New and need advice

[mommyof4froglovers]

I am mom to four kids. My kids are 5, 4, 2 and 1. The three oldest fell in love with frogs when we got our 5 year old a Whites Dumpy Tree frog for her birthday. We have an exotrra terranium and he seems ok but doesnt move alot. We think this is do to the fact he doesnt have a light to help with regulating the temp and humidity yet in his cage. I was also wondering does he need a lot of water in his cage or no? I hope we got him from petsmart and I would really hate something to happen to him he is thier favorite animal.
We are also getting a tadpole for a backyard safari kit we got at target which started the whole frog thing. It is a small tank with very little land but the free tadpole is a northern leopord frog. I have read they jump alot and now have read bad reviews on this tank even for tadpoles. What will be the best tank for this tadpole when it gets bigger. I am hoping for a tadpole I can keep it alive in the small tank for now. I am pretty sure since they come from different climates they cant go in the same terranium, correct? Any advice would be appreciated. I dont want my kids upset because one of thier frogs died.

[Kisa]

Hi mommyof4froglovers (long user name XD). Your White's Tree Frog (proper name for the Dumpy Tree Frog, though they're also nicknamed "The Smiling Frog" because of their big wide mouths) will appreciate a good sized water bowl to soak in. I recommend getting one that's kind of deep because when the frog grows up, it'll need the extra space, even if it's a baby now. Just make sure you provide clean bottled or de-chlorinated water every day (I change mine in the morning when all my frogs are sleeping) and keep it at the right temperature and humidity requirements. I also recommend a misting bottle full of distilled water for misting to keep humidity up and lots of branches or plants for the frog to hide or climb in. Tree frogs are arboreal, so your frog will really appreciate lots of space up high for him to climb around and check out his surroundings. Also remember that when purchasing frogs, it may take a while for the animal to adjust, so it's best not to hold or bother him for at least a month and let him settle in to his new home. Lots of handling is never recommended for any frog, but White's can occasionally be held as long as you have clean damp hands to do so, and you're careful, because your frog WILL jump, I promise you. Just give the little guy a few weeks to settle in and he should adjust well as long as you have all the requirements for his tank down. A good thing to make him feel safer may be to tape some paper to the outside of his vivarium to make him feel more secure, the more you're peeking at him, the less healthy he will be in the long run. Stress can have really negative effects on frogs and can lead to increased risk of infection, so it's really important not to bother him for the first few weeks you have him.

A picture of your frog, how old/big it is, and a picture of your tank would be great if you're looking for advice on how to keep this frog. If you want to know specifics, there is a GREAT care article over to the left about White's that has all the temp/humidity requirement and tips and tricks on how to make your frog happy and comfortable.

Also, I don't know anything about tadpoles unfortunately but here's just a quick tidbit. As a general rule, never keep two frogs of different species in the same vivarium. If you get a frog of a different species, please please please set up a separate home for him, no matter if it's a tree frog, firebelly toad, or dart frog. You never want to put two different kinds of frogs together, even if they live in the same climate because #1: each frog has different toxins in it's skin that could be harmful to other frogs. So if you have say an American Green Tree Frog in the same tank as your White's, either frog could be subject to what we call "slow poisoning" which does eventually lead to death. You may not see effects of this right away, but the long term problems can be harmful. #2: Frogs of different sizes tend to put each other on the menu. White's can get up to 5" long, if they're fully grown and female, and if you put another frog or animal in the vivarium that your White's can fit into it's mouth, I promise you, it will. Lots of people overlook this because not all frogs do it, but White's are known for their voracious eating habits will consume anything smaller than it that moves.

So, when your leopard frog morphs, I suggest looking up the requirements for keeping this animal and setting up a completely separate tank for it, if you can, but please do not try to house it with your White's, that's not a good idea. XD

Hope this has helped, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me or any other members you think may be able to answer your questions.

By the way, I have four White's and have been keeping frogs for only five months now, but you'll see as you go along, they're really great pets and companions. ^ ^

[mommyof4froglovers]

We bought him a month almost two ago. He was already a frog then. His cage is taller than it is wide. His water dish is tiny though. Here are some pics. He eats small crickets if that helps any. The pic are of his cage which has stuff to climb, a dish for water he can sit in but it doesnt submerge him at all not even over his legs. He stays in it for long periods of time. We spray him and his cage down twice a day.

[mommyof4froglovers]

I forgot to say thank you. So eager am I for more advice. I was pretty sure I couldnt house the frogs together but was just checking. I am currently looking for a better habitat for the tadpole once it becomes a frog.

[Kisa]

Nice set up, though I do recommend maybe moving it away from any open doors or windows. Long term exposure to direct sunlight isn't best for frogs, and the constant temperature changes when the door is open or shut is uncomfortable for them too. I also recommend keeping him in a more quiet room in the house, as noise during the day time can upset the frog's sleeping patterns. You don't have to tiptoe around him or anything, but a room that experiences lots of foot traffic, loud tv or video games is not ideal. I'm not presuming you keep in a loud place, just making sure to give you as much information as I can. XD I would also recommend putting a little more decor in the tank, some fake plants to fill in the empty space or a rock for him to sit on would be nice if you can provide that. Also yeah, you're water bowl is quite small I would suggest and upgrade. My White's like to sit chin deep in the water, I have an adult that falls asleep almost fully submerged sometimes. XD Just make sure the water isn't deep enough to go over his nose in case he DOES fall asleep in there or falls in or something, White's aren't good swimmers, but they do enjoy their baths.

Another quick note, that tank looks like an Exo Terra 12"x12"x18", am I correct? If so I would definitely recommend upgrading if you can to at least a 20 gallon tall tank, White's Tree Frogs can get quite large and they will appreciate the extra space. I have my adult in an Exo Terra 18"x18"x24" tank, which is 33 gallons and he seems to appreciate it. ^ ^ Now, I know these tanks can be quite expensive and I'm not saying you have to go all out, but the minimum requirement for a full grown White's is 20 gallons, to keep them happy and healthy through adulthood. If you find a deal on an old fish tank or something that you can renovate or fix up that's fine, just be aware of the height and see if you can get one that is at least 15" tall, if not higher. Maybe if you find a bigger tank for your White's, you can move the leopard frog into the Exo Terra? Just a thought.

If you'd like to take a look at my set up you can go right ahead, I have a bunch of pictures of my frogs and some of their tanks on my profile.

Do you know how big exactly your frog is? If you can, measure in inches from the top of his snout to the end of his butt (we call that SVL or Snout to Vent Length), that could determine how old he is if you wanted to know.

I do recommend grabbing some humidity and temperature gauges so you can make sure he's at the right degree and percentage to keep him happy. The liquid crystal strip thermometers are best, and any brand of hygrometer that runs on a dial is pretty good as well, though they aren't always accurate or work right when you buy them...just a suggestion.

And like I said, no problem, I'm happy to help newcomers with their frogs. I LOVE White's, and want to make sure I answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. ^ ^

[mommyof4froglovers]

I believe you are right on the exo terra's size so I guess we need to find a bigger one. Though for now he doesnt move around much. The terranium came with a humity and temp gauge each. Right now because it is hot in the house it says it is 80 degrees and 65 humidity. I am pretty sure that is the wrong amounts for him because he seems dry but they are with in the limits for what the instructions on the terranium said. I will find him a better dish.

[mommyof4froglovers]

He is about an inch and a half. I dont want to touch him because he is so dry and I dont have a ruler but he is about the size of my ring finger in length and that is about how long it is. He isnt played with and I would love to put him in my daughters room but she wouldnt take care of him and would probably let him out. We have a cat so there is more danger of him being eaten than anything else, but even without Callie (the calico cat) he would die before we found him or get smooshed. So for now our school area is the only real place for him. Though we spend most of our time outside or the playroom my house no matter what stays pretty loud. We have had to but stuff on top of his cage from the cat trying to scratch through the top after we first got him to. I am sure that didnt help. He sings to us most nights though. The first time I couldnt figure out where the sound is coming from. 3 or 4 small crickets every other day is a good diet for him right or should he get more or less? I have read so many different care sites in the past month and a half I am getting a bit confused. I am very glad I happened to stumble on to this website today.

[Kisa]

Oh wow he looks much bigger in the picture. If he is only an inch long I would say he is still a baby, and more feeding is better for the young ones as they grow fast and can use the extra vitamins. I feed my babies ten small crickets every night, and one of mine (who's a juvenile now) shot up in growth a whole inch in two weeks! I think that one's a girl though...XD; Really with babies you should feed them as much as they'll eat, which is a lot more than ten crickets, but I would be completely broke now if I gave them THAT many, so ten a night is good.

You can heighten humidity a little bit if you think he is too dry, one of my frogs is having a problem shedding so I have their humidity up to nearly 80% to help her peel the skin easier. They can tolerate that level for a little while, but then I would drop to about 70%, when the frog seems happy enough.

The croaking is a good sign! Frogs that croak are usually happy, that lets you know you're doing a good job! Also remember it's mating season for Tree Frogs and they'll sing more in the spring than any other time. Increasing humidity during this period will also lead to more singing and activity I promise you. Right after a good spray my adult will get up and roam all over the tank, and usually he's pretty lazy. XD;

80 for a day time temp is good, they can drop down into the low 70s at night, but beyond that it starts to get dangerous.

As long as you think he's happy, you seem to be doing alright. If he starts to rub his nose on the glass or try to escape though that means it's definitely time for a bigger cage. I have my juvenile in a 10 gallon tank, s/he's about 2 1/4" right now, and living quarters is getting a little snug, but soon they'll all be moved into a bigger tank.

[mommyof4froglovers]

The size was a guess, but I will try measuring him when I am sure he seems wet enough. He just sits most days but he does croak so he seems ok. I havent had him climb to much at least not when I am awake. Thanks for all the advice. I may be back later with more questions.

[Kisa]

If you want to pick him up you can also wet your hands before touching him, this will lubricate the space between your skin and his and make it less irritating to him. If he seems dry though I do recommend spraying him directly with the spray bottle until his skin glistens. Frogs do not like to be dry, it can be incredibly irritating to them and give them problems shedding, among another things. Just a thought.

White's can be lazy, in fact all frogs I've noticed will tend to just sit there for hours on end doing nothing. My adult White's will climb around a bit right after I turn the lights out, then he'll fall into a sitting position on his stone bridge and fall asleep. If you notice he's inactive though don't worry, he could just be waiting until the house is quiet and everyone's asleep before he gets up and goes for a climb.

I do recommend maybe getting some moss for your tank to cover the dirt you have him on (which I hope is coco fiber XD), they can get irritated by the dirt sticking to their skin as well, especially if they're sleeping on the ground. Just another tip.

Everyone's always happy to help, don't be afraid to give us a shout if you've got troubles.

[mommyof4froglovers]

The dirt came with the terrarium. What kind of moss would you say is best? We have fake plants and I asked on another post but how often should I put a new brick in?