How To Care For A White Lipped Tree Frog
The largest of its family, the white lipped tree frog is quite a nice specimen to keep for even a beginner collector. They are a bit jumpier than some of their relatives but an overall pleasant and easy to maintain pet.
As the name suggests, they have a lower lip that is white. The rest of their body is a fun, bright green shade most of the time however, stress and low temperatures can affect their coloring in a negative way. The white lipped tree frog matures at a length between three and five inches with females being the larger sex. These frogs have quite a long lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
See Related: Toad Tadpoles
Care And Feeding
These are exceptional feeders. They will happily eat mineral-dusted or gut-loaded crickets, giant meal worms and house flies. It is important that if your food for your white lipped tree frog is from the wild that you make absolutely sure that they have not been exposed to fertilizers, pesticides or insecticides. These can all kill your frog. Also, wild insects can also house harmful internal parasites. It is always recommended when possible to use store bought feeder insects to ensure the health of your frog.
Water with no chlorine should be provided in a shallow dish at all times for your white lipped tree frog and it should be cleaned and changed daily. It is also a good idea to mist the enclosure every night to raise the humidity level as well.
Environment
The white lipped tree frog must have branches and vines to climb on to be happy. Ideally, the branches will be as wide as the frog is which will enable him to hold on better and rest comfortably. A solid top is not recommended. Your frog needs proper ventilation so you should aim to provide your frog with a mesh top that secures properly.
Recommended substrates are peat moss, cypress mulch and potting soil that does not contain vermiculite or perlite. A 50-watt daytime light bulb is about all that your frog needs to be happy. Always make sure that your frog has branches at various levels and position a few away from the heat so he can always find a comfortable spot to relax.
Handling
Your white lipped tree frog can become stressed out from being handled too much. Try to not take him out of his enclosure more than once per day for no more than 10 minutes at a time. Always remember to wash your hands prior to holding your frog, as well as after.
Health Concerns
These are very hardy frogs when taken care of properly. The environment must be kept clean at all times to ensure the health of your pet. The most common ailment seen with these frogs is metabolic bone disease. This condition can be prevented quite easily by offering a diet with the exact amount of calcium that they need.
To guarantee their calcium intake, every third feeding you should coat their crickets with high-calcium dust. You can also gut load the crickets with calcium-rich foods such as shredded vegetables, romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce and carrot tops. Doing this can prevent metabolic bone disease and in some cases the problem can be corrected.
Breeding And Reproduction
A reduced photo period combined with temperatures somewhere in the lower 70s for 6 weeks or so will prepare these frogs for their mating season. After the cooling period, you can slightly increase the humidity and temperature. Misting the tank will often stimulate courtship and breeding.
Similar to other tropical frog varieties, the female lays her eggs in the water and then the male fertilizes them externally. Tadpoles develop, remain in the water and feed on bits of leaves, algae and aquatic plants. When ready, metamorphose takes place and the tiny frogs journey onto land and find a tree to call their home.
Related Resources: