Wanted: New species and questions

[EZweasel]

I am considering purchasing another species of tree frog and more specifically one that is a gliding tree frog. I know little about these frogs and their requirements for captivity. Any suggestions on which gliding frog might be a good purchase, where to obtain such a species, and set up instructions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[Tony]

How much experience do you have acclimating wild caught frogs? Most Rhacophorus come in stressed, full of parasites, and are very prone to bacterial infections. They are a touchy frog that even the best keepers seem to lose more often than not. You might want to look into Vietnamese blue gliders, Polypedates dennysi, they seem to be hardier and acclimate better than Rhacophorus sp.

[EZweasel]

How much experience do you have acclimating wild caught frogs? Most Rhacophorus come in stressed, full of parasites, and are very prone to bacterial infections. They are a touchy frog that even the best keepers seem to lose more often than not. You might want to look into Vietnamese blue gliders, Polypedates dennysi, they seem to be hardier and acclimate better than Rhacophorus sp.

I have a number of wild caught frogs, but only ones native to my area..will i have to treat the blue gliders for parasites?

[Tony]

I have a number of wild caught frogs, but only ones native to my area..will i have to treat the blue gliders for parasites?

Most likely, and I would also be prepared to treat for chytrid and bacterial infections.

[Grrrit]

I've heard they aren't the sharpest tools in the shed. Often smashing their faces into glass repeatedly not realizing its there. Large set up I'm sure would be needed, with some way for them to know not to jump "through the walls"

[EZweasel]

Ok, maybe a gliding tree frog is not the right species for me. I'm getting rid of two bullfrogs, which have thier own seperate tanks, and this is why I am in the market for a new creature.

[Grrrit]

Sorry to sound like a downer :/ that's just what I've heard. I too wanted some

[bshmerlie]

You could do it if you had a large enough enclosure. But Tony is right. It is a lot of work to acclimate and treat a wild caught frog. Unless you're prepared to handle all the potential risks it might not be the best frog to start out with. If you have a local frog Mentor (like a Tony) who has successfully treated wild caught frogs, you already have the proper medications and you have a local herp vet who actually knows how to treat sick frogs then give it a try. The key thing is being prepared. If you are new to the frog hobby stick with captive frogs. Down the road when you really get involved in the frog community you will meet other local more experienced hobbiest that would love to help you through the process. That way you're not experimenting on the poor frog and he has a better chance of survival.

[wesleybrouwer]

There are some being bred in the farm,
i don't know if anyone imports the farmbred ones from asia around the US?

I've seen a lot of farmbred specimens of the dennysi group coming by in great shape,
otherwise you could look into the Polypedates leucomystax, can prove quit forgiving regarding temperatures and humidity.
It's true the WC specimens tend to have all kinds of illnesses, mainly due to the method of capturing and transporting,
the farmbred specimens however seems to be handled better and don't have the problems seen in WC ones.

Rhacophorids are not the family i would reccomend beginning with either.
They are prone to stress, and if you finally succeed in acclimizing them, a little mistake puts them back in the shape you got them in.
Stressfull for them, and you.

However, keep in mind that all of them need to be housed rather large.
I don't know the tank size you got available, but i think it won't be big enough for a treefrog looking at the species it was for.

[EZweasel]

There are some being bred in the farm,
i don't know if anyone imports the farmbred ones from asia around the US?

I've seen a lot of farmbred specimens of the dennysi group coming by in great shape,
otherwise you could look into the Polypedates leucomystax, can prove quit forgiving regarding temperatures and humidity.
It's true the WC specimens tend to have all kinds of illnesses, mainly due to the method of capturing and transporting,
the farmbred specimens however seems to be handled better and don't have the problems seen in WC ones.

Rhacophorids are not the family i would reccomend beginning with either.
They are prone to stress, and if you finally succeed in acclimizing them, a little mistake puts them back in the shape you got them in.
Stressfull for them, and you.

However, keep in mind that all of them need to be housed rather large.
I don't know the tank size you got available, but i think it won't be big enough for a treefrog looking at the species it was for.

I have a number of terrariums and am willing to purchase more if need be. Would an 18X24 be large enough or do I need to go even larger? I would deffinately be more inclined to purchase a captive bred gliding frog than a wild cought one. I didn't plan on using the tank that the bullfrog was in. I have in my collection two vietnamese mossy frogs, four green tree frogs, four whites tree frogs, one squirrel tree frog, two red eyed tree frogs, and two bullfrogs..I have a decent amount of experience with frogs. seven out of fifteen of my frogs are from the wild but I have never treated them for anything.
However these are native species and may not have parasites or any other hardships. I really would like to have either a yellowspotted climing toad or a gliding frog, but they are not easily obtained in the pet industry.

[KingBowser]

I currently keep two species of Rhacophorus, Rhacophorus reinwardtii and R. kio. my theory is that at least 75-80% of these frogs are carrying or infected with Chytrid. There is a treatment that works. I would recommend treating every wild caught frog for Chytrid. I have not noticed mine hitting the sides of their tanks. I would recommend setting up visual barriers while the frogs are in quarantine, however. They are my favorite frogs to work with and my plan is to breed them due to the fact that nearly all individuals are wild caught.

[EZweasel]

I currently keep two species of Rhacophorus, Rhacophorus reinwardtii and R. kio. my theory is that at least 75-80% of these frogs are carrying or infected with Chytrid. There is a treatment that works. I would recommend treating every wild caught frog for Chytrid. I have not noticed mine hitting the sides of their tanks. I would recommend setting up visual barriers while the frogs are in quarantine, however. They are my favorite frogs to work with and my plan is to breed them due to the fact that nearly all individuals are wild caught.

If you are successful then I would be a willing buyer.

[KingBowser]

I feel I've got a long way to go before that happens, but hopefully it all pans out.

I'm currently going through a chytrid treatment with my Rhacophorus reinwardtii that was recommended by Steve Busch. I plan on treating the R. kio the same way. So far we're on day two and things are looking good for the reinwardtii. I started out with a group of 5 and this is my last survivor. I don't know for sure, but I believe that the other four were killed by Chytrid....