Red Eyed Tree Frog Emotions

[josephz]

I know I've seen people say that frogs don't feel emotions like loneliness or joy before, but I have heard on multiple occasions that red eyed tree frogs like company of their own kind. Is this true? If not, will they still do well in a community with other retfs?

[jasonm96]

When I had red eyes I purchased two and they were good but not sure what they're like own their own but my American greens stay close together and when I had fire bellied toads, I found the fed better when in groups. If the frogs feeding it should be fine, most frogs I think are only in groups when it comes to breeding

[Lija]

Sorry, they don't feel emotions but communal frogs do better in groups. Red eyes just like most of tree frogs would be "happier" in a company of their own, provided they are housed in adequate enclosures and there are no bullies in a tank. Meaning you need to think through the design, provide more then one " nice" spot and more then one feeding bowl.

[josephz]

Okay, thanks. And I assume what you mean by they don't feel emotions is that they only feel emotions they need for survival, like fear?

[Lija]

No, I meant they feel either hungry or stressed out, or full and not stressed out. That would be it
emotions in our understanding can feel only species with more developed brain.

[josephz]

Ok, thanks lol. I guess I worded it wrong, I meant things like stress, but I used the wrong word :P

[Monkey Business]

I think the word is "behaviors"; they instinctively behave in ways most conducive to their survival. As prey animals, that generally means being able to escape being eaten long enough to reproduce. Struggling to escape ("stressed out") is a behavior to allow them to hide; "happy" to see a bug is a feeding behavior or response. Grouping together is another survival behavior; a predator can only eat one at a time so some will get away. So really the absence of being stressed (I am well hidden, I have a food source, my conditions are right, I have company) is equal to what we call being happy.

Knowing all this, there is nothing wrong with thinking that a frog that is snuggled up to a buddy, well-fed and content, is "happy". That is why they come with smiles (well, that and so they can have a huge mouth the better to eat big bugs but that is another story)

[glutes]

I don't think frogs feel emotions, other than hunger!! Some reptiles are capable of experiencing some limited emotions, but I truly believe that frogs can't. They are purely instinctual creatures. Their drive to constantly consume more food amazes me though lol. My whites often will sit on top of one another; I believe this may be an act of dominance, similar to bearded dragon behavior. I can't prove that theory, but it definitely appears that way.


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