Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I rescued about 100 grey treefrog tadpoles from a quickly shrinking pool of water because of the drought and wanted to give them their freedom in my back yard which is the perfect enviornment for them. I was hoping to feed them for a few weeks before letting them have their freedom so that they would have a good start. I tried with a few of the first froglets to come out of the water and they did not eat but quickly shriveled up and died to my dismay. I must not have had their environment just right, not enough humidity or something. I now have a large container that I have two potted plants in with moist soil and moss on the bottom. I should get a shipment of fruitflies today or tomorrow. If provided the right environment and live food, should they thrive or would I be better off just letting them free in the backyard shrubs to find food on their own? Do you think I could help them out by dropping the fruitflies in and around the outside shrubs or would they do better in the enclosure with the living plants.
Thank you for any and all responses, I just love these little guys and want them to survive.

I think I recall something similar to this happening to someone on the repticzone forum for treefrogs. Maybe you could try over there.

Do they still have tails? If they do I believe they need like shredded lettuce and fish flakes mushed up. Also they need water (obviously dechlorinated) and within certain temps and humidity. I'd think partial land, partial water (shallow).

Hopefully someone over there can help you.

Thanks for your reply. The tree frogs are currently in water from my fish pond and as they get front legs I transport them into a half water half land container with plants so they can climb out. They do have tails but only for a day while they rest in the "baby tub". I have placed several in the azalea shrubs against the foundation of my house and have seen several surviving froglets as of today! They look healthy so I guess they are getting enough food. That is what I am worried about as it has been an unusually hot and dry summer and I am afraid the "bug" population may not be adequate to give them the start they need. Maybe I am wrong. I do know there are plenty of mosquitoes as I get chewed up every time I step foot outside. I just saw the "spray" truck spraying our neighborhood for mosquitoes, and I hope that doesn't hurt the frogs! worry, worry.....Pitshopper

How's it going with the froglets?
I just got a Grey TF from my sister. She found it on the side of her garage, so I told her to find me another. I like my frogs to have companions.
He eats like there's no tomorrow and has a sweet call.I had two of these guys some years ago; but since they "passed on",I hadn't seen any around till now.

I still have about 40 tadpoles yet to come out of the water, and I transfer them to a shallow container when they develop all their legs. They climb out usually within a day and then I transfer them to a small terrarium and I put fruitflies in, but they do not seem at all interested in eating, so now I am letting them go outside in my shrubbery. I see them from time to time out there, but I worry about them not getting enough food. They are sooo cute. Do you know or can you find out somehow how long after they come out of the water do they develop an appetite. Maybe I am just too impatient, but they just sit on leaves and watch the food stroll on by right in front of their noses. I have yet to see one even try to eat. I have been dumping the fruitflies on my shrubbery and the flies are hanging around because I put some rotten fruit on the ground. Thanks for your interest and I hope you have good luck with your frog. I also just love the way the adults sound and would love to have my backyard full of them. I am the one with the pond but they seem to prefer my neighbors yard with the pool. I hope they also "enjoy" the noise, because their pool is right by their bedroom window. I really am afraid to tell them that I am the reason there is this "new" night noise in the neighborhood.

Here is an excerpt from a site I found concerning your little friends. I thought this might be of interest to you.
...All new froglets that had their full complement of legs were removed when found and placed into their new terrarium to prevent drowning. It would be another day or so before they would fully absorb their tails. I then began feeding them pinhead crickets and fruit flies. Occasionally when I could find them I would also throw in termites. It is amusing that when they were tadpoles I spent less than $3 on food for them total, but now that they are piggy little tree frogs, they chow down on about $40-50 in food a week! I was going through two to three thousand pinhead crickets and a couple of vials of fruit flies every week. Now that I have several fruit fly cultures established and going reproduction wise, I am able to cut back on the overall cost of food and no longer having to purchase the expensive vials of fruit flies. As a lot of reptile and amphibian keepers are fond of saying, the cheapest part of the hobby is the animal itself...it's everything else that goes with the animal that will drive you to the poor house ...

The little guy I have is a voracious eater. He had 3 waxworms and 6 crickets on Saturday, and 1 waxworm and 4 crickets Sunday.
As of right now (9 p.m.) he's appears to be looking for more food. I'd better feed him...NOW!