Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am only just beginning to be a hobbyst. Iam wondering what tree frog would be the best at being a starter? I have two pickerel frogs now but want to expand into the exotic frogs.

I heard from many people and from book that White's tree frogs are a very good choice for beginners...they are hardy little thing.

Yeah, I agree with Knott, although I think it would depend on what you have to offer your frog tank-size and environment wise, but the White's are well-known for being hardy!

However, they are by no means little, so keep that in mind!

Cubans!!!! Everyone should have Cubans and get them out of my tanks LOL
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Heather

Cubans are extrememly adorable Are they are quite hardy like whites, but yeah it all depends on the tank and what you have to offer.

A green treefrog!!! Green treefrogs(hyla cinera) , are smaller, therefore pretty much needing everything else smaller than a whites treefrogs, which can become, quite obese looking. Green treefrogs are very pretty under the right conditions.

I believe a green treefrog would be a good place to start as there very inexpensive(although $price$ does appeal to some), fairly hardy, and overall will be less expensive to house/ feed.

Either the whites, or green are a good choice to start with though.

Steven

You know I've been reading about what size of the enclosure is good for a White's tree frog. There seem to be conflicting information between the internet and books. A lot of the books said that for a single WTF or even 2 can be house in a 10 gallon, although it did say bigger is better. However, all of the websites, state that at 20 gallon is required for even a single frog, and bigger for 2. So, it's up to the readers to make the best choice from the informations available. Personally, I don't trust the internet because there is no standard and no editing, which means that anyone that has very little experience can put up info that they think is right, which can be unsound and completely wrong. With good publishing cooperation, like Barron's, they look at the authors' credential and experience. Personally, I feel more comfortable getting information from good books rather than the internet.

Whites tree frogs are big frogs. Plus, I've seen books from Barrons that contradict one another, even if most of the authors are the same.

So I'd stick to the safer and MORE OBVIOUS figure of having a 20-gallon for a single ADULT specimen. A juvenile won't need that size until it gets larger, but some of those are HUGE!!

knott, a book is not neccasarily more informitive and better then a web-site, and web-sites are not always full of incorrect info. i have seen many amphibian/reptile books with ALOT of wrong info on the husbandry of a certain species. a 10 gallon is WAY to SMALL for 2 WTF's!!!!!!! a 20 gallon is the minimum for 1!!! you must remeber that the authors of the herp books do not know everything on the care of herps, even though they are trained herpatoligists. intead, they usually specialize in the behaviour and taxonamy of herps, not care.

luke z
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http://luke_zecevic.tripod.com/frogsofaustralia

Well, you know we tend to compare frog's need to our own's need for space. We primate feel secure and more comfortable in larger area, but other animals like frogs, and tarantulas they actually like enclosed spaces...like leaves covering all around them or a hole in a tree. When they are active out in the open space to hunt for food, they feel vulnerable and are always alert to possible danger...predators that might eat them. So if you offer a too big of a space they might feel insecured...just like snakes, too. Believe or not...dogs when they get scared, they like to head for a small enclosed area. You see we primate evolved on tree which is a large open area...and when our ancestors are fleeing predators, they jumped from tree to tree or climbed higher. Now that feeling for the need of space hasn't disappeared, and that's why some people feel claustrophobic.

And good publishing companies do have standard, which means they look at the authors' credential and how many years of experience that they have keeping frogs and lizards before they even publish the books.

like your taking the easy way out. Dont trust the internet because that would mean you'd need a 20 gallon instead. Small enclosers make them feel secure eh? No, thats why you give them plants and shelter to feel secure in! Not by putting them in a cage that doesnt give them enough room to jump climb and all the things frogs do. In the wild frogs arent in enclosers, they have alot of room, nothing stopping them from using all that space. Thats what they do in the wild, they hide in trees and the such to feel secure, and thats what you should give them in captivity too, room to jump around in, but places to hide and feel secure. Ok, so your idea of basic care is putting a frog in a small cage (oh so it feels secure) with no heat source (they CAN survive at freezing, so hey, why give them heat?!). I wonder how long a white will survive in a 10 gallon with no heat? I really dont understand your way of thinking. Theres my opinion.
Mac

What don't you understand? People have been keeping White's in a 10 gallon for a long time with very good sucess. That's what I'm saying. If the enclosure is too big, the frog can actually feel insecured, if there is a lot of people traficking. Bigger is always better, but not too big...20 gallon is perfect for a couple White's, but really people have been keeping one White's in a 10 gallon. If you study animal behaviors in College, a lot of them are different from humans'. I've taken courses of English in college, and my professor said the internet is not a reliable source of info. Some website is alright, but really there are no standards as you would with publishing good books. If they think what you wrote is a joke, they will not publish it. On the internet, anyone can put up a website about something...even herpers who haven't had that much experience keeping frogs.

And by the way, amphibian do not need hot environment because a frog with a skin intact looses water almost as fast as skinless frogs. People compare frogs to reptiles which are totally different. You can keep it warm in the winter by gentle heat from the heating pad...and they can withstand the cold a lot better than reptiles. Amphibians required moderately cool temperature to fair well. The exact temperature requirement is dependant upon the specific species...but usually not above 80-82 dgree...that's the maximum.

n/p
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Happy Frogging!!!

~Becki~

an expert herpatoligist in australia has been studying the taxonamy and behaviours of frogs in captivity, and in the wild for the last 10 years. he has come to the conclusion that frogs DO require alot of space, ESPECIALLY WTF's.

luke z
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http://luke_zecevic.tripod.com/frogsofaustralia

you have no idea knot!!!!!! yes, snakes and tarantulars require smaller enclosures to be healthy etc. but frogs require large areas, not small!!!!! but they do need many hide spots etc, so they can feel secure during the day when they are sleeping.

luke x
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http://luke_zecevic.tripod.com/frogsofaustralia

Hey, who forgot that people like small areas to feel secure in, too? I mean, ever hear of fetal position in a broom closet? Hiding under the bed?

That goes for just about all animals, save for some insects. But, animals also need a certain amount of space to exercise and bask in. Some need to have territory.

Yes, frogs and humans are very different, but not in every sense. You can't limit yourself to learning something and understanding just that. You also have to understand the basic similarities that animals share and that we all want to live happily and need adequate space for that.