Treefrog

reptiguy123 · 07-18-04, 10:08 PM

Well last week I was away at a crappy camp that my parents sent me to. Anyways, I found a treefrog late one night in a parking lot. I brought it to the small nature lodge at the camp to identidy it because it was hard to see with my flashlight. I held out my hand and asked them what it was, and they took it by the leg and threw it in a cage (after dropping it on the wood floor). I was horrified. I came back the next day and the day after that and it was dry, had no food, and had a heavy stump accidentaly dropped on its toes. I had to freakin take care or it when the staff people weren't looking.
Well, by that time I knew ut two things. First of all, it was an eastern gray treefrog. I also found out that the nature people cut off the heads of copperheads for safety purposes. The bastards!

So, my first impulse was to "steal" (although we now agree that it was more of a rescue) it. I went with the impulse and made a plan with my friend. The poor thiing wasn't climbing so now its at my house just in case they were looking. I'm not sure where to release it safely because the camp was on the mason dixon line and I am an hour away now.

So, what should I feed it?

snakehunter · 07-18-04, 10:15 PM

HI we have those down here alot too. IF you are going to keep it give it ALOT of hiding spots, these guys are nocturnal. As for food id say crix and mealies etc. mutch like you would feed a white's tree. Thats as far as my knowledge goes, good luck with the poor guy.

concept3 · 07-18-04, 10:27 PM

dusted crickets will make a fine staple for him

Rhonda · 07-19-04, 09:46 AM

Hi there! It really sucks how people can be so mean to another living creature! Anyway, in my experience I kept a pair of gray tree frogs for 2 years before releasing them back in to the wild where I found them. I know some people will say it's wrong to take them from the wild but lets face it that's where many in the pet trade come from and I always put back what I take! Gray tree frogs are fairly easy to keep they need peat moss for substrate kept moist all the time(that seems to be quite important) add lots of live or artificial plants for cover. They don't seem to need any extra heat or lighting (they are nocturnal)I kept mine at room temp 65degrees during the winter months at up to 85 during the summer months. They became less active during the winter of course. they tolerated my presence so well they eagerly accepted crickets right form my hand. I also fed them meal/wax worms, collected grass hoppers, flies etc. vitamine dusted once a week. I housed them in a 20 gallon tank with a med sized water dish for keeping their skin moist. They also appreciate being misted daily with water. By the time I felt It was time to put these guys back in to the wild they were quite chubby! Actually it was only a month ago I said good bye to my frog friends! They were very interesting to have and observe for that length of time. Good luck!

reptiguy123 · 07-19-04, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the replies. I just read this post, so I will set things up right asap. As of now, he (I can't sex frogs, so I'll call it a he) is in a tank (10-20 gallons, I'm not sure). It's a screen lid, so I covered most of the opening in plastic wrap to trap in humidity. I had never successfully fed an amphibian because they never seemed to notice worms or crickets, but this poor guy must have been starved. He ate two large crickets, more than my leopard gecko ate today. What a sight!

He refused a dead cricket even after I dusted it, but when I gave him his first live cricket with tweezers, he just pounced up and grabbed it in his hands. I put in two logs to go under and a water dish, but he sits on the wall or on the log. Later on I found him sitting in the water dish and he was sticky when I touched him (but not as dry as when he was at the nature house) so I know that I need to boost the humidity further.

I have spagnum moss, and I'll look outside for some bark.

His tank is near my bed, but I do not hear him vocalize. Last night was his first night here, so maybe he needs to get used to his surroundings. Do gray treefrogs vocalize? If he does not vocalize, is he a "she"?

Oh by the way, if it's a he, his name is Earl.

Thanks again guys!

Rhonda · 07-20-04, 06:38 AM

Gray tree frogs are quite vocal! during the spring almost every evening for about a month I would hear them croaking. It's quite a pleasant sound. Maybe once he's feeling better you'll hear him too.

reptiguy123 · 07-20-04, 08:37 PM

How much should I feed him per day/week?

How do you sex them?

I'll try to get pictures later.

Rhonda · 07-21-04, 04:58 PM

I fed them every other day during the spring and summer months and once to two times a week during the winter months. They will take as many as 6 med crickets per feeding. As for sexing them....Your guess would be as good as mine. I never did figure that out. Out of the 2 frogs I had, one was larger and less brilliant in colour so I assumed maybe that was a female. Gray tree frogs can vary a lot in colour and pattern.

reptiguy123 · 07-22-04, 04:31 PM

And it seems that they also can slightly change in color shades from light green to dark grey. I've given up on sexing for now.

Do you know if they eat until they're sick, or if you have to limit the amount of crickets they eat? It seems as if little Earl could eat all day if I let him!

Rhonda · 07-26-04, 06:04 AM

I fed mine a lot during the summer. I found that they will refuse any more food once they've had enough. And as you've noticed they do change colour from brilliant green to dark grey.

reptiguy123 · 07-26-04, 02:42 PM

Well, I went to the Chesapeake (sp) with my friend for the weekend (I thought it was close enough to let Earl go) so now has a new home near his grandparent's summer house. Thanks for the help, Rhonda. Oh and by the way, I caught two green frogs, two toads, and a northern water snake while I was there.

Rhonda · 07-26-04, 08:31 PM

Excellent finds! I'm always happy to help when I can!