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Litoria caerulea White's Tree Frog (Dumpy Frog)
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Longevity: Ten or more
years in captivity, sexual maturity at 2 years. Active: Nocturnal Temperament: Gentle,
even-tempered, able to be handled. As with all frogs, skin is fragile.
Origin/Range: Northern
and Eastern Australia, the islands of the Torres Straits, southern New
Guinea,and they have been introduced to New Zealand Habitat: wetter coastal
areas, in dryer areas where seasonal water is available, dry cool winters
with rainy spring and summer, man-made water reservoirs and pipes, common
in backyards and sometimes get into houses, frequent foliage and the ground Caging: Require plenty
of ventilation. Juvenile frogs need a five to ten gallon tank while a
single adult requires at least a twenty gallon high. Daily spot cleaning
is necessary because of mucus and heavy activity. Hardy plants are recommended.
Sometimes White's like to bask so a heat lamp may be appropriate. Temperature: 76 -85
F daytime, 65 F at night. Lighting: Full spectrum
lighting if plants are in the cage. Foods: Feed crickets
dusted with calcium powder no larger than the frog's head. Begin feeding
pinky mice once a week to subadults. Feed them at night when they are
active. Easily become overweight due to inactivity. Water Requirements: These frogs require clean water at all times in a shallow container. The water level should be no higher than the frog in a sitting position. Provide a rock in the water container so the frog has more than one way to escape the water. Use dechlorinated water at all times. Although distilled water is not recommended by most authors, several breeders have been using reverse osmosed water with good success (some will add trace minerals and salts back to the RO water). Mist the cage and frogs twice a day. Notes: White's store fat in the supratympanic ridges and have horizontal pupils. They also have a thick, waxy cuticle over their skin which allows them to survive in dry areas. Captive bred White's rarely achieve a natural bright, clear green. References:
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