How Should I Set Up a White's Tree Frog Terrarium?

[Pandamanda111]

Hello!
i am saving up for a larger terrarium for Ollie, my White's tree frog. I want to buy him the Exo-Terra 12x12x18, or if my parents will let me (which I'm 99.99% sure they wont) The 18x18x24.

I want Ollie to be really really happy. How can I set up the perfect WTF habitat? I want to know everything-- how big of a water dish, what kinds of plants/fake plants, terrarium decor, what kind of substrate, what things for him to climb on, etc... Just tell me everything you know! thank you SO much! I want Ollie to be the happiest frog ever! He is such a cutie.
Thanks a ton!
-Pandamanda

[InfinitysDaughter]

If you can convince your parents, the 18x18x24 is the best. I have a 12x12x18 for my Azy and it dosn't seem to be enough space for her.

Either way what you'll need is up space and plenty of it. Large pieces of wood (large enough for him to sit on comfortably) that can be arranged in a horizontal-vertical (more horizontal then vertical but still going slightly up) that he can climb up on. You'll also want hiding places. A good sized broad leaf plant such as a Pathos or similar is good because the vines can be arranged around the wood to make places he can hide in. Azy had a favorite place in her half log I bought from Petsmart (the large one) but I had to throw it away last night because it was covered in mold on the inside. I'm still trying to figure out how that happened but I'd assume it was the lack of breathing room (in the 12x12x18) so the moisture in the substraight soaked right into the wood and created mold. If you can get the larger tank you might be able to avoid the issue and these half logs are really nice little hidy holes for them. And the water dish should be just a bit larger then he is. If you can take a bit of yarn or something and measure how long he is and how wide he is then pic a dish just slightly (no more then half an inch) bigger then he is long (the width should be right if its the right length).

Hope that helps. And I hope you can get the bigger tank. ^w^

[Pandamanda111]

Thank you for that helpful response!

How can you tell it isn't enough space for her
does she not have anything to do?

Where can I get this wood you are talking about? (a link would be fabulous!)

how would I plant the pathos? In a flower pot? And can I use regular fertilizer plant dirt?
What kind of substrate do you use?

I still really like the glass bowl for crickets idea...does anybody know where I can get a bowl like that? I mean, really, why would anybody make a glass bowl that small?

what heat lamp do you use? I just have some purple light bulb from petsmart. I really need to get a hygrometer! I'll do that next time I go to petsmart.

Thank you! Sorry so many questions.

[Pandamanda111]

oh, and should i turn the heat lamp off at night?

[Bolisnide]

Hello Pandamanda! I'm so happy to hear your upgrading Ollie's home. I agree with everything InfinitysDaughter has said...
As far as the heat lamp goes, my white's really dislikes any kind of light (blue, red, purple) at night, darkness is best. If you need heat at night you could get a low wattage ceramic heat emitter (but be careful, these get super hot and can also dry out the enclosure very quickly, and also your Ollie boy!). Or get a UTH heat mat and stick to the side of your tank. Those don't give off much heat, but certainly help at night when a frog likes darkness at night...

Oh, and as far as the wood goes, I just purchased wood that is used for aquariums (I have no idea what type of wood it is), but I'm sure Josh's frogs has a great selection of wood you could get. Josh's Frogs - Largest online herps feeders and reptile supplies store

[Bolisnide]

By the way, have you read this?
Frog Forum - White's Tree Frog Care - Litoria caerulea

[Pandamanda111]

Oh, and ill probably order the coco fiber and leaf litter from Josh's frogs. Could you give me a link to the correct coco fiber on joshsfrogs? It wouldn't let me see it!

[Pandamanda111]

Yes, I asked my mom about upgrading and she was totally okay with it as long as I pay for it and put it in my bedroom! Okay, so I should turn his heat bulb off at night? It will probably get down to 65*F. That ok? I will turn his lights on at 7am and off at 6:30 pm. Sound good?
Is there a size between the 12x12x18 and the 18x18x24? One is too small and the other is huge! I don think mom will let me get the huge one if you know of a size in between let me know

[InfinitysDaughter]

Sorry for lack of reply. Havn't been online. ^^;

I dont think there is a size between the two but the big one, while huge, would give Ollie the most bang for your buck. Petsmart has it on petperks pretty often and you can also try Amazon and craigslist for a cheeper price. Azy has a tendency to bang into the sides of the tank at night when she goes for a cricket or just hops around. Really there is only room in it for her hiddy hole (she prefers to sleep on the floor of the tank rather then up top during the day. dont think its normal but shes happy so eh), her water dish, and the plant (which in reply to an earlier question: DO NOT USE FERTILIZER. its harmful to your frog. If you get a plant from a normal retailer, like walmart or such, then take the plant out of the pot it came in, rinse out the roots carefully but as best as you can making sure that all the white balls of fertilizer and styrofoam are gone. then rinse the pot and the leaves of the plant gently and replant in whats called "eco earth" available threw most pet places, for sure at petsmart. Eco earth is basically coconut compost so the plants will thrive better then if they were in the fertalizer). My plant is currently in its original pot but I think it might be root bound and needs a bigger pot which probably wont fit in the current tank she has.

I think 65 is pushing it. You would be best getting an under tank heater to make sure the temps dont get too low at night. There fairly cheep.

Oh. And wood! Petsmart sells driftwood that has been treated. Fish tank wood and other ornaments are also good (percy, my green, loves this little stone pegoda from the fish isle. if there was one big enough for Azy to get in and out of I'd get one for her too XD). You can also take wild cut limbs, soak them in HOT water for at least an hour then microwave them for about 30 seconds or so (keep an eye on it. when it starts to steam take it out).

[DonLisk]

Here is what he'll look like in the 18x18x24 and he will use all of that space at night :-)



And here is how happy he will be :-)
Whites Tree Frogs at Play 5-24-2011 - YouTube

[S13]

This thread keeps reminding me that I have to stop procrastinating on getting a bigger home and setting it up for my baby. Luckily he's small still so I have some time.

[DonLisk]

This thread keeps reminding me that I have to stop procrastinating on getting a bigger home and setting it up for my baby. Luckily he's small still so I have some time.

Omar, isn't your setup a nice 20 gallon vertical?

[S13]

10 gallon upright. I wish that I could keep that set up but this gives me a reason to build a new one. lol

Plus I can use this already set up 10 gallon to raise another baby until it's big enough to put in with the current one in the future.

[DonLisk]

I understand that. I love building vivs :-)

[Pandamanda111]

Hmmm...the problem is that my mom won't let me get a terrarium that big. She thinks it's rediculous. Would he be okay in the 12x12x18? That's still an upgrade, so that's good. Does another brand make a terrarium that is in between the sizes? I really do want to go a bit larger than 12x12x18.

[Bolisnide]

Zoomed makes an 18x18x18... maybe that size would be OK with your mum?
Ollie could at least have some extra space for hopping. My white's can truly hop pretty far, and I would eventually like to upgrade to a bit larger than what I currently have (which is the 18x18x24 exo-terra).

[S13]

Hmm, that 18x18x18 doesn't look tall, looks like it could do the job though.

[Bolisnide]

Omar, I completely agree that it doesn't look that tall - it's not... but do you feel it's at least a bit better than the 12x12x18? Of course, ideally pandamanda should get at least the 18x18x24, but her mom won't let her go that big

[Bolisnide]

Oh, and ill probably order the coco fiber and leaf litter from Josh's frogs. Could you give me a link to the correct coco fiber on joshsfrogs? It wouldn't let me see it!

Here's the link for substrates at Josh's frogs (sorry, I forgot). You should get the hydroballs for the bottom layer, a screen mesh over top of that (a regular screen material, like that for screen doors, found at Home Depot or the like), then a layer of coco fiber, over top of that some leaf litter.
Don't bother with the chips of bark or coconut, and no moss (unless you hand feed or feed in a glass bowl or separate tank)...

Terrarium Substrate, ABG Substrate, Hydroton | Josh's Frogs

[Pandamanda111]

Great! Thanks a ton! For some reason it won't let me buy coco fiber...any idea why?