Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have several different species of frogs some I have had for a while some for just a few days. Most are kept in seperate tanks b/c I am afraid of combining them and changing things and having more frogs die. When I get new frogs I do TONS of research online and through books to make sure that I am taking the best care of them and not only do I get conflicting information I am getting deaths, which I am obviously starting to get very upset about. I am hoping that there is someone out there that can chat with me through various emails and tell me yes that is good, no that is bad use this bedding etc etc. Is there someone out there.
Thank you
Christina
PS just to list who I have in case you can help with some of these different species.
1 red -eyed tree frog
2 dumpys
2 milky's
2 tiger legs
1 pacman
1 budgetts
2 big eyed tree frogs
2 bubbling tree frogs
2 ornate hoppers
2 Dwarf Megophyrs (which just died this evening)

Thank you again!

First of all, you have to realize a lot of those tree frog species you listed are going to be WC frogs. My guess is that they were somewhere between 15 and 30 dollars and were probably imported, MAYBE treated for parasites, and then dumped into a store or retailer. Either way, I know some of those tree frog species are not commonly bred, if bred at all, in captivity. Are there any species in particular you need help with?
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Actually a majority I purchased at reptile expos and I was told that they were bred in captivity. I did pay more then 30 on most of them as well. Well, I was told that most of the tree frogs had the same general care. Just to lay out what I have
I have a 30 gal tall split in half with 1 red eye and the dumpys. I have had them for a while and I guess they are doing well. They have moss on the bottom and some branches and water dish. I have an undertank heater and Reptisun 2.0 bulb. I feed them large crickets every other day about 3-4 each frog and I spritz them 1-2 times a day.
My tiger legs I have in a 10 tall (tiny little guys), I just moved them into that tank and I noticed that there color is a little off kind of grayish I guess and they do not eat much. about 3-4 little crickets every other day. They have the same setup.
My milky's I got a few months ago and they died within a month, I have a new pair now. I put them in a smaller tank. I just got them on Sunday so right now they are on moist paper towl with just a little moss to help with the humidity. So far so good.
My bubblings and big eyes share a 30 tall with the same setup as the other tree frogs. They seem ok, I give them about 24 total small crickets every other day.
The ornate hopper and the dwarf megophrys I had together in a 10 gallon I just go them and the leaf guys died already, I have them on paper towel as well and I have given them about 25 small crickets also. When I found the dead ones there were crickets still in the tank and I found them dead together it was kind of strange.
My pacman is still small I only have him in a 2 1/2 gall with bed-a beast and a little moss and a water dish he gets 2-3 large crickets every other day and the budgetts is also in a 2 1/2 gall with sand and 1/3 water and a small plant to hide under he gets the same food. I am going to move them in to a 20 long and split the tank.
The tanks are cold. Thay ALL have undertank heaters and reptisun 2.0 but most of the tanks have been ranging between 60-70 with humidity ranging from 60-85. So the humidity is good is the temps that I think are causing the problem and the fact that I am not 100% sure that I am doing everything right.
Thank you for your help,
I am sorry this message is so long but I figured the more the info the more you could help me.
Christina

Pacman and budgetts are going to need 20 gallon tanks each. Temps are VERY low especially for young frogs, which need the temps to attain maximum growth rates. I would also suggest getting each species its own tank, if not each individual. I would suggest running to walmart or some place like it and buying lots of rubbermaid sweater boxes. You can find them in all shapes and sizes, they hold humidity and heat well, and they can be modified rather easily to increase ventilation or make places for lights. One important part of keeping these frogs is 1) a LONG quarantine before even putting one tank near another and 2) making sure there is enough room so the individuals do not become stressed. If the animals are in contact with each other constantly, or their walls in fact, they can become stressed. Also try and get backgrounds on the backs of the tanks if you do not have them on there. Andy
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Thank you for your help. the only ones that are together are the bubbling and the big eyes and they have been together from the start and now they are in a pretty big tank for them. They seem ok, the bubblings are getting BIG and the big eyes eat first. Most of the rest of the frogs are just in pairs. I think my biggest problem was temperature. I live up here in New YOrk where we are having record cold it is like 0 out with windchills at -25 and I live in an old house. I went out and bought space heaters and warmed up the rooms and everyone seems to be a bit better. I have not seen the ornate hoppers eat yet and they are the only ones at this point that I am very worried about I think we are doing better though
Thank you for your help.
Christina

I have a small reptile business, but I specialize in amphibians. I usually have a wide variety of frogs and have kept most of teh species that you have listed. If you want to keep a variety of animals the most important thing is to keep it simple. It sounds like you are pretty much doing this. I use a standard frog set-up with some variations depending on the type of frog.
Here is my basic frog set-up:
-Bedding: Eco Earth (cheaper)/Bed-a-Beast
-Use Gravel under the bedding for drainage if it is a permanent set-up or newspaper for messy frogs that require frrequent cleaning
-I use a small plastic water dish in every cage to help keep the humidity up. Most frogs like to hop in and out of it, so change the water daily.
-I use spagnum moss near the water dish to provide a place to hide and to keep the humidity up.
-Live potted plants are used in every cage, they can be cleaned easily and provide cover for the frogs. Pothos works the best.
-Driftwood pieces are used for cover and decoration.
-Screen Lids with locking clips are very important.
-I do not use heat sources, but my room stays pretty warm.

I have different frogs in different part of the room depending on the temperature preferences. Humidity is supplied by spraying them 2-4 times a day depending on the frogs' preferences.

It is important to know individual frog preferences and try to adhere to these. Also consider where the frogs come from when designing the cage. tree frog need more branches while, horrned frogs need a deeeper substrate to burrow in. Obviously all of this is just an introduction.

The horned frogs are very difficult captives, so don't feel too bad. I lost 4 Solomon Island Eyelash frogs while I was away fro Christmas. Like the previous poster said most of the frogs you are keeping are imports, so they will be a little more difficult. Imported frogs are not impossible to keep though, just use strict quarentine procedures and monitor them closely for the first several weeks.

I hope this long, wordy post helps you out. email with any more questions.

-Heather
Bluegrass Exotics
bluegrassexotics@wmconnect.com