Prospective Red Eyed Tree Frog Owner - Where Do I Start?

[DanDrobates]

Firstly don’t beat yourself up. Things often happen beyond our control. Your setup, temperatures and humidity all seem fine. A vertical enclosure is preferred but trust me a 20 long is not going to kill a treefrog. There are a few possibilities to consider here:
1.The frog may have been in poor shape before you acquired it and the transfer from store to home was just too much stress for it.
2. There may be something in your enclosure that killed it. Examples include untreated water (unlikely though)and chemical residues from cleaning products. Cage furniture that may have chemicals in it or on it is possible. I had artificial silk plants in an enclosure and lost two of three frogs within a few days of acquisition. I removed them and the third frog thrived.
3. Some unknown cause that may never be known. Frogs are delicate and sometimes some unknown factor causes their sudden demise.

Dont get discouraged. Odds are the frog probably had underlying health issues before entering your care given it only lasted a day. Did you examine the body? We’re there any signs of infection such as sores or reddening on the legs and belly? What conditions were present in the store you purchased it from? Was it wild caught or captive bred?

[TK9NY]

Firstly don’t beat yourself up. Things often happen beyond our control. Your setup, temperatures and humidity all seem fine. A vertical enclosure is preferred but trust me a 20 long is not going to kill a treefrog. There are a few possibilities to consider here:
1.The frog may have been in poor shape before you acquired it and the transfer from store to home was just too much stress for it.
2. There may be something in your enclosure that killed it. Examples include untreated water (unlikely though)and chemical residues from cleaning products. Cage furniture that may have chemicals in it or on it is possible. I had artificial silk plants in an enclosure and lost two of three frogs within a few days of acquisition. I removed them and the third frog thrived.
3. Some unknown cause that may never be known. Frogs are delicate and sometimes some unknown factor causes their sudden demise.

Dont get discouraged. Odds are the frog probably had underlying health issues before entering your care given it only lasted a day. Did you examine the body? We’re there any signs of infection such as sores or reddening on the legs and belly? What conditions were present in the store you purchased it from? Was it wild caught or captive bred?

Thank you - i'm trying not to beat myself up, but it was a bummer. I also lost one of my other pets the same day, so it was a double whammy. You make some good points. Let's see...

1) I considered that. It seemed healthy in the store and was as active as i guess a tree frog can be during the day. Good size/weight, no sign of illness. Is there any way to reduce stress when bringing one home? How do they survive shipping when you order them from online?

2) I did use tap water to mist the cage, wet the bedding, and in the bowl, but so did the store. Would it be worth it to get some reptile water conditioner and use that, just in case? I don't use chemicals to clean the cages i have, i used an extremely diluted vinegar/water solution but the tank i used had been cleaned over a month ago after i moved my beardie out of it. It's been sitting in the garage since. I wiped it with a paper towel but that was about it. I never thought about the stuff i put in the cage - i rinsed it off and stuck it in. Fake plant and bowl. Same kind that was in it's habitat at the store, actually. How do i know that new stuff i add (like vines and plants and stuff) won't kill the next one?!? Now i'm paranoid, lol.

3) Fair enough point. It's the same with any animal, i guess.

I did look it over before i returned it to the store. There was no sign of trauma, no sign of infection, nothing that i could tell caused the death. It appeared healthy at the store. It was kept in good conditions there, as well, with the appropriate temp/humidity/substrate, misted regularly, fed daily, etc. I also know the people who work at the store and they take very good care of the animals (i know some stores don't.) The frog had been there for a couple of weeks before i brought it home. As far as i know they get all their animals from vendors (which i know isn't the best). Are there other options for obtaining frogs? I don't know of any specialty stores or sellers in my area, and i have to admit the 30 day guarantee came in handy (i got my money back).

I'm going to start over with the new vivarium. I'll get it set up and monitor the heat/humidity without a frog in it for a few days to make sure there isn't a problem with the set up itself, i guess. Tips would be appreciated.