Within the Australasian and American family of hylidae, and their sub-family, or taxon, hylinae, there are over 30 species of American treefrog. Hyla cinerea is the green treefrog. A distinctive characteristic of the hyla frogs is that the males have a visible single vocal sac underneath their throat, used particularly to call for females in the breeding season. The sounds the frogs make are loud, and research has shown that some distinct vocal patterns exist for different activities.
The green tree frog inhabits the southern and south-eastern United States. It lives in swamps and marshland, not only in trees and bushes but also tall grass. Mainly nocturnal in the wild, hyla cinerea feeds on insects, chiefly flies and moths. In captivity, green tree frogs are often fed successfully with crickets as well.
Though a bright or mid-green color on its back similar to most tree frogs, sometimes with tiny pale dots interspersed, hyla cinerea has a white stripe that runs along its lip, under its eyes and usually about half-way along its body, often fringed by a dark line above and below the white stripe. A fully grown adult green tree frog reaches a length of around one and a half inches to two inches long.
Tree Frogs as Pets
These attractive frogs are increasingly popular with hobbyists. Hyla cinerea has a reputation for being easier to keep than other tree frogs, and is often recommended for novice keepers. They usually become tame quickly and can be fed by hand, though if they are to be handled for any reason it is best to use wet hands.
For these arboreal frogs, a tall terrarium is most suitable both as a habitat for the frogs and for displaying them. Such a terrarium also lends itself to prospective keepers who have limited space available, especially when one considers that several of these small frogs can be housed in a terrarium that is around two feet high provided that they are well looked after. A large terrarium is preferable, to allow the occupants to spread out and avoid undue competition for food, basking sites, etc.
Moss and leaves are amongst the best substrate materials for the terrarium, and heat pads under the tank are also a suitable heating method in most instances. Lighting can be used to help build heat but with care as the atmosphere inside the tank will be humid. Light also influences the frogs' behavior so some research is advisable if these are new pets for the keeper. A water dish should be provided. The terrarium should be humid but ventilated, a state that is usually maintained by misting the plants with a fine water spray.
Small logs are often advised as useful in a tree frog terrarium, plus large-leaved plants. While artificial plants can be used, tropical rainforest plants such as the philodendron are very well-suited. The frogs like to lie on or often hang under the leaves using the tips of the tree frog's "fingers", which act as suction pads that spread and grip the leaves or often, the side of the terrarium.
Conventional practice is to maintain temperatures of 65F minimum during the day, and a minimum of 55F at night when the frogs are active, during spring and summer. It should be noted that these are minimum temperatures, and the environment should ideally be ten or fifteen degrees higher than these levels. The temperature is normally reduced to around 50F for two months after this, and the amount of food is reduced at the same time to induce hibernation by the tree frogs. When the frogs emerge from hibernation in the spring, this activity will usually stimulate them to breed.
Ian Dutton - My writing is part of my lifelong fascination with all spects of plants and animals. My homepage at Naturepieces explains more. My ...
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