Things You'll Need
- Glass aquarium
- Astroturf or reptile carpeting
- Plastic plants
- Tree branch
- Antibacterial soap
- Freezer
- Heat lamp
- Water bowl
- Dechlorinated water
- Insects
- Spray bottle
Instructions
Purchase a glass aquarium that is no smaller than 10 gallons. Since you are dealing with a tree frog, aim for an aquarium that is more tall than it is long. Most tree frog species do well in 20-gallon tanks. The aquarium should come with a soft-screen top for protection and ventilation.
Place Astroturf or reptile carpeting on the bottom of the tank. Astoturf is synthetic carpeting that is made to look like grass. It can be purchased from hardware and pet stores. This substrate is best to use since the frog cannot accidentally swallow it while eating.
Decorate the tank with plastic plants since real plants are hard to keep alive. Fake plants with suction cups are ideal since you can change them around from time to time. Dried moss and hollow rocks are other decorations that can be used.
Clean a tree branch with antibacterial soap. Since you are dealing with a tree frog, you want to provide him with something to climb on.
Freeze the tree branch for 48 hours before placing it in the tank. This will kill any bacteria or parasites that might harm your frog.
Heat the tank using a 15+-watt heat lamp. The lamp needs to be outside the tank and shine through the top enclosure. Placing the lamp in the tank can result in the frog burning himself on it.
Provide a bowl with 1 to 2 inches of dechlorinated water for your frog to soak and defecate in. The bowl should be heavy enough so the frog can't knock it over. The water needs to be cleaned daily.
Feed insects to your tree frog. Frogs are insectivores and eat small insects that easily fit in their mouths. Crickets are easy to breed yourself and you can also purchase them from the pet store.
Clean everything in the tank, and the aquarium itself, once a week. Rinsing and scrubbing with hot water is sufficient. If you use laundry detergent to wash the carpeting, make sure to use cold water to rinse it off completely. Having a second piece of carpeting on hand may be useful. While cleaning the tank, the frog can wait in a small box.
Mist the frog, the tank and everything in it with dechlorinated water on a daily basis. To prevent any bacterial built up, it's best to do this in the morning. This will create the humidity that your frog needs.