White's Tree Frog

House one to a few frogs in a tall, front- or top-opening terrarium of at least 45 x 45 x 60 cm for a small group, taller being better since they are arboreal. Furnish with sturdy branches, cork bark, vines and broad-leaved live or artificial plants for climbing and cover, over a moisture-holding bioactive soil or coco-fibre substrate; avoid small gravel or bark chunks that could be swallowed. Provide a large, shallow dish of dechlorinated water for soaking, as frogs absorb water and can be poisoned by chlorine. Good ventilation prevents stagnant, disease-promoting air.

Insectivore prone to obesity, so portion control matters. Offer gut-loaded, calcium-dusted crickets, locusts, dubia roaches and earthworms as staples, with mealworms and the occasional waxworm only as rare treats; avoid feeding pinky mice, which are far too fatty. Dust feeders with calcium at most feeds and a multivitamin weekly. Feed juveniles daily but adults only every two to three days, giving a few insects at a time and keeping them lean, as overfed frogs develop unhealthy fat build-up.

Provide a daytime gradient of about 24 to 29 C with a gentle basking area near the upper end, and never let night temperatures fall below about 21 C. UVB is not strictly required if the diet is well supplemented with D3, but low-level UVB (a UVI of about 2.0 to 3.0) is beneficial for long-term health. Keep humidity moderate, around 50 to 70 percent, by misting and via the water dish, and importantly avoid constant very high humidity and poor airflow, which promote bacterial skin infections in this species. Always use dechlorinated water and run a 12-hour light cycle.

Can be kept singly or in small groups of similar size, unlike most reptiles, provided the enclosure is large enough and all frogs are well fed to prevent one outcompeting another. Never mix different amphibian species or wildly different sizes. They tolerate brief, gentle handling with clean, wet, chemical-free hands, but skin contact should be minimal because their permeable skin absorbs oils, salts and residues.

Provide varied climbing branches, vines and broad leaves at different heights, plus hides and a soaking dish, and vary the layout occasionally. Evening misting encourages natural activity and drinking, and free-ranging feeder insects give them the chance to hunt as they would in the wild.