Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I recently (yesterday!) aquired a juvie Red-Eyed Tree Frog and would like some advice on keeping the lil guy (or gal) happy. It is around 3/4" and looks healthy and not too skinny. It sleeps during the day and was active last night, so it seems to act normal as well. So far so good.

I have some reasonable experience with keeping other herps (White's tree frogs, fire-bellied toads, snakes, and tarantulas), but I am looking for information that is specific to raising RETFs.

Are the conditions required by juveniles different from those required by adults?

What are the ideal daytime/nighttime temperatures? If I keep a temperature gradient from 75F-85F (roughly) during the day, is it important to drop the temperatures at night?

What's the deal with relative humidity and RETFs? I have read a lot of conflicting information. Some say 30-50%. Some say 80-100%. Some say 50-80%. If I keep the humidity around 50-70% with daily misting will I have a happy frog? Should I account for seasonality (wet/dry seasons)?

I have heard that coconut fibre is a good substrate for amphibians because it does not cause impaction. Is this correct (particularly for small juvenile tree frogs)? Or would a damp paper towel bedding be safer?

So many questions...

Thanks, folks!

Lukasz

Are the conditions required by juveniles different from those required by adults?

No.. they are from the same region.. and like the same conditions..

What are the ideal daytime/nighttime temperatures? If I keep a temperature gradient from 75F-85F (roughly) during the day, is it important to drop the temperatures at night?

I have found that mine seem to do best with temps around 68-70 at night and about 74-76 during the day.

What's the deal with relative humidity and RETFs? I have read a lot of conflicting information. Some say 30-50%. Some say 80-100%. Some say 50-80%. If I keep the humidity around 50-70% with daily misting will I have a happy frog? Should I account for seasonality (wet/dry seasons)?

I keep me at 75 - 80% except for breeding cycles (but your a ways of from anything like that). most people say 60-80%, but I have found mine do better at the higher end of that range.

I have heard that coconut fibre is a good substrate for amphibians because it does not cause impaction. Is this correct (particularly for small juvenile tree frogs)? Or would a damp paper towel bedding be safer?

Depends.. if your using live plants, coco fiber works great.. if no live plants, paper towel or coco fiber is fine. But, without the live plants.. you will have to clean the tank a couple of times a week..
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