Quick question from me again.

[Kisa]

I know that frogs experience stress during transportation or when adapting to a new home when they're shipped or you pick them up from the petshop, but I was also wondering if tree frogs (I have a WTF) experience stress when you simply move them to a different tank.

I know this may be a dumb question (still a total n00b guys), but please bear with me. ><

When I first got Bruce (my WTF for those of you who don't know me already from my constant annoying questions XD he was brown in store and after I brought him home and put him in my new tank for about two weeks. After that (around the time I noticed his infection) he started turning green around the legs and belly and partially on his face (he has a little blue mustache when he does this, it's quite a strange coloration I'll have to get a close up and post it sometime) and when i'd bring him to vet and back he'd be almost completely green. I've read different theories on why White's change colors, because of temp/humidity or their mood, stress, the kinds of food they eat, and even the color of the accessories in their vivs and I'm not sure exactly what the authorities think about these theories so I don't really know what to believe when it comes to Bruce.

Anyway, on to the point. When I switched Bruce from his sick tank (small 10 gallon with just a log to hide in and a water bowl, paper towel substrate) to his brand new 33 gallon tall exo terra with coco fiber substrate (going to put moss in there soon since I don't feed him in his viv anyway) and lots of new places to hide and climb (exo terra vine, some "jungle plants" and a rock bridge in addition to what he had in the sick tank, of course sterilized) he turned WAY brown and has been that way ever since, which was almost...2 weeks ago I'd say. Give or take.

So I'm wondering if he's experiencing stress from the move and that's why he's brown. In every other aspect (except for his bad eyes) he seems totally healthy, so this isn't worrying me, I'm just a little curious. =shrug= The temp is probably a little colder than what he was used to, because I raised them when he was sick to keep it clean and dry in the viv, but his humidity is generally the same.

Thanks in advance for any insight, and sorry again for all the freakin questions. ><

[Jace]

I am not all that familar with White's, so I am taking a stab in the dark here. From what I have read, they do like higher temps, so a lower temperature might very well effect him. I have an American Green Treefrog that for the longest time was the furthest colour from green he could be and it took a couple of months before he began to live up to his name. As far as I am aware, nothing is being done different, he is just green now. As long as Bruce is eating, active, and otherwise behaving normally, I have no idea. Sorry, not much help, but I wish you all the best!

[Leefrogs]

when mine are sleeping they are the most beautiful jade and emerald u ever seen. I just stopped using night bulb, and checked them, there olive green and both soaking happily. Lump had always been brown, and has gone emerald, in the last week. Your viv is brown, and now he's in his permenant home. Idea say get him more stuff to climb, and a tall plant near top, turn him terrestrial. He seems to be ground dwelling allot. A plant I suggest for your viv, that won't block your view of that awsome back ground, would be snake plant or aslo called mother in laws tounge. U can find wide ones that he could sleep on or hide behind. Usually these plants are crammed into a pot. U can split it up, like 2 stalks to each planter. I use glass votives cuz u can check moisture and mold easy. It's more if a cactus, keep it wet for 2 weeks till roots are developed, then it can dry a bit between waterings. Put 1 in each corner and get a snakey looking wood up (high) for him to climb. Back ground is brown, so don't be too optimistic, but some heat up twards top with the light too. Atleast get that mustasche glowing. That tells me he's probably more of a green frog, possibly.

[amisbeef]

I'd imagine that your White's tree frog is feeling overwhelmed. As you have not had him for a long time and he came straight from a chain pet store - I don't think your frog has ever experienced a tank of his own as big as 33gal. After a couple of months of going from being in a crowded pet store, to handled and put in a small box to come home, taken in a small box transported home via car etc, put in a new tank, got used to that one, then put in his sick tank, then taken to the vet, treated, put back in small tank, then into this huge one.. that's a pretty extroadinary few months in the life of a frog. I can't even begin to imagine how on edge I'd be - I know I'm anthropomorphising, but in the study of animal behaviour ''stress'' is appropriate.

You said that when you first placed him in his old 'new' tank he took a couple of weeks to turn green.. I'd imagine it's just him acclimatising to his new surroundings.
If his tank has a predominantly brown look, if he's stressed his skin colour may be brown just to represent mood, but also I believe it's a survival camoflage. He's feeling vulnerable in this new habitat, it's practically a palace compared to anything he's experienced before as he has led a captive life.

Pick up some more hiding places, coco huts, bark you can put vertically and lean against the side, plenty of plants and just leave him be for a while. Don't put in moss, let him hunt himself and explore his surroundings more, he'll be more 'relaxed' in no time.

[Kisa]

Thanks for all the advice and theories guys, they're really helping me to understand what's going on with him better.

Ginger, I really wanna put live plants in his viv as soon as possible, but unfortunately I'm not much of a botanist. XD My mom, however, did go to school for flower arrangement and decoration and she knows a lot about that kind of stuff so I'll definitely ask for her help if/when I plant some. I'll remember the names of the plants you suggested, thanks for tailoring it to my situation, I really don't wanna block that african tribal background. ><

And yes he is very "terrestrial" :/ I wish he would climb more but it just doesn't seem to be his forte. He walks up to the top of that stone bridge in the center of his viv and sits there all night, sometimes he'll go down to his water dish to relax for a bit before sunrise, but most of the time he just sleeps in his log or sits on his bridge. His non-arboreal behavior could be linked to a few things, his weight included, or maybe the fact that he was stuffed into the critter carrier in the back of the petsmart for so long. The first time I put him in his carrier to bring him to the vet he climbed the sides of it, but so far that's the most I've ever seen him off the ground, if he's not climbing my arm to try to escape his viv when I put him back in. XD

And Amisbeef, I agree completely. He's had a rough couple weeks, I know he needs time to adjust, I just hope the face in the back of his viv doesn't freak him out too much. XD Just kidding. But yeah, I'll give him more time to acclimate himself. He finally found his log (his favorite furniture piece) and sleeps in there aaaaall day until I turn out his daylights, at which time he slowly peeks his way out and onto the stone bridge. He turns himself around a few times to look around and then sits there til morning. I think he likes the bridge cuz it soaks up the heat from his lamps in the day time, but it is pretty out in the open, I should try to hide it better and maybe he'll feel more comfortable.

I think I am gonna just let him hunt though, I've been taking him out to feed him because of how crowded his viv is, AND his constipation, I have to give him laxative with his food so I don't wanna just throw a sticky cricket into his viv. But as soon as he's making bowl movements regularly on his own I'll let him hunt himself.

Thanks again for the feedback guys, if anyone else has any other advice don't hesitate to put it down. I like hearing about other people's experiences and frogs, white's or not. XD

[Leefrogs]

I think you'll do just fine with snake plant. It can be root boundfor years and not mind. Doesn't need lot if water, sturdy, you can plant it leaning to a perch, or just for cover, it's thinand won't take up your view of vivs background. Good luck, u can find it everwhere.

[Kisa]

I think you'll do just fine with snake plant. It can be root boundfor years and not mind. Doesn't need lot if water, sturdy, you can plant it leaning to a perch, or just for cover, it's thinand won't take up your view of vivs background. Good luck, u can find it everwhere.

Oh alright, snake plant sounds like something exotic and hard to care for. I'll look into getting some for Bruce. Is it strong enough for him to climb or should I use it primarily as a hiding spot?

[Leefrogs]

Its very sturdy for climbing. Should find lots of it a Walmart or anywhere. I have 2 in my viv. Kinda hard to see, it's long looking, 2 inches wide. Don lisk has some in his dumpy viv, I think it was on left side. But it looks short in his massive viv!!! In mine I leaned them at the back and over stick for runways to water. U can split it up, don't be nervous, mine were broken at the bottom, no roots, and now shooting babies. Like i said super easy, water goid for 2 weeks then let it dry out between waterings. Its almost a cactus, but loves it in viv. It's hardy, and thrives, u can get green, green and white(verigated) or green and yellow stripe. Wish I could post Picts for you. Look in dons and my alblum

[Leefrogs]

ok I just looked at dons, go into view all alblums, dumpy enclosure, it's on left. Tgen Picts of his frogs, he's got Picts of them hanging out on them. Also to see yellow variety, his red eye is on that one.

[DonLisk]

Snake plants and Bromeliads are great for them since the plants are very sturdy and easy to keep alive.

Mine sleep a lot in the Bromeliad squished in between the leafs.

[Kisa]

I have heard the word Bromeliads a lot around here, are those hard to raise? I'd like to put some in Bruce's viv, especially since he'll be getting a companion soon, I wanna stop filling his viv with fake stuff so he'll be as comfortable as possible and have the best home I can muster up for him! ><

Is my 33 gallon big enough for both those types of plants? I know this might be an absurd question, I just wanna make sure. XD;

[Leefrogs]

Basicly yes, but broms take up room and don't get tall, use the snake, I think I'd be happy with that. Broms are on joshs frogs, link on this page fir fake ones, just so u know shape and how big they are. Get the snake plant, tall, sturdy, hide and climbing exercise. If u find it tall, it'll only be an inch or so, u can just bend the tips, of cut it even. Just let plant tips bleed and dry before u put in there. Cut it to point, so it looks the normal way. It won't hurt it at all.

[Kisa]

Ok I'll do that! Thanks for all the specifics, they're really helpful and I'll definitely put them into practice soon. I'll let you all know when I put some snake plant in my viv.