How to Set Up a Frog Terrarium

Frogs are becoming more popular on the pet market, especially with increased availability of exotic varieties, such as dart frogs or tree frogs. The most popular frog terrariums are classic half land and half water setups for semi-aquatic frogs and toads, such as leopard frogs or red bellied toads. Most frog species, however, are completely terrestrial after their tadpole stage is over. Nonetheless, setting up a frog terrarium requires a bit of special care to make sure your frog stays healthy and happy.

Things You'll Need

  • Gravel
  • Peat or Coco fiber
  • Moss
  • Mist bottle
  • Thermometer
  • Hydrometer
  • Plants or decorations
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a large, vertically-oriented tank, such as a 20-gallon tall or 29-gallon tank. The added vertical space will provide your frog with lots of room to climb and explore.

    • 2

      Fill the bottom of the tank with two inches of clean, rinsed aquarium gravel.

    • 3

      Top the gravel with an added inch of ground peat or coco fiber.

    • 4

      Carefully fill the tank with just enough water to cover the gravel, but not to soak the coco fiber/peat layer. The water level will have to be monitored to make sure that the earthy layer stays nice and moist.

    • 5

      Cover the earth layer with frog moss, sphagnum moss, or live semi-aquatic moss, such as java. Mosses will help to retain valuable moisture in the terrarium, as well as providing a more natural look to the exhibit. Some mosses will even begin to grow and spread around the terrarium with daily misting.

    • 6

      Place any wood, decorations, or live plants into the terrarium, making sure that your frog will have plenty of places to hide, explore, and hunt. Live plants add beauty to the décor while helping to retain moisture near the bottom of the terrarium.

    • 7

      Place the thermometer and hydrometer in easy to read locations within the terrarium, and hook up any UV lighting your frog may require.

    • 8

      Thoroughly mist everything in the tank at least twice per day to ensure that the humidity stays within the proper range for your frog.