Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found a Cuban Tree frog on the side of my house. When i first found the frog it was greyish and had slightly darker striped on his hind legs...its alot lighter and more yellowish now but i'm suspecting its only because it's injured. The frog was unable to move its back right leg and had a small cut on his back... i figured i would see how it did in a small terrarium. The frogs eating really well and i've been keeping it nice and humid for him. The leg looks like its getting a little better in that it has some controll over it. Anyhow, it still looks kinda sick and not completly better. i just wanted to get anyones opinion of what to do with the little guy.. i know appetite is a good thing and i've had the frog now for a few days but that lack of original coloring still has me worried. Having kept tree frogs in the past i'm hoping that this one will pull through and i'll be able to return it to my back yard. thanks for any info!

Cubans change colors, mine go from the pattern to sometimes almost white and other times just about black!! It all depends on temps, lighting, what they are sitting on at the time and how at ease they are. They are very big eaters and will just keep eating until you stop feeding them.

As for re-releasing it... keep in mind that they are an invasive species and doing quite a job gobbling up our native froggies. You may either want to keep him... or.... I hate to say it... put him down.

If you are in the State of FL it is illegal to release them. I found this out after having an accidental breeding and trying to figure out what to do with 36 babies. Fortunately, I found someone with two huge enclosures that took them in to keep as pets. If it recovers from its injury, maybe call around to reptil shops and see if they would take it and find it a home.
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Heather
Dozer & ZeroCool

The treefrog should be alright, cubans are remarkably resilient as a species, and can heal from what would appear to be very nasty injuries. For example it has been seen that a cuban partially evicerated by a knight anole had completely healed in 2 weeks, with not even a scar to show (part of the small intesitine had actually been pulled out during its attack). Broken legs are not uncommon with frogs, and easily mended. Just keep the cuban in a smallish tank so the problem isn't worsended by it jumping around too much.

As for releasing it, yes it is illegal in Florida. But you may as well keep it as they are very interesting, and adapt quite well to captivity.

Good luck anyway

One of my Cuban babies had a pretty nasty scrape on its back after an escape from the tank and a run in with the dog. Literally, within days, it was completely healed.

I would keep it as well. They are really neat tree frogs. I have 3 adult males and a sub-adult now any they are neat to watch. They let you watch them hunt and seem to get used to you quickly. All of mine but the sub-adult are wild caught and I can reach into the enclosure to change water and spot clean without any of them even bothering to jump away from me.
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Heather
Dozer & ZeroCool

YEh... i thought about that whole invasive species right after i posted it. Ive actually seen them eat small leopard frogs in the everglades before. But i guess i was more worried about his health and not thinking about wither it would be good to turn him back to where i found him in the backyard. I think i will help both this frog and Florida natives by keeping him. I miss having a frog or two around aftre my GTF's died. But even if i had released him... i've probably relased about a thousand baby GTF from when i had my pair. They are for sure the dominant species in my backyard! lol
Even though the frogs not native i'd feel horrible killing it for no purpose (ie. with out him being food). So as it stands right now his legs looks completly better and he's hopping around after crickets. So i think he'll be fine.
**oh yeh- about the color change.. i know i've seen them in the glades almost white loking but he was like a sickly color, not the normal light grey. You couldnt even see a pattern. But now he looks like a typical cuban. Well... thanks for your replys.
Me and Gollum thank you. (i thought that was the perfect name for him...lol..i'm such a nerd)

I'm glad he's all better now! They really do make neat pets. I love watching them hunt and dive all over their enclosure after crickets. Especially fun when I toss in a few house flies. They go NUTS with flying bugs LOL. I also like the fact that, unlike my other froggies (2 REs and 2 Xmas Toads) the Cuban's don't seem to feel the need to hide out of sight. So even when they are sleeping I can still see them and enjoy them.

I wish we had other frogs in our back yard, but all I've seen here in Tampa are the Cubans. I really want to find a couple natives and breed them next season to release. It would be so awesome to hear something else calling at night LOL

It's funny you named him Gollum, one of the people that adopted a couple of my Cuban babies named them Gollum and Smeegal LOL
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Heather
Dozer & ZeroCool

Heather,
Is it legal to breed and release native frogs in FL.? Do you need a permit or other authorization?

From what I understand, techincally... No, it's not legal.... BUT!!! They won't lock you up for it. I don't know if there is any kind of fine or anything, but I had been told by a few people that "Since you'd be adding to the *native* population, they won't really say much to you" Now breeding something like the Cubans on the other hand, and releasing them, I do believe involves a fine and possible jail time. I can't remember what the charges are called but it has something to do with "endangering wildlife" since the Cubans wreek havock.
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Heather
The Gang (1.1.0 agalychnis callidryas, 0.2.0 bufo spinulosus, 4.0.0 osteopilus septentrionalis)

ellasmommie@yahoo.com

YES! I'm ecstatic that you're keeping the frog and that it's ILLEGAL to release or breed-and-release Cubans into Florida! Really, I think Heather at least knows how strongly I feel about this, but I'm so happy.

Anyway, where do you live, Robotic? You mention the Everglades, and there's not much left, so I have to ask.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame