White’s Tree Frog Care

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Adult Size
4 – 5 inches

Life Span
16 years

Male/Female Differences
Sexing can be difficult. Females can be slightly larger than males, and males can develop larger, darker pads on their thumbs.

Compatibility
Keep singly, as uneven sized frogs will prey other each other. They also need a lot of room, so provide a large enough terrarium if keeping multiple frogs.

Origin
Australia and New Guinea
Climate Tropical species, so it lives in the warmth and humid.

Day Cycle
Mostly nocturnal.

Temperature
75 – 85 degrees. Provide a mild daytime basking light, with a low wattage bulb, and a heating pad for nighttime heat. Use a small aquarium heater in a bottle of water to provide both warmth and humidity.

Lighting
Provide UVA/UVB lighting during the day. Provide basking light for 12 hours

Humidity
Keep humidity at least 50 percent. Mist the terrarium daily to help maintain this. Using coconut bark or forest bark as a substrate, with plenty of moss, will also help keep these frogs moist. Do not use distilled water, as tap water contains trace minerals that these frogs need.

Habitat/Territory
White’s tree frogs live in the trees near water. White’s also make their homes in and near homes, near cisterns and other water sources.

Substrate/Bedding
Coconut bark and forest bark as a substrate. These are less likely to be ingested and will help keep the terrarium humid. Cage carpet can be used as it is easy to clean and can help reduce mites. Cover with damp moss to help maintain humidity.

Hiding Place/Den
Provide plenty of places to hide and climb with caves, vines, and hanging plants.

Cage Type
Can be housed in a 10 gallon aquarium. These frogs love to climb, so stand the tank on one end. Terrariums make excellent homes, as they are taller and have screen doors for easy access. Provide secure covering as these frogs can and will escape.

Diet
Insects such as crickets, mealworms, worms, and cockroaches and even pinkies are on the menu for the White’s tree frog.

Supplements
Dust food with a calcium/vitamin powder just before feeding. Ensure nutritionally complete crickets by feeding them a quality cricket food.

Diet Precautions
White’s tree frog will overeat if given the chance, so limit its food. If folds of skin begin to appear over the eyes, put your frog on a diet. Limit the amount of mealworms and waxworms that you offer your frog as these are high in fat.

Feeding
Feed a few gut-loaded insects 2 – 3 times a week. Offer mealworms in a shallow dish so that they do not escape.

Water Source
Mist the terrarium daily. Provide a shallow bath for the frog to rest in nightly. Change the water daily.

Grooming
White’s tree frogs groom themselves. Provide fresh water and plenty of humidity to keep their skin healthy and moist.

Oral and Foot Care
Maintain a sanitary cage to prevent foot and leg infections.

Proper Handling
Limit handling of your frog as they can get stressed. Rinse hands to eliminate contaminants. Keep hands most to protect their sensitive skin. Wash hands after handling.

Habitat Maintenance
Change the water in the dish daily. Also remove any excess water that has gathered in the bottom of the cage. Clean the whole cage every other week by removing soiled substrate and replacing with fresh. Wipe down any soiled areas.

Health Concerns
White’s tree frogs are susceptible to bacterial infections like red leg, as well as fungal infections. Most can be avoided by proper cage maintenance. Stress can also lead to illness. White’s tree frogs can also suffer from nutritional deficiency and metabolic bone disease if not provided with supplemental dusting of insects.