Frog Care Guide

Match the tank to the form you keep using the popular species guide. Many tree frogs (White’s, Red Eyed, Amazon Milk, Bird Poo Mossy, American and European Green) use a minimum adult tank of 45 × 45 × 60 cm (~18 × 18 × 24″) with more height than ground. Fire-bellied toads, dart frogs and golden mantellas often use 45 × 45 × 45 cm; horned frogs 60 × 45 × 45 cm; Giant African Bullfrog 90 × 45 × 45 cm. Asian Giant River Toad size is confirmed with our team when you buy. Glass or plastic/PVC is fine if well ventilated. Arboreal forms need height; terrestrial forms need floor area.

Most species need a heat mat unless the room is consistently warm. Place the mat on the outside of the tank along the back or side only, on a thermostat with the probe hanging inside by the mat to monitor the warm end. Never put heat under the enclosure — frogs move down to avoid heat and will keep getting warmer. Set day and night from the species table (overall about 60–84 °F / 16–29 °C depending on form). Temperate species need slightly lower warm-end temperatures.

Most commonly kept forms come from tropical humid habitats. Give a heavy morning spray and an extra evening spray if ventilation is high; misting or fogging systems help, but it is better to under-mist and top up by hand than waterlog the tank. Humidity bands in the species guide range from about 50–70% (European Green Tree Frog) up to 70–100% (dart frogs, mantellas, mossy frogs). Change the water dish daily — frogs bathe and absorb water through the skin. Use only dechlorinated water (Reptisafe, bottled, or water stood 24 hours).

Live insects sized to the frog. Offer a few crickets in the evening when you first get them and adjust — most eat only a small amount. Youngsters often 3–4 times per week, then less often as appetite drops with age. Dust every feed with a mix of 4 parts calcium (+ magnesium) to 1 part Nutrobal multivitamin. Gut-load feeders on a varied diet so calcium-to-phosphorus and vitamins are adequate.

Most frogs do not like handling. White’s tree frogs tolerate it better than most and are less likely to jump away. If you handle, wet your hands before and throughout — dry hands can damage the skin. Frogs can spray urine some distance. Always wash hands before and after, and never use aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the enclosure.

Tree frogs often need a full clean about every six weeks because they may defecate on the glass, leaving substrate and foliage relatively clean. Ground-dwelling frogs need cleaning around every four weeks. Spot care and daily water changes keep the setup healthy between full cleans.