3635 N. I-10 Service Rd., W.
Metairie, LA 70002
504.455.6386
Practice Limited to Birds, Reptiles and Exotics
Dr. GREGORY RICH AFTER HOURS EMERGENCIES
Dr. LESLIE PENCE 504.835.8508
www.avianandexoticvet.com
White’s Tree Frog Care Sheet
Scientific Name: Litoria caerulea
Other Names: dumpy tree frog
Life Span: 15 years (up to 20 years has been reported)
Size: 4-5 inches
Distribution: White's tree frogs are native to Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea
Appearance: Their color ranges from a green to a blue green or aqua color, and can be quite striking. They have a waxy film
or coating on their skin that helps them retain moisture, so these frogs can tolerate more arid conditions than some other tree
frogs
Temperament: White's tree frogs are quite sedentary and docile, and can become fairly tame and tolerate handling.
Remember however that amphibians have very sensitive skin and absorb chemicals through their skin, so extreme care is
needed when handling (wash hand thoroughly with warm water and rinse well - natural oils and salts found on human skin can
be damaging, as can any soap or lotion residue).
Habits: They are nocturnal, so will be more active in the evening and night hours.
Notes: good choice for beginning frog owners
Feeding:
A diet of primarily crickets can be fed to White's tree frogs. Other items that can be fed include moths, beetles, cockroaches,
grasshoppers, and earthworms. Fully-grown White's may even take pinkie mice on occasion. Insects can be simply placed in
the cage, or offered using blunt (rounded) tip forceps.
The amount needed by your frog will very somewhat, but keep in mind that White's tree frogs tend toward obesity, so do not
over feed. As a very general guideline, feed large frogs (greater than 3 inches long) a few larger crickets every 2-3 days,
adjusting based on the behavior (i.e. acting hungry or not interested in food) and body condition of the frog (see below).
Smaller frogs can be offered about 3 week-old crickets every 2-3 days, and juveniles should be fed daily. The best way to judge
how much to feed is looking at the frog's body condition. Look for ridges just above the frog's eardrum - if there are no
noticeable ridges the frogs is likely underweight and should be fed more or more often. If the ridges become prominent and
start to sag or fold over, then the frog is obese and should be eating less.
The insects fed to the frog should be gut loaded (fed a nutritious diet that is then passed on to the frog). In addition, the food
should be dusted with a calcium/vitamin supplement (daily in very young frogs, once or twice a week for intermediate sized
frogs, and once a week for mature frogs).
(continued on reverse)
Tank:
White's tree frogs in the wild spend most of their time in trees, and need an enclosure with lots of climbing room. A minimum
25-gallon aquarium is recommended, and the arboreal type (tall rather than wide, often hexagonal) is better. A tight fitting lid
is essential, as these frogs have footpads that will let them easily scale the side of any aquarium. More than one can be kept in a
tank, as long as they are of similar size (otherwise the larger ones may eat the smaller ones).
Substrate:
Larger pieces of bark, large sized gravel, or soil can be used, and can be covered with sphagnum moss (which will help retain
moisture for humidity). Avoid small sized gravel or bark or the frogs may accidentally ingest it. Some keepers prefer a more
bare approach, simply lining the tank with paper or paper towels to facilitate cleaning (it is a bit harder to maintain the
appropriate humidity this way, though).
Decoration:
Provide lots of branches, large pieces of cork bark, and foliage for climbing - keeping in mind that it needs to be quite sturdy
to support these stocky frogs. Live plants can be used, although they must also be sturdy and they must be free of fertilizer or
pesticide residues (on the plant or in the soil). Live plants in the terrarium can be kept in small pots to make cleaning the tank
easier.
Placing a large piece of bark diagonally across the cage, a couple of inches from the back wall will allow the frog to hang from
the back of the tank under the cover of the bark to sleep during the day. Alternately, any sort of thick plant cover or hide that
allow the frog to hide during daylight hours can be used. Covering the back surface of the tank with dark paper will help the
frog find a secluded and dim area to sleep during the day.
A piece of paper a couple of inches tall placed around the bottom of the tank may help if the frog tends to rub its nose along
the glass to try and "escape."
Temperature and Lighting:
Because these frogs are nocturnal, there are no special lighting requirements (i.e. exposure to UVB is not necessary, although
some exposure won't hurt). However, a basking light or heater should be provided, outside of the cage, to provide a gradient
of 80-86 F (27-30 C) during the day, with a drop to 72-78 F (22-25 C) at night. As always, use a thermometer to confirm that
appropriate temperatures are provided. Lighting should be subdued (and if needed at night, use a nocturnal bulb), and a
regular light-dark cycle should be used (12 hours light and 12 hours dark should be acceptable).
Humidity:
Humidity should be maintained at about 50-60%. The tank should be misted daily with de-chlorinated or bottled (not
distilled) water. A dish of water should also be provided. Frogs like to get into water to re-hydrate and soak, so it should be
large enough that the frog can comfortable sit in the dish, but not too deep that there is a risk of drowning (tree frogs are not
strong swimmers). Do not use fresh tap water with frogs and other amphibians, due to the chlorine used in the water
purification process. Water provided in the dish and used for misting should be allowed to sit in an open container at room
temperature for 24-48 hours ("stale" water), and ideally treated with a de-chlorination kit available at pet stores. Alternatively,
bottled water can be used, but do not use distilled water.
Cleaning and Maintenance:
Your frog's cage should probably be spot cleaned every day, wiping off any large bits of waste matter from the plants and
bottom of the tank. The water in the dish should be changed daily or at least every other day. If paper is used to line the cage,
this can be changed often. If bark or moss is used, it can be taken out and washed as needed - the more often the better. Soil
should be changed as needed. Plain hot water is the best choice for cleaning - with soaps or disinfectants there is a chance of
leaving residues that could be absorbed through the skin and harm the frog. If disinfect ion is necessary, rinse very well and
dry thoroughly. Replace any water with stale, de-chlorinated water.
We strongly recommend annual health examinations on all exotics!
