Description

Leaf frogs are a wonderfully adapted subgroup of neotropical hylid frogs. The red eyed tree frog has taken the pet industry by storm. Normally it has a green dorsum, but the shade of green is variable by temperature, other stresses, as well as the frog’s activity level. The dorsal color may be a dull olive green when the tree frog is cold or dry. A dark forest green may be assumed when the frog is resting, or if climatic conditions are ideal and the frog is actively foraging, it may be a brilliant leaf green. The flanks are blue barred with white or light yellow. The toes and fingers are orange. The belly is white. Red eyes have large and well developed toe pads and are adapt at both leaping and walking through their elevated homes. The irises are deep red and the pupils are vertically elliptical. This frog is now available in xanthic (creamy yellow with yellow eyes) and albino (yellow with red eyes) morphs. Red eyed tree frogs are nocturnal. Males produce their nonmelodious usually single- syllabled calls while sitting on pond edge vegetation.

Size and Lifespan

Adults range at 2 to 2 ½ inches. This very pretty tree frog may live for more than 10 years in captivity.

Natural Range

This tree frog, perhaps the most readily recognized tree frog in the world, ranges from Southern Mexico through Panama. There is a possibility that it occurs in Northern Columbia as well.

Captive Care
The caging for one or two red eyes can be as simple or complex as you choose. A ten gallon tank with a damp paper towel on the bottom and containing a small potted philodendron or schleffera will suffice, but a properly planted terrarium with a small waterfall or pond is more aesthetically pleasing. Red eyes are quite at home with a relatively dry substrate and a small dish of clean water. Keep the cage clean. A lack of absolute cleanliness will most assuredly transmit lethal pathogens to your leaf frog. Red eyes are nocturnal. They usually sleep soundly, scrunched down, eyes tightly closed, and feet drawn beneath them, by day, the frogs will awaken and hunt at night. They can hop, but often walk slowly in a hand over hand manner. In most cases a screen top that allows ventilation is more satisfactory than a glass top. Proper cage humidity should be maintained by misting the cage as necessary. Tanks of 29 – 100 galloon capacity lend themselves particularly well to naturalistic settings. Crickets, waxworms, butterworms, and most other insects are all avidly eaten. For adult frogs, the insects should be dusted with vitamin D3 calcium powder once every week.

Breeding

Red eyed tree frogs have a specialized reproductive biology. While being amplexed by a male, a female deposits her egg clusters on a leaf overhanging standing water. The red eyed female will often fold the leaf over the clutch, thus preventing some desiccation. The egg masses are contained within a gelatinous outer coating. The tensile strength of the gelatin deteriorates over time and at, or shortly following hatching, the tadpoles wriggle free and drop into the water where they continue to live their lives in what we call a typical manner. Red eyed tree frogs usually breed following a period of semi dormancy or dry season rest. Males vocalize in short, coarse, “chuckling” notes to draw females to the sites. Rising temperatures, increasing photoperiod, and higher humidity stimulate breeding. Clutches contain from 15 to about 60 eggs. One female can lay several clutches in one season. Normal room temperature is satisfactory for the incubation of the eggs of these tropical lowland frogs. Red eyed tree frog tadpoles will eat large quantities of good-quality fish food. The time period from hatching to metamorphoses is nearly two months. Feed them insects often in order to keep them healthy.