White's Tree Frog Questions

[Crystal6]

1. No, they do no brumate.

2. 69 is an ok temperture for night time.

3. It shouldn't be a problem, but if you are overly concerned you can always wear surgical gloves when handling the frog.

4. Two a day is fine. I feed mine once a week. About two dozen are given to my two at that time.

5. Mine are in a tank with fish, no problem. Most treefrogs have no problem getting in an out of water. If they do, they have something seriously wrong with them.

Would the temperature need to be hotter in daytime? Winter is approaching here and it costs a lot to keep the temperature above 70. (I have heatlamps for the crickets though and could always use one for the frog(s) if absolutely neccessary)

[Kurt]

Day time temps should be at least 77 degrees, but a temperture range of 80 to 85 would be ideal.

[Archeopterix]

1) my frog is in his late teens and has never hibertnated/brumated.

2) If your house gets to 69 or so I would provide a heat source such as a lamp available.

3) I have a penacillin allergy and have never had a reaction when handling my White's. That is no garuntee that you won't though, allergies are finicky things. If you want to be sure, ask at the store or herp club if you can handle one.

Wash hands before and after you hold frogs. I saw someone say after but it is important to wash before holding a frog as our natural skin oils burn frogs skin. White's have a special waxy coat to their skin that allows them to handle and survive drying out longer than other species of frogs, but it's best to be careful.

4) I give my whites lots of 25 or so crickets every 2 weeks, although now that he's old it takes him longer than 2 weeks to finish them all. I make a little "cricket habitat" that he can't access so they can survive in there too for as long as they need to.

5)My White's is in a 27 Hex aquarium and his pond is 3 inches deep and I have rocks layered at a slope so he (and the crickets that might fall in) can get out. He seems to be able to handle the vertical shale walls of the pond and aquarium glass just as easily though. I get a few drowned crickets each time so it's best to keep an eye out for those (and frog poops) so they don't spoil the water.

Tree frogs are escape artists, and White's are very smart. I originally kept him in a 10 gallon aquarium and he kept escaping no matter if I taped the lid down or what, its still a mystery to how he got out with the entire lid taped up with packing tape. Same as when I upped him to a 15. Then I got a 27 gallon hex and he hasn't tried to escape since. I guess he just wanted more room.

[into]

Tree frogs are escape artists, and White's are very smart. I originally kept him in a 10 gallon aquarium and he kept escaping no matter if I taped the lid down or what, its still a mystery to how he got out with the entire lid taped up with packing tape...

this is very true, all of my tree frogs have escaped several times and I'm still working on modifications to keep them in. Both of my whites have escaped recently by pushing through the ventilation areas. one has a screen top and the other has egg crate fit into the opening. both can be pushed through with force and I never would guess these guys had much strength. My green tree frogs have ventured far away but were found, but luckily each time the Whites got out, they just hung around on top of their homes. Since I'm using converted fish tanks, I have recently doubled up screen and eggcrate barriers.

[Crystal6]

Wow! I'd better secure the cage when I get it then. Can't have a cat finding it with it outside of its protective barriers. *(Edit: Also, very glad to hear their skin stays moist longer then most. It means that I can handle them more, though of course I'll be careful to wash my hands first. I read that the salt in our sweat is dangerous to them)

[Crystal6]

I just thought up two more questions. Both dealing with toxicity.

6 In the water half of the portion, could I put a bamboo plant? (Its not toxic or anything to frogs is it?)

7 I feed my crickets calcium supplement+skim milk powder. Would sprinkling this mixture on the crickets before feeding hurt the frogs?

[Tom Highum]

No bamboo is not bad in fact i believe it helps oxygenate the water.

[Kurt]

Well, Tom answered your first question, so I will answer the second. As far as I know dairy products will not harm the frog, but why would you want to? Dust crickets with a vitamin supplement that is geared towards frog nutrition instead.