White's Tree Frog Litoria caerulea
The easiest and most forgiving amphibian in the hobby β placid, long-lived and permanently smug-looking. The one real problem is that it eats anything offered, and almost every kept specimen ends up overweight.
βοΈ Legal status Β· Legal to keep
Native to Australia and New Guinea. Not CITES-listed and not a protected species in China. Animals in the trade are captive-bred and legal to keep. Never release it.
Check another species βKey parameters
- Lifespan
- 10-16 years, among the longest-lived amphibian pets
- Adult size
- 7-11 cm, females noticeably larger
- Diet
- Insectivorous. Crickets and dubia roaches dusted with calcium. Two or three feeds a week is enough for an adult
- Temperature
- 24-28 Β°C by day, 20-22 Β°C at night
- Humidity
- 50-70%. More drought-tolerant than most tree frogs, but never sustained below 50%
β Suits you if
First-time amphibian keepers who want a long-lived, low-effort display animal
π« Do not get one if
Anyone who cannot resist feeding daily β obesity is this species' defining health problem
Starter equipment list
Buy all of it before the animal arrives, not after.
- Enclosure: vertical, from 45Γ45Γ60 cm β it is arboreal, so height matters more than floor area
- Climbing structure: thick branches and broad-leaved artificial plants strong enough to hold an adult
- Large water dish it can sit in, filled to belly height when crouched, always dechlorinated
- Substrate: coco coir, reptile carpet or paper towel β avoid fine particles it could ingest
- Heat mat on a side wall plus thermostat, never underneath
- Spray bottle with dechlorinated water, hygrometer, calcium powder
Most common beginner mistakes
- 1 Overfeeding β it always acts hungry, but two or three feeds a week suffices for an adult. Fat pads bulging over the eyes mean it is already overweight
- 2 A horizontal enclosure β an arboreal species in a shallow tank just presses itself against the glass and stops moving
- 3 Using tap water directly β amphibians absorb through the skin and chlorine is lethal. Stand it 24 hours or use a conditioner
- 4 Handling with dry hands β the oils and heat damage their skin. Wet your hands with dechlorinated water first, and handle rarely
- 5 A water dish that is too deep β tree frogs swim poorly, so keep it below belly height when crouched
- 6 Not quarantining new animals β once chytrid spreads, you will lose the whole collection
Common illnesses
| Illness | Common cause | What you'll see |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity | Overfeeding β by far the most common health problem in this species | Pronounced fat pads bulging above the eyes, body outline rounded with no visible waist |
| Red leg | Bacterial infection from poor water quality or dirty substrate | Reddening of the belly and inner thighs, lethargy, refusing food |
| Metabolic bone disease | Feeders not dusted, long-term calcium deficiency | Weak limbs, soft jaw, losing balance when jumping |
| Chytrid fungus | Fungal infection, usually introduced by an unquarantined new animal | Sloughing or abnormally thickened skin, rigid hind legs β extremely contagious, isolate and see a vet immediately |
| Dehydration | Low humidity, an empty water dish, or untreated tap water | Wrinkled dry skin, darkened colour, sluggish responses |
Frequently asked
Is my White's tree frog overweight?
Look above the eyes. A healthy frog has a flat head profile; an overweight one develops obvious fat pads bulging above the eyes, which in severe cases start to obstruct vision. If you see that, cut feeding frequency immediately.
It calls loudly at night β what can I do?
Males call persistently in breeding condition, and it is loud. This is normal physiology and cannot be trained out. If the enclosure shares a room with your bed, think it through in advance.
Can I keep two together?
Similar-sized frogs can be co-housed if the enclosure is large enough, offers multiple perches, and they are fed separately. Never mix noticeably different sizes β the larger will try to swallow the smaller.