Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About a few months ago, my 2 WTF's went missing. Apparently they were able to push through the top of their terrarium. Few months passed by. I assumed both most likely escaped to the back indoor garden. There we have lots and lots of plants (my dad happens to be a florist), and its almost impossible for me to search that place. Weve also got 2 huge clay vases that are made so that water runs from 1 vase to another, kinda like a mini waterfall. Welll, turns out, after their great escape a couple of months ago, just now, i heard croacking noises. My family thought it was the neighbours water pump, but i was possitive it was a mating call.

I found one of them close to the garden, just hanging out, sitting there. I still had my old terrarium that housed them both, so i put one there. Yet i still heard croacking noises from the back. After i checked it out, turns out i found the other escapee, croacking (it was LOUD!!!) on top of a small fern that was hanging on top of the vases of water, right on top of the water.

They both were in wonderful condition, and even got a little fatter than when i last saw them! I assume they have been eating small roaches and God knows what insects that are living in the garden.

Now, after i put them both back, one seems calm, and ate 3 superworms without hesitation after i put them into the tank. The other seems to be focusing on escaping again (the one thats trying to get away is the croacking one i found after the first one)

Now, how do i recondition them so they get used to it again? Last time i kept them, one was so focused on getting away, it didnt ate anything. The other ate almost anything i fed it (i assume this one is more relaxed)

Should i even consider letting the one that is trying to get away stray in the garden (should i let it go in the garden?) mind you, this is an indoor garden. Even so, i'm still worried about pesticides and rats that are known to live there (can hear rustling noises at night)

And how do i get the one that is trying to get away become less nervous?
-----
My "babies" :
1.0.1 Indo BTS (Tiliqua gigas gigas)
1.0.2 RES (Trachemys scripta elegans)
0.0.1 Amboina box turtles (Cuora amboinensis)
1.0.0 Chinese softshell (Trionyx sinensis)
1.0.0 Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata)
1.0.0 Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
1.0.1 Indonesian Whites Tree Frogs (Litoria caerulea)
And hopefuly still growing...

Like you my main problem with that (letting go) would be the pesticides, not to mention the predators.

How big is your tank? What is in it?

I think I would try to make their tank bigger and better (more plants, water feature etc. (I'd imagine your tank is at least a 30 gal, the minimum for two) At least I would try to make sure there was a variety of hefty plants in there, hides etc.

Are your temps and humidity correct? Maybe that is why they would try to escape?

Perhaps for now you could put a fake plant along the top where he is trying to push out.

very interesting story! i would say keep it in the garden, they obviously were happy there. they will probally not live as long (maybe they'll live longer, i don't know) but they will be happier. one of my whites got out two times and i found him both times, but for the first year after he tried to get out and still does, but he's slowly mellowing out.

About the tank, i'm not very sure about the dimensions. The WTF's are both about 4" in length. 1 as i said before is already a mellow feller, just fed em 4 dusted crickets and he(/she, not sure which is which ^^) ate em all. The other however was just siting there, crouching low.

I have a small shrub of plastic vines, a rather deep plastic water dish, moss bedding (they sometimes burrow), and a small piece of slate rock. Havent put any branches since ive found them, maybe tomorrow. The moss keeps the humidity well, and i often check it, about every three days. Temps are fine here, Jakarta can go to 35 degrees celcius! so no additional heating is really needed. Actually the top is the top of a rubbermaid, holes drilled in, weighed down with a misting bottle. Turns out the company that makes the tanks doesnt produce tops anymore, since most are used 4 fishes
-----
My "babies" :
1.0.1 Indo BTS (Tiliqua gigas gigas)
1.0.2 RES (Trachemys scripta elegans)
0.0.1 Amboina box turtles (Cuora amboinensis)
1.0.0 Chinese softshell (Trionyx sinensis)
1.0.0 Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata)
1.0.0 Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
1.0.1 Indonesian Whites Tree Frogs (Litoria caerulea)
And hopefuly still growing...

oh, you live in Indonesia!. awsome, my aunt and uncle live there. since whites treefrogs live there naturally i don't think there would be ny problem with you keeping them in an indoor garden. it sounds like one is "depressed", i'd put them in the garden, just make sure there's enough bugs, maybe get some earthworms, they breed very easily and your frogs could eat those. as for telling them apart, the males throat sometimes look purplish after them croak, they are also a little bit smaller than females. heres a pic of one of my males throat.