Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have attempted twice to keep a pair of milkys however I have been very unsuccessful. does anyone have any info on these guys or have ever successfully raised them. They are so cute and I feel bad that they keep dying. thank you
Christina

They are usually quite hardy, are you keeping babies or adults? The babies need a high humidity level as they are very prone to dessication, and also a decent sized shallow water bowel. Adults can be kept in the same way as a whites treefrog, although they are more shy and to get them feeding properly and feeling comfortable it's best to have quite a densely planted terrarium. You'll find if they feel secure you'll have a much better chance of raising and breeding them.

What were yours actually dying from do you know?

It might be worth noting however that if the substrate they are on is kept too damp (i.e. if it is wet) they are prone to nasty fungal infections on they're feet which appear as swellings. Very difficult to treat in my experience, as they have always died from it.

Hope this helps

Rob

I am assuming they were babies b/c they were quite small. I don't really know what they died b/c I only had the first pair for a 1 day and a few weeks and I think I know why they died the one being from the transport and the other was being out competed by some other frogs that I had him in with. The second batch I got last Sunday and I kept them by themselves. I had them in a small tank but tall (it was a spare tank that I had I figured if they lived I would go bigger). I was told that for the first week or so to put them on paper towels so I can keep track of them eating and pooping. So the tank was setup with paper towls, some moss in the corner just to help with the humidity a water dish and a big branch to climb on. I felt very optimistic b/c they were looking GREAT. I woke up the next morning and they both died. they were just sitting there. I noticed a couple of crickets but I THINK they ate I never actually saw them eat. I had for about a week. I really want to be able to keep a pair of these guys and I am very upset about these last two dying (you know I worry that I killed them). Oh and b/c they were on the paper towel I did sprtiz them 2-3 times a day. humidity was around 60-75 and the temp was in the low 70s during the day.
Any other ideas
When I purchase these guys what should I look for in them how much should I be spending. I did buy both pair from the same place maybe it is them???? Should I try a different place.
Thanks
Christina

The adults reach about 3.5 inches long so they are probably babies lol.

That is quite peculiar. First off you should never mix treefrog species though, and especially anything in the Phrynohyas genus; a group that contain one of the most potent toxins of any treefrog.

Also, how much cover and hiding places did your frogs have? This may only be an additional problem, but I think the biggest one is that they were too dry. With the babies they should have humidity levels around 85%, or as high as you can get them. Also temps could be raised to 80F/85F to encourage them to feed. The low 70's is really too cool (they come from the Amazon after all). I woud definitely try from another source though as they should not be dying like this. My adults came from Holland (I'm in the UK) so transit was proabbly not the problem.

Make sure the substrate is always slightly damp, and the water bowl is full. Also make sure they can hide easily, i.e. lots of leafy branches in (best to use silk ones) Mine did not start feeding till I did this.

Hope this helps and best of luck with them! Once you make it, they are really superb frogs.

Rob

Thank you so much for your help. I have posted several messages and I feel like yours were the most helpful. Yeah I have a lot of tree frogs, a red eye, pair of dumpys etc. Currently the only frogs that I have together are the big eyes and the bubbling. I actually bought them together and they have been together for a while and are doing great. But I know now not to mix and I am going to try to get new milky's and I plan to keep them seperate.
I think you are right, I think it was the humidity. I think the idea of having them on paper towel is just not practical, I think it would be better if they had to search a little harder for food then if they dried themselves out. So next time I will set them up with the proper substrate.
Thank you again
Christina
Do you know anything about ornate hoppers or dwarf megophyrs

Sorry Christina, didn't mean to sound like I was belittling you, you're obviously very knowledgeable and I know that mixing can be done long term under certain circumstances if the keeper has the right level of experience and knowledge etc. With the milky's it's mainly a matter that if one is bitten by a larger frog, the latter is quite likely to die. With the P. venulosa small snakes have apparently been found with they're body's almost literally glued together after trying to feed on these, and the toxins are enough to cause rashes to deveop on people's skin if they upset them whilst handling. The resinifictrix isn't that bad, but you wouldn't want to eat them (you do have resinifictrix don't you lol?)

I'm afraid as much as I'd like to I don't keep any hoppers or megophyrs, herp selection in the UK is pretty poor to say the least. I'm sure someone else on the forum could help you though.

Best of luck with them, and sorry again about my post, reread it and it seemed a little grumpy (must be the weather here)

Don't worry I didn't think that at all I was just letting you know what I had b/c if I was making a mistake I would want to know right away. I actually live here in the states on the East coast where it is wicked cold and the weather gets to me to. And as for the toxin thing I am not quite sure I know what you are talking about maybe you can elaborate.
By the way if you have milky's what kind of setup to you do for them and how many do you keep in what size tank etc??
Do you happen to breed them? I am actually just a hobbyist breeding has not been a consideration of mine but I am interested to here how it is done.
Thanks for your help.
Christina

Ok just so you know I feel really stupid right now b/c I did not realize you were talking about the genus of the frog that is the milkys and yes I do have res...(I forgot).
Thank you again.
Christina

I would also consider myself a hobbyist, it's just that the breeding behaviour of these is so fascinating and quite a challenge. Weren't even bred till 1996/1994 (depending on who you consider the first person to do it was). The tadpoles are actually oophages, and the female will frequently visit the spawning site to feed them unfertilsed eggs. A great advantage as it means that this species breeds in elevated water filled tree trunks where fish aren't a problem, yet food for the tadpoles could be.

I have my present pair in a densely planted aquarium (3'x2'x2'), with a large water bowl (12"x12" and a cork bark tube placed in the middle. The male used sit in this almost every night and call for hours when the humidity was higher, they're having a break now. The first night I got them they actually laid an infertile clutch of eggs in this, so it must have been ok as far as they were concerned. The tube that came in the aquarium hood is used as both the light and heat source, with an external heat mat on the underside. Temps are around 83F and humdity is about 70%. They'll eat anything and everything, and the female actually bit 2 of the males toes off when she was lunging for a locust so be a bit careful. He has healed up perfectly though.

Hope this helps and good luck again. You may want to be careful about the supplier. As relatively few wild caught individuals of these frogs were originally available, you're likely to be buying siblings if you're getting them from the same supplier. Inbreeding may turn out to be a serious problem with this species later on as many of the areas they are available from are protected, albeit not strictly so.

Thank you again. I am very eager to get these guys so I am going to try to see if there is someone local that has them as opposed to waiting till April for the next expo.
I really appreciate your help.
Christina