For school, I emailed the Library of Congress a question about tree frogs and light. I'd gotten tired of not having specific answers and wondered if there was some new research on the subject. (And I wanted someone better at research than me to dig it up.)
I got back a lot of leads. I still haven't dived into them, but I'm pasting them here for now. I also got three photocopied pages attached, but they told me what I already knew: UVB might possibly help frog's bones, but nobody's sure.
Also, I found Reptiles Magazine mentioned a study on Milky Tree Frogs and UVB that said it helped their bones but no sources were given. Help?
Here's what I got in case anyone has access to a library. I want to come back to this and comment after I go through a few sources:
Question History:
Patron: To Science/Technology:
Do nocturnal pet tree frogs need UV light, either A or B? Is it beneficial or harmful?
For information on caring for a pet frog, we suggest that you consult a veterinarian or a herpetologist in your area. Below is a list of resources that you may find useful in researching the effect of UV light on tree frogs. For your information, we have also attached PDF photocopies of some pages from a few books that may be of interest. Your local reference librarian can assist you in obtaining the materials that you need and may suggest other resources.
Sincerely,
Reference & Research Specialist
Science Reference Section
Science, Technology and Business Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540-4750
[dpd]
Resources:
Library of Congress Online Catalog https://catalog.loc.gov/
Keywords: Frogs as pets; Amphibians as pets; Amphibians; Frogs; Anura; Hylidae; Treefrogs
Databases:
Agricola https://agricola.nal.usda.gov/
Biological & Agricultural Index Plus
BIOSIS Citation Index
MEDLINE (PubMed https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/)
ProQuest SciTech Premium Collection
Wildlife & Ecology Studies Worldwide
Zoological Record
Examples of Citations:
Alderton, David. The exotic pet survival manual. Hauppauge, N.Y., Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1997. 160 p.
ISBN: 0812097971
Bartlett, Patricia, Billy Griswold, and R. D. Bartlett. Reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates: an identification and care guide. 2nd ed. Hauppauge, N.Y., Barron's; Enfield, Publishers Group UK, distributor, 2010. 280 p.
ISBN: 9780764143564
Bartlett, Richard D., and Patricia Bartlett. Frogs, toads, and treefrogs: everything about selection, care, nutrition, breeding, and behavior. Hauppauge, N.Y., Barron's, c2007. 95 p.
ISBN: 9780764136726
Blaustein, Andrew R., and Lisa K. Belden. Amphibian defenses against ultraviolet-B radiation. Evolution & development, v. 5, Jan./Feb. 2003: 89-97.
https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LitCited/4TX_Sal/Blaustein_and_Belden_2003_uv_and_amphibians_review .pdf
Edmonds, Devin. Frogs and toads. Neptune City, N.J., T.F.H. Publications, c2011. 159 p.
ISBN: 9780793828623
Edmonds, Devin. Tree frogs. Neptune City, N.J., T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 2007. 128 p.
ISBN: 9780793828944
Ferrie, Gina M., and others. Nutrition and health in amphibian husbandry. Zoo biology, v. 33, Nov./Dec. 2014: 485-501.
See especially: Achieving ecologically appropriate environmental parameters: light
Author manuscript available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685711/
Grenard, Steve. Frogs and toads. 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J., Howell Book House, c2008. 128 p.
ISBN: 9780470165102
The Herpetocultural library. Lakeside, Calif., Advanced Vivarium Systems, c1990-c2010.
See especially: [7] Care and breeding of popular tree frogs; [36] General care and maintenance of White's tree frogs and white-lipped tree frogs.
Purser, Philip. Quick & easy green treefrog care. Neptune City, N.J., TFH Publications, c2005. 64 p.
ISBN: 0793810248
Walls, Jerry G. The guide to owning American treefrogs. Neptune City, N.J., T.F.H., 2000. 64 p.
ISBN: 0793820715
I'm not sure where this information comes from Elly, but the utilisation of UVB in production of vitamin d3 (which is required by the body to process calcium) is a very long established scientific fact. There is no ambiguity. The reason vitamin d3 oral supplements are given to captive animals is to attempt to rectify hypovitaminosis d3 where correct lighting has been denied.
Tree frogs need vitamin d3, there is absolutely no doubt. They don't receive it from an insectivorous diet, it is obtained purely through exposure to sunlight.
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Trachycephalus resinifictrix - Trachycephalus nigromaculatus - Agalychnis callidryas - Agalychnis spurelli - Phyllomedusa sauvagii - Phyllomedusa bicolor - Phyllomedusa vaillanti - Phyllomedusa tomopterna - Gastrotheca riobambae - Anotheca spinosa - Cruziohyla craspedopus - Cruziohyla calcarifer - Hyla arborea - Litoria caerulea.
I was just restating what I found in the copied pages, but I think you're right and the more current information supports UVB for tree frogs.
...to be honest I made this post really late at night and now I'm not really sure why I did.
I'm still going to search for that study on milky tree frogs and UVB though.
I think this is still a valid idea, it's just that it raises questions. I've read frogs can get sick from a "d3 overdose" somewhere(going to look it up to make sure.) I'd imagine too much d3 from uvb lighting would be negated by the frog hiding in the dark, but could there be such a thing as too much light? Do you have to buy normal calcium instead of calcium+d3? Do you need both just in case? How many lights should you use? Should it be a uvb bulb on one side with a wide grow lamp-esque bulb across the top?
Etc.
I think the real problem isnt that it isnt certain that uvb is good for frogs via providing d3, I think the problem is there is no definitive guide that tells you how exactly to utilize uvb lighting to provide d3 in frogs. It probably isn't that hard. One uvb bulb to 20g horizontal tankspace or something with accompanying number of other bulbs in daylight spectrum for planted vivariums, ran 12 hours a day, or something. Someone should do a guide after some research.
1 Male Giant African Bullfrog
2 Woodhouse's Toads
11 Pacific Treefrogs
1 Dubia Roach Colony
2 Australian Green Treefrogs
Similar to providing the correct temperature and humidity, lighting is provided to match the UV index of the environment where the captive animal exists in the wild. There are some lighting guides on Arcadia's website, but the current benchmark tool is the paper by Baines et al. Links below:
http://arcadia-reptile.com/lighting-guide/
http://www.jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150/89
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Trachycephalus resinifictrix - Trachycephalus nigromaculatus - Agalychnis callidryas - Agalychnis spurelli - Phyllomedusa sauvagii - Phyllomedusa bicolor - Phyllomedusa vaillanti - Phyllomedusa tomopterna - Gastrotheca riobambae - Anotheca spinosa - Cruziohyla craspedopus - Cruziohyla calcarifer - Hyla arborea - Litoria caerulea.
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