What Was I Thinking?!

[Wood Nymph]

My original intention was that I would release all of these in the springtime in my forest. Now ... am I being unrealistic? Can frogs brought up in a sheltered home environment function properly if returned to the wild, do ya think? 'Course - there's probably no real way to know, but I wonder what your opinions are ...

[Marinecrab]

Hey! Sorry I haven't been very active on the forums lately, I just enlisted in the U.S army and ship out in less than a year.

It looks like your frogs are coming along nicely, very cute!
Yes, he's my first real tree frog but he's a riot, very cute. We're begining to think he's a she since she is so quiet but we're not sure. Also, you live in a beautiful area!

[Wood Nymph]

Congrats on "signing up" and thank you for your service in advance.

I DO live in a beautiful area. My own little private paradise. But, I had to wait many years to build here. Still have to pinch myself to make sure it's all real sometimes.

[Marinecrab]

Congrats on "signing up" and thank you for your service in advance.

I DO live in a beautiful area. My own little private paradise. But, I had to wait many years to build here. Still have to pinch myself to make sure it's all real sometimes.

Hah,np
yeah you do live in a beautiful place

[LilyPad]

Because you have other amphibians in your house, I would not release them without first testing them for disease. I released a bunch this summer but sent out skin swabs. I also released them the day I got the results so they were with me for as little time as possible. The other option would be to rehome them via Craigslist or a buy sell trade. If you plan to keep them all winter, be sure to check your state laws regarding captive native animals. In Wisconsin, we can only have 5 gray tree frogs at once. They also get pricey to feed if you're not breeding your own crickets. If it were me, I'd try to rehome them as soon as you know they're thriving and healthy

[Wood Nymph]

Because you have other amphibians in your house, I would not release them without first testing them for disease. I released a bunch this summer but sent out skin swabs. I also released them the day I got the results so they were with me for as little time as possible. The other option would be to rehome them via Craigslist or a buy sell trade. If you plan to keep them all winter, be sure to check your state laws regarding captive native animals. In Wisconsin, we can only have 5 gray tree frogs at once. They also get pricey to feed if you're not breeding your own crickets. If it were me, I'd try to rehome them as soon as you know they're thriving and healthy

Thank you for your input, Amy. The production in my "cricket & fruit fly factory" was realllly ramped up for these little guys. So, feeding them isn't a problem. Dunno the legalities yet. I'll look into that. I do know that you have to have a current fishing license - which I do. I carefully wash my hands before and after caring for them. No equipment is shared. Where do you send your swabs for testing? My heart is really set on releasing them into the wild, if at all possible.

[LilyPad]

I did mine with a mail in kit at research associates laboratory. http://www.vetdna.com/test-type/reptiles - I tested for ranavirus and chytrid. I got the swab kit from my exotic vet. If you can't release them now though, due to weather (they're all hibernating up here in WI already) I probably wouldn't after winter. I'd be worried that they would have trouble learning how to find food in the wild. However, they do have a pretty strong instinct so maybe it wouldn't be an issue at all.