Green Tree Frog and Temperature

[fixedsights]

I hear ya. While I don't think I would necessarily keep this particular little guy, I've already been thinking about what it would take to set up a vivarium in the not too distant future. However, considering we might be moving for work within the next year or so, I think it's a good idea that I put it off for now.

As for the water... where I live, I suppose that if I REALLY wanted to make him feel at home by giving him what he encounters in "the wild" around here, I'd fill his dish with water loaded with pesticides and fertilizer (like our retention ponds) and mist him with calcium-loaded chlorinated tap water (like our lawn irrigation systems). It's surprising that these little critters can survive the environment we put them in. I do think you bring up a great point about the distilled water, though. Of course, since tomorrow is release day (based on the weather report), I guess that ship has already sailed. I tend to keep my house between 68 and 74 degrees depending on the season. Since it's going to be about 70 degrees tomorrow, 51 degrees tomorrow night, and 75 on Monday, it's probably time to put him back into the yard. I'm not quite sure if I should put him on the side of the house exactly where I found him or if I should put him on a tree near one of the local ponds maybe ~100 yards away (but across the street). I'm guessing all the local snakes will be out looking for chow with the warmer weather considering it's been frigid around here (relatively speaking). While I suppose that all god's creatures gotta eat, I would hate to have him survive the cold just to become lunch shortly after being paroled.

[jarteta97]

It's usually best to just place them on a tree or a nice large green leaf where they can blend in. I agree that some amphibians can be very hardy when it comes to environmental conditions around residential areas.

[elly]

I hear you about the pollution. Frogs are pretty stressed right now. But there are other reasons not to use distilled besides it not being "natural". It can actually draw minerals out of the frog's skin by reverse osmosis. Reptiles don't have this problem as much because their skin isn't as permeable. (Source: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Rept...stilled-Water/)

Over the short term it shouldn't cause too much harm, but maybe bottled water would be better. (There may be some chlorine even in bottled, but you'd be using it for a very short time, maybe it wouldn't matter? Or you could use dechlorinating solution to make sure.)

[fixedsights]

Update... I released the little guy (or gal, dunno which) over the weekend onto the same spot as I found him (on the door frame of my house). Once it got dark, I checked and he was gone. He did not return... So all is well.

Of course, tonight it's going to dip into the 30s again so I found myself wondering if he had found himself a nice, insulated place to stay. When I walked outside this morning, there he is... right back on the door frame where he was last time! When I told my wife, she said that maybe he learned where to go to get into the warm froggy-spa to ride out the cold nights. While I'm not typically given to anthropomorphizing animals, she might have a point.

[elly]

aw, cute.