Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I was wondering if i should use a Terrestrial or Arboreal setup for gray treefrogs.Just morphed gtf will be in it, but right now they should be getting their front arms soon. Were should I keep them when they turn into froglets? and waht can i feed them? Their native to here , I caught the tadpoles wild here in Pennsylvaina. Any info to help would be great!

Jessy

My GTF tads are just beginning to develop their rear legs; soon I'll be moving the to a tank with a slope created with lava rock pieces, pea-size gravel & a bit of bark mulch/soil substrate. Pooled water w/ airstone must be refreshed daily (I use turkey baster to remove fouled water, debris) once all tads have morphed, tank will be converted to arboreal set-up, with large water dish.

Fruit-fly cultures, and pin-head crickets will be offered once froglets have absorbed their tails... It's been fun & educational observing the growth process!

Treefrog = arboreal

It is better to keep them in a simple set up until they are feeding and growing.

I prefer a critter carrier with damp unbleached paper towels and plastic plants. This is easy to clean, easy to find the frogs, and easy for the frogs to find their food.

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*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

Do they sell critter keepers large enough for grey tree frogs? The biggest one I've ever seen is an 8-gallon, although I'm sure they're available larger than that. However, they're probably better off getting a large tank than a bunch of critter keepers, I think, because an 8-gallon critter keeper costs about the same as a 10-gallon glass tank, with lid.

(BTW, Bordercollie--GTF *usually* connotes it's a green tree frog, probably because they're better known.)

It matters what size they are. I don't see why the large critter carrier would not be big enough for a dozen gray tree frogs until they get to the size of 3/4 to 1 inch.

If you have a lot of froglets, you should separate them according to size anyway. I think that keeping them and high numbers would be to their detriment.

It is true that they cost a lot, but keep in mind that they come with a lid that you do not have to worry about metal contamination. See the Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry Book, where he discusses several times about sources of metal contamination from lids.

The reason why I like the plastic containers is that they are lighter, and easier to clean. The BIGGEST advantage is the little trap door in the middle of the lid that allows you to move the froglets are back and forth without worry of them escaping. Try to get that at the 10 gallon!

>>Do they sell critter keepers large enough for grey tree frogs? The biggest one I've ever seen is an 8-gallon, although I'm sure they're available larger than that. However, they're probably better off getting a large tank than a bunch of critter keepers, I think, because an 8-gallon critter keeper costs about the same as a 10-gallon glass tank, with lid.
>>
>>BTW, Bordercollie--GTF *usually* connotes it's a green tree frog, probably because they're better known.)
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*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

If it's a temporary thing, I agree that a critter keeper is the best bet--I keep all my tads and froglets in them.

But, somehow, I doubt some people will move them to a larger tank when it comes the time, and if the person is young, they'll be most preoccupied about the money involved, usually.

Just trying to make sure there won't be a bunch of adult grey TFs in an 8-gallon container later on

Colchicine, when do you suggest moving tads from aquatic set-up to terrestrial--When they attempt to climb up on vegetation? I understand morphed froglets can drown easily. Do I wait for forelimbs to develop?

My "natural" slope tank worked well for A. maculatum metamorphs, but I'm thinking a paper towel set-up might work better for froglets now. Thanks.

I have never had a problem with any hyla, bufo, rana, or pseudacris tadpoles when I remove them from the water as soon as I saw frog legs. I am sure there have been times when the frogs have had frog legs for a day or two before I noticed them. I personally do not feel that you should wait until they start to climb out.

I think that the paper towel method works well, especially when you tip the tank to one side, because it allows for one continuous substrate from the water to land that is easy to grip. I also keep the lid partially or almost entirely covered with plastic because I have had problems with paper towels drying out on days when I was too busy to look at it. I think that any method that allows you freedom from using gravel is superior. If I could find time to start an aquarium gravel hate club, I would do it!

>>Colchicine, when do you suggest moving tads from aquatic set-up to terrestrial--When they attempt to climb up on vegetation? I understand morphed froglets can drown easily. Do I wait for forelimbs to develop?
>>
>>My "natural" slope tank worked well for A. maculatum metamorphs, but I'm thinking a paper towel set-up might work better for froglets now. Thanks.
-----
*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

I have never had any problem with gravel. My FBT's loves them, and yes, they are too big for them to swallow. I don't think it's the substrate that matters. Paper towel is not a natural substrate and these guys will still thrive on it. It just that if you have proper set up and enough moisture and ( not too hot, but moderately cool ) they wil thrive. I always include places for them to hide and I don't hardly see them climbing out, my FBT's--they just sit there basking or soaking. One thing I've noticed is that they are able to detect if the water is contaminated with their own waste. My leo., if I don't change the water everyday, and if she defficate in the dish, she will wait outside on the damp ground until I change the water. AFter that, sooner or later, she would be sitting in the water dish.

If you have a buch of ripe tomatoes or fruits, just keep in a jar and it makes its own fruit flies. They seem to appear out of nowhere! lol My zoology teacher have grown his own fruit flies for the..uhmm...I don't remember...I think it was the toadlets, this way.

Use ripe or old tomatoes or fruits and let it sits in a jar with the lid on.

I keep my greys in an arboreal. They are usually at the top. They go to the bottom at night to hunt crickets, or to dip in the water. Then they're right back to the top. So, I would definatley say arboreal.
I just had another tad turn to frog a few days ago. He still has his tail, so he's not eating yet. My 3 week old froglet stays in a small 5 gallon, with a plastic lid for water, a plastic tree, on a white paper towel. He eats ants & fruit flies. He's growing pretty fast, so I'm pretty sure that he's getting all he needs. Good luck.

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