Hello from Tarzana, CA

[atlanteum]

Hi, my name is Bradley, and I confess to being a complete newbie when it comes to caring for frogs. I found a green tree frog hibernating under a small garden tool wagon just outside of my back door last week. I have never seen a frog of any species anywhere in my yard in over 12 years - and I do a lot of gardening - so this struck me as rather odd. I took him in, as much to keep him from drying out or jumping into the pool as anything else.

I found the Frog Forum tonight while researching how to care for this little guy. If "Release Him" turns out to be the right thing to do, I will do that, but this strikes me as unlikely. Tarzana gets baking hot - well over 110 degrees every summer - with nothing in the way of lakes, rivers, ponds or other natural water sources, at least not anywhere near where I live. My guess is that he is an escapee from someone's vivarium. If any members would like to make an informed comment about releasing the frog, I would love to hear from you.

Although he is very active, and I have seen him feed, he has lost a little too much weight since arriving. I hope that proves to be nothing more than relocation stress, but I am looking for a amphibian vet so he can get a check up, at least. I have to say, I did release him after the first day, and he immediately spent four days hiding in the exact same spot without moving an inch - day or night - so I'm quite confident he wasn't eating then, either. The attached photo is from the first day he arrived, and he's noticeably thinner now.

He is currently in a small, secure container right now with plenty of crickets, a nice bit of driftwood to climb and a shallow bowl of water. If the general consensus is to keep him, I'll build a sizable habitat with plenty of plants and other nice tropical goodies to keep him happy.

Anyway, very glad to have found this community. I hope you have all had a safe and happy holidays and new year -

b

[Leefrogs]

that's a dumpy frog from Australia . Keep him. They are awsome. Get him out of the cold it will kill him. Whites frogs don't hibernate to my knowledge. They also live 20 years, beacause of big toes I think he's male. Full grown males are 3 1/2 to 4 inches. They're personable, friendly, and too darn cute.

[bshmerlie]

He's definately a Whites (dumpy) tree frog. He would not survive very long outside as he is a tropical frog. Check out the care article on the left. He will need at least a 20 gallon tank with a secure lid. PETCO just started a sale today on tanks...they are $1 per gallon. You can also find some super deals on Craig's list for Exo Terra or Zoo Med tanks. Get him warmed up, with a water dish(treated tap water) and do some shopping. They are great frogs and perfect for someone starting with your first frog. Get lots of large leafed sturdy plants. Check out Walmarts plants that's where I get most of mine. They are inexpensive and they have a pretty good selectoon. Check out various threads here on the forum on how to prepare them for your tank. Welcome to the frog hobby...hope you enjoy it. You definately saved that little guys life. The rain we've had lately here in Ca is probably the only reason he was able to survive outside as long as he did. Warm him up and give him a lot of plants to hide in and he'll start eating again. Live medium size Crickets will be his main diet.

[atlanteum]

To Cheri and Ginger & Lee -

Thank you so much for your advice. I realize you're not supposed to handle the frogs too much [and I thoroughly wash my hands before I do] but when I do hold him, he comes alive and turns bright green. Once back in the tank, he turns dark brown and tries to get out. Given what you said, I suppose the little guy is freezing to death. But it is winter, and I simply wasn't sure it, by wanting to keep him warm, I wasn't imposing a very human perspective on one of nature's creatures who may live by very different rules.

I am out the door for a larger tank and plants and goodies right after I do a little bit of reading about what plants to buy. My whole front yard is tropical - so this guy definitely found the right person to landscape his tank!

Talk to you all again soon -


b

[Leefrogs]

if u like gardening, there's something special about the little garden in your house. Plant junkie myself I wish I had bigger than a 33 gallon. My snake is 24, so sadly when he passes my frogs will get that 75. Alot of people use fake plants, I only have one fake orchid with huge leaves, it's on top of a chunk of bamboo, and that's their favorite plant. Basicly, nothing toxic, and anything that can hold their weight. I do have some mini peace lilly, which just poses as a screen to their hiding spot. Now u know what care sheet to look for, and u will have a green frog when he's warm. U can use stick or anything from outside if u bake, boil, or bleach it. 1 to 10 ratio. All the little things really add up. I say go bigger with tank, because of the plant junkie factor. Any plant that's had fertilizer you must wash roots and leaves well or soak overnight. Wipe those leaves on a regular basis for 2 weeks because of fert. Instead of overpriced coconut bark u can use orchid bark and organic soil. I planted all my plants in pots and built up ground around them. Or u can fill the entire terrarium bottom and plant dierectly in dirt. I thaught frogs are always dirty with that method though. I can't wait for spring do I can fill mine with Spanish moss instead of the dead pre-packaged stuff. Good luck, can't wait for Picts. Stay in touch. ---G

[atlanteum]

Hi, gang -

I was going to post some pictures today of frog's new 29 gallon tank, but after seeing some of the wonderful environments many of the enthusiasts have created, I think I'll wait till his little corner of the world develops a bit further!

I've read several articles about false bottoms, but it wasn't until I found a few photo-essays where their construction was detailed step by step that the why-what-how of it clicked into place.

Also been researching techniques using spray-foam and concrete to create rock formations. It blows me away that such a toxic material as spray-foam can exist safely in a tank, but clearly it can be done. I suppose the concrete is neutral, chemically, and completely encases the foam. Landscape creation is what I was really looking forward to, but the learning curve has struck again... I had no idea it would take several weeks before it will be safe to introduce frog into that environment. I suppose I'll need another tank to house him while construction is taking place! Good thing Petco is running that sale...

[Leefrogs]

You can do allot with cilicone. I used shelf mushrooms and wood from outside. Silconed rocks together, the size your not supose to use, just so there's no impaction. I'm going to false bottom some moss on a sceen so I can pull out as sheet for cleaning. Post anyway, PLEASE......

[atlanteum]

Okay, here are some shots from yesterday, but these are already out of date! He's gone through so many decorating changes in the last 24 hours, you'd swear he's on Trading Spaces.

First up [assuming the pictures display in the same order I loaded them] is a shot of his grimy little temporary housing. As you can see, he started trying to pick the lock the moment he was placed inside.

Next up is the 29 gallon I picked up at Petco yesterday afternoon. Everything's been either bleached, baked, boiled, microwaved, soaked, washed or otherwise prepared for introduction into the tank, but I'll spare you those photos. I left the plants in their containers because this was just an initial placement to see how the space will start to fill up [fast, apparently, is the answer].

Frog seems to enjoy the new surroundings a little better, however, judging by his relaxed grin as he wades into the pool.

All of this, however, has already all been undone!

I found a pet shop earlier today called Exotic Life Fish & Reptiles. For those of you near the San Fernando Valley here in Southern California, they are located at 9919 Topanga Cyn. North, Chatsworth, 91311, and their number is 818.341.1007. I'm happily posting all this information because there is a guy there named Rusty who really knows his stuff. He grilled me for about ten minutes about what I wanted to do and how involved I wanted to get, then finally said, "Follow me."

We went to another part of the shop where he had built an enormous habitat - anywhere from 6 - 8 feet long and about 3 feet high! It looks like something dragged out of the dense dark middle of an Amazonian rain forest and was housing a dozen or so Darts [down from the original 90 as they were sold off]. Gorgeous.

Anyway, once it was clear I was in very capable hands, and once he knew I wanted more than a plastic plant with a bowl of water for a habitat, we started making up a proper list of supplies to bring home, which I will start to incorporate tomorrow, like the clay balls, a submersible heater and a pump/filtration system.

Of course... now that I realize how long it can take to build up some of these detailed environments, I decided that frog needed yet another temporary home to live in while I worked the 29 gallon. So... back to Petco for a 10 gallon tank. I used spray foam to build up a dam to create a pond, and when that cures by tomorrow morning, I'll drop in the clay balls, mesh, Eco-Earth and some more plants and whatnot. Then he'll live in there while I tackle a proper landscape design for the bigger tank.

Whew! A week ago, I couldn't even have told a frog from a toad, and now... I'm starting to fancy crickets for a snack. How quickly things can change. More later -

[Leefrogs]

well dispite it being a crash course, u are doing fine. Jumping into it just like a frog. I'm glad u posted Picts like I asked. This encourages people to go farther with their setup. Some get as far as u did and call it good. I haven't posted my Picts yet. I need a vote on if it's too crowded. The main thing is changes cause stress, got a new hide for mine and they get weird for a while. But u seem to have a real happy tame frog. He looks warm, full, and loved. Congratulations, froggie gods have smiled on u.

[atlanteum]

An engineering mishap occurred last night, as construction workers discovered a leak in the new dam this morning. "We're not sure what happened exactly, but a sliver of masking tape used to hold a form in place against the glass is suspected," the lead forefrog on the project commented.

The leak is very small, but would gradually allow water to soak from the pond to the hydroball side of the tank. "We could blast our way down and fill it from the inside. First, though, we'll try hot glue from the dry side to see if that will close it off. There's a good chance that will work."

Workers here at the site seem optimistic, and with some even expecting that repairs may be complete within a few hours.

[Leefrogs]

I finally got Picts up in alblum, and you've built a dam. LOL if ur hand are clean check my alblum, tell me what u think, to crowded. Looks it, exept runway shot with frog vision shows the room.

[atlanteum]

What a great set up you've got! That little home looks sweet, and you've made me realize how much I really need to pack mine [his] with more plants for privacy as well as aesthetics.

The dam repairs were [literally] a bust, so I had to go out and get some aquarium safe silicone to patch things up. Now he won't be in the temp tank for another day at least while the silicone cures.

grrrr...

one does learn patience with these things.

[Leefrogs]

ya, I can imagine. I might do some water feature in a few years. That's allot of work man!! I made mine kinda extra private because I have a loft and it's all open here. No quiet room to put them in. So I wanted alllot of hiding for my two verry shy frogs. Yours is green and hanging out in the open. Mine are more wild even though u got yours from the wild. Weird!

[atlanteum]

Well, as I said, those photos were outdated almost by the end of the same day I took them. The inclusion of the water filter/pump and heater render frog's tank a opaque cube of humidity which I can barely see inside of because of the condensation. The 29 also now has a nice big branch spanning the length of the tank that he can climb onto.

He has been snoozing on the leaf of a plant all day. The little submersible heater is, I think, proving to be insufficient to warm the entire tank - probably because there is so little water that heating the water does little to raise the overall ambient temperature. I'm guessing the low temperature is why he is so inactive, because he certainly perks up when I'm holding him. Back to the drawing board to figure out the heating solution.

The smaller tank is re-spray-foamed and now securely siliconed. It should have cured enough by tonight [Wednesday] that I can safely throw in the hydroballs and some substrate, then fill the little pond and transfer the pump and heater over. Hopefully, the smaller tank will heat more evenly -


b

[Leefrogs]

ya u definately need a tank heater. I found I good tip u might find usefull for your situation. Get plexiglass the same size of heater and stick it to it. So u can move it around, or from tank to tank, without having to drop 100$ for two heaters. Cold winter up on side, summer on the bottom. It's hard to get temps right. I have like 4 thermometers in there, 1dial,3 sticker type. And 1 un-stuck so I can spot check. They like it 85 and stay in warm corner all day.

[Leefrogs]

Wanted to see how you and your handsome man were getting along! Did u give him a name? Has your frog family grown?

[atlanteum]

I have been sooooooo swamped these past two weeks completing a pitch project and putting the final details in place for a new company, that I have let all of my froggie socializing slip by completely.

Frog is doing fine. He is still in his temp 10 gallon home, but it is decked out with plants and a pond and whatnot. Unfortunately, with everything else going on, I was completely side-tracked from starting on remodeling his 20 gallon tank. Fortunately, he is now active every night and eating regularly. In fact, I find that the little rascal is actually sitting in the exact same spot every night waiting to be fed. He wiats in a little clearing, knowing that the crickets will appear there. He is like a little vacuum cleaner once they show up [sad to say!].

Actually, even the crickets have a nice little home, with big branches and egg cartons to crawl on and fresh lettuce, water, cheese and fruit every day. It makes me sad to have to offer them up to the great greedy green god, but... c'est la vie.

Hope you and your little charges are all well -


b

[Leefrogs]

No that's cool. Just glad you're happy together. He's a bute. So is it "great green god" for a name?

[ARMS87]

welcome