converted into a vertical terrarium would be a good set up. (This idea is part of the reason I'd like to avoid providing uvb lighting, because the top would be fiberglass, so the lighting would have to come from the front.)

The thing that scares me about the heat is that while we do have gray tree frogs around here, in nature animals can find cool spots even when they air is extremely warm, something they can't really do in a terrarium sitting in a 95 degree living-room. And temperatures, here, can hover around 95 degrees for several days in the summer with not much cooling at night (yes, Canada is not always cold :-)

I have a leopard frog and he survives those days by cooling in his water, but, while he seems fine (and is perfectly active when I feed him), I'm always nervous that he's not as doing as fine as should be.

Also, does anyone know the answer to my question regarding daytime disturbance? "Are they ok with lots of disturbance during the day (i.e., getting switched to a transport terrarium, traveling, having lots of kids look at it [without handling it, of course], etc.)"

[teslas intern]

Hmm... That's a bit warm... I would invest in a window AC unit and cool the room down to the low 80's at least. Lighting will add additional heat, so if you use supplemental lighting (which you should) you want the room to be cooled to compensate for that. I wouldn't subject a Canadian frog to those daytime temps, they don't back in the water during the day like a leopard frog.

A further note on lighting, do not light from the side! Animals bodies are built to shield their eyes from light from above, this includes UV light. If you bombard them from the side, they might not know how to escape it properly. Over time this could lead to blindness. I know the fish keeping community harps about this. Frogs are more versatile about how they position their bodies than fish, but I wouldn't put a frog in such an unnatural state, where intense light is coming from the side, all day long. As for UVB, in your case I would omit it. As you said aa 10 gallon on its side will filter it out anyway. For all the research that has been done, overwhelming anecdotal evidence suggests that people keep frogs for years both with, and without UVB. Whilst I respect the research that has been done, and believe we should do what science tells us is best for our pets, you can't argue with the results those who don't use it obtain. Additionally, the available UV bulbs are a poor match for the exposure you would get in Canadian forests, given they are designed for tropical rainforests, or harsh deserts. All that being said, I would go for a different tank if it's an option. 10 gallons is good for a small gray, but the footprint of a ten on end is too small, froggy will never be able to jump as far as he'd like.

As for traffic, he'll get used to done noise, nature is a noisy place most of the time. If he fares poorly, move him to a different room. I hope this answers your questions, and again I wish you good luck!

[Mr Leopard]

Thanks Scott.

I was thinking about placing it in my livingroom in the winter and in my room in the summer (I have AC in my room because I keep salamanders there). But I'm concerned about the noise, in spring. Would wrapping the terrarium in foam at night (with a few air holes) be good enough? Or is it not good enough and / or not advisable. I could probably place it on my balcony, but then, what about the neighbors?

I love their sound, but I've never had to sleep with one only a few meters away.

As for the disturbances, I also meant actual moving of the frog (i.e. getting switched to a transport terrarium and moved to another location). I probably won't happen often, at first, but eventually it could happen several times a week.

[teslas intern]

It depends... Some people take their frogs out of their tanks at every feeding, but I wouldn't move them on a regular basis. They are pretty tolerant critters, but several times a week in a different tank seems like pushing it to me. You can probably just leave them in your room year round, unless it gets really cold in the winter. Really if they are well fed you can let them hibernate, but I lost a frog that way. She wasn't quite bulked up enough the second year, and I think that's why she died... As for noise suppression, foam will help, but don't forget it, and let the tank overheat during the day!