Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new to the forum - I didn't see anything in this years archives regarding this topic, so I'm posting this....

Our Whites Tree Frog (about 2.5 years old?) has started calling at night for the last couple of weeks. Usually once soon after the lights change to the night environment in the tank, sometimes at 4:30 in the morning. I'm assuming that it's mating season and he's matured enough to call - we did not hear him call last year, and believe me, we would have heard it - it's LOUD!

Anyway, my concern is that his behavior has changed during this period. He is no longer going into his water (he usually likes to hang out in the reservoir of a fountain)and he is staying in the same spot every time I pop in to take a look at him. Sometimes he'll turn around but other than that, he is pretty much staying put.

Is this normal behavior during mating season (if that's what this is?) or is this a distress call?

You should know that at Christmas time we almost lost him - he had metabolic bone disease - but he came through with daily calcium feedings and we drastically changed our care, as well we had to hand feed him crickets for a month or so. He's been to the vets regularly through this period, but hasn't been lately since he was doing fine. He was finally able to catch his own crickets and would come out to the front of the tank every time his night lights came on - knowing that I would feed him then. Since the calling began, he has no longer come out looking for food(though he is eating), so I'm trying to determine whether the behavior change is normal or whether I'd better get him back to the vet.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Cynthia.

Sounds normal to me, he has probably just found himself a nice spot to call from so thats what hes doing. My whites are also calling right now(although I seasoned them to), and for you its probably just the extra humidity/temp from spring causing this. Aslong as hes eating I wouldnt be worried, during this time ive noticed my male slows down on his eating aswell, hes got other things on his mind . BTW the distress call given by a male sounds similar but softer, you can provoke it by wetting your hands an rubbing your thumb in a circle on his back (be gentle). When I picked out my colony I used this to sex me guaranteed males . (note: it doesnt always work, but its neat to try)

Thank you! How long does this last, by the way? Weeks, months? Should we be getting him a girlfriend

Cynthia.

I have a male white's and he calls all year long. Mist him at night, your almost guaranteed a call sometime or other. I have a partner in there for him, but he would call alot even before then. If he was sick before, that's probably why he didn't call, and he's just getting comfortable. But don't worry, you get used to it and it doesn't wake you so often after a couple months. lol My parents are always threatnening to flush him down the toilet because he always wakes them up. Female or no female, alone or in a group, he will call!
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

I agree they seem to call all year round. If you would like them to call less you can lower the humidity/temperature by a few degrees. Even during the dry spell I gave my frogs my calling male would still 'voice his opinion' if he heard a strangers voice come into my house. As for breeding im not sure what condition hes in (you said he had MBD) so im not sure if hed make a great breeding male after having MBD, but theres no reason he cant make a great pet.

Except for the lack of sleep, I think this is the best part of owning frogs. I have two pairs of White's that are in terrariums across the room from each other. It's only happened two or three times that we have heard but they will set each other off and go back and forth for 5 minutes or so. Great!

Oh, and my first White's (which I still have) used to go off like clockwork at about 6:30 every morning. Have Fun!

Oh, how interesting - I never knew they called all year. I just assumed it was mating season and he was maturing!

We don't mind the noise at all - it's kind of fun, though it scares our 8 year old a bit, even though he knows it's just the frog!

I don't really want to get into breeding, so I think we'll just enjoy his song!

As for the staying dry for such a long period, does this sound like a problem to you or just a phase?

Thanks again. Cynthia.

Staying dry? While WTFs don't need as high a humidity as most tree frogs, they still need humidity. Mist youre tank as often as you can if you find it dry, twice a day is fine for mine, but we don't really get a dry heat around here.
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

Posted by: daystorm at Fri May 19 16:55:36 2006 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

I have a male white's and he calls all year long. Mist him at night, your almost guaranteed a call sometime or other. I have a partner in there for him, but he would call alot even before then. If he was sick before, that's probably why he didn't call, and he's just getting comfortable. But don't worry, you get used to it and it doesn't wake you so often after a couple months. lol My parents are always threatnening to flush him down the toilet because he always wakes them up. Female or no female, alone or in a group, he will call!
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

Thats very interesting I didnt know they called all year long. I dont have whites but have green-grey-squirell -Cubans trees and they call when misted ALL of them do ESP at night.
They do call lots Esp when out in backyard screened in Patio during summer night. They dont stop calling but not yearly .
I am looking at whites or red legs but dont want males just females due to calling factor as this high tank will be by my room while the others are by patio .

It's hard to sexe a white's if you get a younger frog. Females can get quite large, although I have an exception to that rule, she's still rounder than the male, but isn't much bigger and stays brown all the time. You really do get used to the calling, its not like they call all night. Not the way a peeper does anyways. I have never heard my frog call more than three times during the night. (but then again, I have never set up a breeding situation for him either!) It really doesn't bother me, its actually quite funny, he will go off right after my alarm, or when someone raises their voice at night (good watch frogs!) lol

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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

Posted by: daystorm at Sun May 21 16:15:33 2006 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

It's hard to sexe a white's if you get a younger frog. Females can get quite large, although I have an exception to that rule, she's still rounder than the male, but isn't much bigger and stays brown all the time. You really do get used to the calling, its not like they call all night. Not the way a peeper does anyways. I have never heard my frog call more than three times during the night. (but then again, I have never set up a breeding situation for him either!) It really doesn't bother me, its actually quite funny, he will go off right after my alarm

Thanks I had the feelng sexing young ones not to easy if impossible . Do most adult females stay brown ? I ask as that would make it easier to sex them . I like to sleep 12 hours roughly Sat and Sun thus female is my choice lol.
The other trees are now and untill Dec/Jan in the backyard patio (Miami) and I dont hear them from my bedroom . Yard faces canal so no neighbors to bother . I mist them to at night,etc.
I might just do same with these or reds (not sure yet like both types) as was planning to keep tank in bedroom but might feel cruel about it so will see. Still prefer females .
Both Whites and reds though very different I like so looking at info on both .
From what I read think Whites with good care easier than red with good care. As you know what I have now very easy.
The Cuban trees are 6 yrs old loud but dont call as much as the others and sound different .
Thanks

While its believed that in general females will stay brown while males will change their colors more frequently, its not a rule. I wouldn't choose a frog from their color, my male is brown during the day. Really, you can't sexe them properly until the males call (and forcing a white's to call ((say by placing your finger gently on their belly)) is no way to do it because my female will call if handled) You might look for a frog thats generally larger and rounder than the rest, but make sure that's just not obesity (the ridges over their eyes should not be pronounced or huge, that's a sign of obesity)
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

Thank you very much for the great help. I certainly appreciate it.

Bianca