How To Set Up A Frog Enclosure

Tree frogs are arboreal, which means they spend most of their time in trees. In captivity, they don't accept access to trees but branches, sticks, vines, and plants volition go on them happy. Vertical space is a must. Terrariums at least 18 inches in height will suffice.

The overall size (width, depth, and superlative) depends on the number of frogs yous're keeping. As for the setup, well, that's what this post is for.

I'll explain everything you need to set up a nifty tree frog enclosure; from terrariums sizes and brands to helpful tips for decorating, and everything in between.

Page Contents

• 1 Bones Cage Setup for Tree Frogs
  • 1.1 Step 1: Choosing Your Terrarium
  • ane.2 Step ii: Preparation
  • 1.iii Footstep 3: Add the Substrate
  • one.4 Step four: Add Branches, Sticks or Logs
  • 1.five Stride iv: Add together Plants and Vines
  • ane.6 Step 5: Add the Small H2o Dish
  • one.seven Step half-dozen: Add the Lights, Thermometer, and Hygrometer
  • 1.8 Stride 7: Mist the Enclosure
• two Introducing Your Tree Frog to its New Enclosure

Basic Cage Setup for Tree Frogs

Setting upward a tree frog enclosure consists of creating climbing areas in a vertically oriented terrarium. Through the usage of branches or sticks, vines, and plants, a person can create the platonic habitat for any arboreal species.

It's of import to remember, this guide won't work for every type of tree frog. Each one is different, requiring unlike temperatures and humidity levels.

The bones build will get yous started, merely information technology'due south upwardly to you to learn the precise atmospheric condition needed to keep your pet treefrog happy and healthy.

This can be achieved by reading care sheets. Discover out the recommended temperature, humidity level, and whether or not your special lighting is required.

These factors will make up one's mind whether or not y'all need more equipment like automated misting systems, foggers, UVB lighting, a heating mat, etc. Use this guide as a base example on how to set upward a treefrog terrarium.

Footstep i: Choosing Your Terrarium

Before you tin exercise anything, you lot need a terrarium. Chances are, you've already got i merely if y'all don't, I'll point you lot in the correct direction. As I already mentioned, y'all need a tall terrarium. That is, something taller than it is broad. As for the terrarium size, well that depends on the number of frogs you're keeping and their overall size once they're full-grown.

• 12″ x 12″ x 18″ terrarium will business firm 1 – two treefrogs. Again, this depends on the type of tree frog and how large they get. You can put 2 full-grown Cherry-Eyed Tree Frogs in a terrarium this small because they're not very big. On the other mitt, White's Tree Frogs grow much larger, so two of them would need a larger enclosure.
• 18″ x 18″ x 24″ terrarium tin hold 3 – 4 tree frogs. So information technology really comes down to the full-grown size of the frogs y'all're keeping, and how many you want in the same muzzle. Keep in listen, you can utilize just about any size container eighteen″ in pinnacle or taller. Withal, the two sized mentioned above are the most common sizes for tree frogs. They're also relatively inexpensive compared to larger terrariums.

So, here are my recommendations. If yous're a first-time amphibian owner, I recommend getting a tree frog terrarium kit. Exo Terra, Zoo Med, and Zilla all have kits that work well for arboreal frogs.

You will probably still demand to buy a few items, but as a whole, information technology comes with nigh of the things y'all demand to get started. Otherwise, if you lot're not a new herpetoculturist and you've got some extra supplies lying around, you may opt for getting merely the terrarium itself.

Image	Clarification
	Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit, Pocket-sized This is an excellent starter kit. Great for 1 – ii tree frogs. (12x12x18)
	Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit, Large My favorite starter kit. Houses iii – 4 tree frogs. (18x18x24)
	Zilla Tropical Vertical Kit An crawly starter kit from Zilla. 1 – ii adult tree frogs. (12x12x18)

I did a review of the various frog terrarium starter kits and, in my personal opinion, the Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit offers the best deal. Particularly at the fourth dimension of writing this guide, the small habitat kit is on sale for $85.06 on Amazon, plus gratis shipping if you accept Prime number.

I don't know how long the sale volition concluding, but it's worth checking the link to come across if they're even so on auction. As for the Zoo Med Naturalistic Terrarium Frog Kit, information technology's kind of difficult to find.

They're sometimes available in pet stores but I wasn't able to find ane online. Anyway, once you've got your terrarium, move on to step 2.

Step ii: Preparation

Once you've purchased your terrarium and y'all're ready to prepare everything upwards, place the terrarium in the spot you want to keep it. When everything is prepare up, the terrarium will exist heavy. Heavy plenty you won't want to exist moving it anywhere. It's a proficient idea to do the set up where yous plan to keep it forever. Or at least for a while.

Earlier we begin calculation things to the enclosure, it's a good idea to make clean the glass with a towel and distilled water. The only point in doing this is to remove any lingering grit.

Be mindful not use to chemical cleaners as it might exist harmful to your delicate amphibians. As well, tap-water loftier in calcium will eventually pb to calcium build upwardly. To avoid this, use distilled h2o instead.

Step three: Add the Substrate

Now we're ready to start adding everything into the enclosure. The first affair is the substrate. In most cases, this volition be coco cobweb or similar substrates. Considering tree frogs are arboreal, they won't be spending much time on the basis.

Either fashion, information technology's best to give them a non-particulate substrate to save them from impaction. Eco Earth and Plantation soil are both great options. They're cheap and come in compressed bricks like the one in the picture above. Follow the directions to prepare the substrate for use.

Depending on the requirements of the treefrog you lot're keeping, it might be wise to set a drainage layer. Typically this is only required when dealing with a lot of water. A custom waterfall, misting systems, etc. High humidity is a requirement for some frogs, but not all.

If you know you need a drainage layer, keep reading the residue of step 3. Otherwise, you tin fill the terrarium with ii – iii inches of substrate and continue to pace iv.

For setting upwardly a drainage layer, y'all demand a filter medium. Virtually people use hydroballs, which are great. I, on the other paw, recommend something else. Matala Filter isn't designed specifically for terrariums, but it's ane of the best products I've ever used for a drainage layer.

So outset, fill the bottom of the enclosure with 1.5 – 2 inches of hydroballs or use a custom cut piece of Matala filter. On pinnacle of that, add a substrate barrier; a mesh screen. Information technology should allow water to flow through but keeps your substrate above the offset layer. On height of the mesh screen, add your substrate.

Step 4: Add together Branches, Sticks or Logs

Treefrogs and other arboreal species capeesh vertical climbing space. In the wild, they spend most of their fourth dimension atop trees and other vegetation. As such, it's recommended that you provide several climbing opportunities in the form of branches, sticks, or logs.

Which type of terrarium wood you lot cull is entirely up to y'all. High humidity enclosures would benefit from a hardwood, something that can be waterlogged without becoming moldy or breaking apart.

Should the enclosure non crave super high humidity, a large grapevine will look nice. Regardless of the conditions, cork bawl is always a practiced option.

Yous should strategically place the branches and sticks in a style to allows your treefrog several unlike climbing and resting areas in different heights of the enclosure.

Step four: Add Plants and Vines

Plants are a must-have for tree frogs. Not just do they provide more climbing options and great hiding locations, only they prefer to sleep on leaves. My cerise-eyed tree frogs accept their favorites, merely most frequently I find them on the long, thin leaves that seem to wrap around them perfectly.

Whether the plants are real or fake, it doesn't affair. Apparently, with real plants, you will demand a low-powered abound calorie-free. Something designed for terrarium usage, with no greater than 5.0 UVB.

Another matter plants provide is a storage identify for h2o. Frogs drink h2o droplets from establish leaves more oftentimes then they do from a water dish. It'southward a good practice to mist the plants especially to ensure there are drops of water all over the terrarium.

Aside from live or imitation plants, adding vines is a great mode to create more climbing places. I personally haven't tried all the different brand's of terrarium vines, but I'grand sure they all do a good chore.

Step 5: Add the Small-scale Water Dish

Even though tree frogs are amphibians, they're not the all-time swimmers. They enjoy shallow water. So a dish small, shallow water dish will suffice (click hither to see one on amazon). Having said that, the size of the water container doesn't really matter.

What matters is the depth of the h2o. It'south important to note that tree frogs won't spend a keen deal of their fourth dimension in the water. They're more likely to potable water droplets left on leaves from the last misting. If no droplets are available or they but desire to soak their skin, they will detect their way into the water dish.

Fill the h2o dish with make clean, dechlorinated h2o. The water should be free from toxins. Tap-water ofttimes contains chemicals like chlorine, which are harmful to frogs and other amphibians.

So, if yous chose to use tap-h2o, I recommend treating information technology with ReptiSafe or a like water conditioning agent. For more than information on this topic, check out my safe-water guide for amphibians.

Pace vi: Add together the Lights, Thermometer, and Hygrometer

At this indicate, y'all're nearing completion of your tree frog terrarium. All that'south left is to add whatever remaining gadgets you demand. These items depend on the individual needs of the treefrog you're keeping.

Should your frog or live plants require special lighting, you tin can install that at present. Other products include automated misting systems and foggers.

Those items, every bit I mentioned, may or may not exist required depending on the species yous're building the habitat for. For all frogs, I recommend a nice digital thermometer & hygrometer.

Thermometers & hygrometers are adequately inexpensive and they measure the humidity level and temperature inside your terrarium. With this information, you tin manually adjust the temperature by utilise of a heating pad or basking light. As for humidity, well, simply mist the enclosure using a spray bottle.

A hygrometer & thermometer combo can be placed in the top corner while an additional thermometer can exist placed in the bottom. Checking the temperature at the top and lesser of the enclosure gives you a better understanding of what's going on in the terrarium.

This is ideal for checking a temperature slope, where the top of the enclosure is meant to be warmer than the bottom. Achieving a temperature gradient like this is virtually effective by the use of a basking lamp, which is positioned in a higher place the enclosure.

Anyway, don't worry about doing this unless it's a recommendation for your tree frog.

Footstep 7: Mist the Enclosure

Now that you're finished with the setup, it'south a good idea to thoroughly mist the entire terrarium; the substrate, branches, leaves, and everything else. Don't be shy, get the entire enclosure wet.

This is a nifty opportunity to ensure you're hygrometer is working. If yous notice the humidity level is dropping as well fast, you might consider covering a portion of the screen hat with a piece of plastic or custom-cut piece of glass to increase the humidity in the terrarium.

Afterward this, y'all're ready to introduce your frog to his or her new abode.

Introducing Your Tree Frog to its New Enclosure

It's always a good idea to be gentle and patience when introducing your frogs to a new abode. In near cases, your pet will be in a small, plastic container, peculiarly if y'all but bought i from a pet store.

Otherwise, you may be transferring them from an old terrarium to the new. Either fashion, open the plastic container and set it inside the new enclosure.

Allow your pet to hop out of the plastic container on their own. Once you've noticed they're venturing out into their new habitation, gently remove the plastic container and close the terrarium doors.

All done! I hope this guide has helped you in setting upwardly the perfect enclosure for your tree frogs.

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Source: https://www.frogpets.com/tree-frog-terrarium/

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