Classification
Order: anura
Family: hylidae
Genus: litoria
Species: litoria caerulea
Habitat
The Australian green tree frogs, as the name suggests, are native to Australia and the south of New Guinea. They can be found both in northern and in eastern regions of Australia; its range extends from the Kimberley region through the Northern Territory and Queensland to north and central New South Wales. This species has been introduced to the USA and New Zealand.
They are often found on trees near water bodies, but can also live quite far from water. They can be found in swamps and grasslands. They often live close to people; during the hottest season they can be seen in houses in search for water.
Outward appearance
The Australian green tree frog reaches 10-15 cm in length. Females are slightly larger than males.
They have golden-colored eyes with horizontal pupils. The legs are short and end with webbed toes. At the end of toes there are adhesive discs that enable the frogs to climb trees. The color varies depending on the temperature and the terrain from grey-green to emerald green. Some frogs have white spots on their backs. As the name suggests, it is an arboreal species. During the mating season males call in order to attract females and advertise their location.
Character
Australian green tree frogs are very docile and they are not afraid of people. It is a nocturnal species; they come out at dawn to call and hunt for food. During the day they hide in damp and dark areas where it is cool. Their skin exudes a waxy coating that helps prevent evaporation. They are hardy and easy to keep and this makes them perfect pets for beginners.
Maintenance care
Australian green tree frogs need a vertical aquatic tank at least 40×20×50 cm for two specimens. The tank should be equipped with local heating: a filament lamp or a reflector above the ground. At night heating is not necessary, room temperature would do.
The temperature at the basking spot should be around 30-32°С at daytime, and the ambient temperature around 23-28°С at daytime and 18-23°С at night. The water temperature has to be around 22-24°С.
You will have to place in the tank driftwood and logs where frogs can hide during the day. You can also have real plants: orchids, small figs, pothos, philodendron etc. For substrate (ground area) you can use a 4-5 cm thick layer of drainage covered with 10 cm thick level of soil with some moss on it. If you are not planning to have real plants, you can use for substrate coconut husks covered with sphagnum.
You will have to mist your tank daily with warm water, since sphagnum has to be damp at all times. Australian green tree frogs can be kept in groups.
Feeding
The menu of the Australian green tree frog mainly consists of various insects such as moth, crickets, locusts etc. They also eat spiders and smaller frogs.
In captivity adult frogs are fed with crickets, cockroaches, superworm, pinky mice. Young frogs eat smaller crickets, bloodworms and cockroaches. Tadpoles mainly eat daphnia, cut bloodworms and sludge worms as well as commercial dry feed. Tadpoles and young frogs have to be fed daily. Adult frogs can be fed every second day. They should get mineral supplements and vitamins together with food.
Features
The secretion from the paratoid gland of these frogs contains twenty-five caerins (peptides with antibacterial and antiviral properties). The secretions also contain caeruleins, which have the same physiological effects as a digestive hormone and hunger suppressant. These caeruleins now have a number of clinical applications. Several peptides from the skin secretions of the green tree frog have been found to destroy HIV without harming healthy T.cells.
Diseases
Australian green tree frogs are prone to obesity, so you shouldn’t overfeed them. Some frogs get fungal infections which leads to the fatal amphibian disease chytridiomycosis.
Average life span in captivity is 16-20 years.
Breeding
Breeding occurs between November and February. During the mating season, the males call from slightly elevated positions close to the still-water sources in which they choose to breed. Clumps of between two hundred and two thousand eggs are laid which initially float, but sink within twenty-four hours. The development of the tadpoles takes about six weeks, after which they undergo metamorphosis and leave the water as juvenile frogs.
