Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have had two green tree frogs now for about two years. They used to be in one setup with a body of water and land area. Everything was fine then. However, about a year ago I got some salamanders so I built the tree frogs a brand new tank with fake walls and live plants. A beautiful habitat in a 29g. They have both been doing fine, but ever since I switched their habitats, one of the frogs went completely brown. The other one stays a beautiful green. Why is the one frog brown? He's been this way now for about a year. But I have always been curious to know. I had tried looking on line but never found anything and I never thought to post a question in a forum. I'd love any info. I can't imagine he's sick since he has been this way for about a year. Still active little frog, and feeding VERY well. He's just brown, a dark brown.

Thanks!
Fernando

THis all might be related to stress. Obviously it's not enough for anorexia or succumbnation (is that a word) to pathogens or the like. Watch their behaviors. Does one act how the other doesn't? Hides more, doesn't go up into the canopy or hot spot? Doesn't go down where it's cooler? One backs down from the other ect. It's quite likely that they both will do well for a full, quality lifetime; but it's good to keep this sort of thing in mind, so you can be aware of any potential problems.

Ian

The brown frog spends his entire day every day on the same spot, which is a a piece of cork bark that extends from the back of the tank to the middle of the tank in mid-air. It's about two inches below the lights at the top. The green frog sometimes goes up there and sits next to the brown one, but only sometimes. Most of the times, the green one spends his days in the foliage, especially where the pothos leaves are. He loves those leaves and clings on the big ones when he sleeps. I have never seen signs of aggression between the two. They both call out a lot, though the brown ones calls more often. Sometimes one jumps on top of the other by accident but then they just resituate themselves very calmly. At night the whole tank is used up by them. They are quite active and explore a lot. Also, these guys were wild caught in Georgia. That's the general account of their behaviors.

What do you mean by pathogens?

Thanks for responding!
Fernando

Pathogens are just disease causing particles. Virus, bacteria, fungi ect. A healthy animal will defend against these without visible effects. Everything is exposed to them on a daily basis.

It sounds like they have their favorite daytime digs. It's the night time when they are active when you will see signs of intimidation and stress. By intimidation, I don't mean fighting, or bullying, that's not a frog's style. It will be seen more with avoidance and hiding on the weeker frog's part.

Ian

Thanks for clearing that up!

At night, they are both quite active and I have never noticed either one hiding. They're both jumping around. The only real difference in behavior that I have ever noticed is that the brown one calls a bit more than the green one. They both feed together as well and don't mind getting in each other's way.

I was leafing through my tree frog book and all it said on green tree frogs concerning this was that they can change colors from green to brown depending on their environment. I just wish it specified what exactly "their environment" means. Colors? Pathogens? Humidity? Lights? Temperature? Stress? All of the above? It's so vague! Grrr....

Do you know if tree frogs bask in nature? I wonder if they utilize UVs...they both do like to bask. And temperatures are fine. Hmmm...

Thanks again!

The description of their behavior should comfort you. They seem to be doing fine, and I wouldn't worry.

IK

It might not be hot enough in the tank because outside green tree frogs will turn brown when there is less sunlight available. This allows them to absorb more heat. Darker colors naturally absorb more heat because more light is absorbed rather than reflected. The only possible thing i could think of is that maybe the frog that is now green is smaller and doesn't need as much light and heat.