How to Breed White's Frogs in Captivity

White's tree frogs are both low maintenance and in high demand, making them a good choice for a breeding project. The frogs reach sexual maturity when they are two years old. If they are healthy, adult frogs can successfully reproduce in captivity. By manipulating the environment of the terrarium, you can simulate a mating season for the frogs. But remember, one female can lay between 800 and 2,000 eggs, so be ready to take care of the tadpoles.

Things You'll Need

  • Rain chamber
  • Submersible water heater
  • Tadpole aquaria
  • Terrariums
  • Crickets and other feeders
  • Fish flakes
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Instructions

  1. Breeding White's Tree Frogs

    • 1

      Examine the frogs to make sure they are ready to mate and that both sexes are available. Gender does not become clear in White's tree frogs until they are a year old. The best way to identify a male frog is by looking for nuptial pads at the base of the thumb on the forearms. These pads are dark brown and have a rough texture. A male frog will also have a swollen, darker-colored vocal sac when it is ready to mate.

    • 2

      Create a winter environment inside the terrarium. Keep the frogs cool and dry for one to two months, maintaining the temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and misting only once or twice a week. Stop feedings for one to two weeks at the end of the cooling period.

    • 3

      Bring up the temperature slowly, raising it to 80 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of one to two weeks. Mist and feed the frogs every day.

    • 4

      Move the frogs into a rain chamber when they begin calling to each other. The rain chamber is an aquarium with a pump system across the top that cycles water and releases it through small holes to simulate rainfall. Turn the pump on for five to eight hours each night. Place a submersible aquarium heater inside the tank to keep the water temperature at about 85 degrees. Also add some driftwood and branches for frog perches.

    • 5

      Leave the frogs inside the rain chamber for about a week. If the female lays eggs, you will see the eggs on the surface of the water. If you don't see any eggs, you will have to try the conditioning cycle again.

    • 6

      Return the adult frogs to their regular habitat and feed them heavily for two to six weeks.

    Caring for Tadpoles

    • 7
      Developing tadpole

      Keep the water temperature inside the rain chamber between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Tadpoles usually hatch from the eggs in 36 to 48 hours.

    • 8

      Move the tadpoles into a filtered aquarium after two to three days, when they begin swimming around.

    • 9

      Feed the tadpoles a helping of fish flakes two to three times every day.

    • 10

      Change the water frequently to maintain cleanliness. Get rid of uneaten food, fecal matter and dead tadpoles.

    • 11

      Move the tadpoles again when they begin developing forearms. This usually takes four to six weeks. Froglets will thrive in a terrarium with shallow water, paper towel substrate and potted plants. A 10-gallon terrarium can accomodate 25 froglets for the first week, but they will need more room as they grow.