RED-EYED TREE FROGS

We take a closer look at what is possibly the most iconic, and beautiful, frog on the planet.

Red-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas) are, without a doubt, the most iconic and well-known frog on the planet and, some would say, the most beautiful. They are reasonably common and can be found in tropical rainforests from Southern Mexico to the most Northernly points of Colombia.

Red-eyed tree frogs are extremely vibrant in their colouration, and it is believed they’ve looked like this for millions of years. Scientists are still in conflict as to why their flanks are vibrant blue, but it is thought that, should their brilliant stationary green disguise be broken, they can flash their colours to startle a predator before making their escape.

These frogs have been available in the trade for as long as there have been shipments coming out of South America, but only in the last decade have they been routinely captive bred. Back in the 80s and 90s these frogs would often arrive on shipments from South America but, unfortunately, few keepers were able to maintain them for longer than a few weeks or months. This was largely due to them being subjected to bad holding conditions from their country of origin, coupled with occasional delays which would greatly affect delicate amphibian species.

It was not until the species became relatively valuable that exporters could be convinced to keep and pack them more considerately. That being said, red-eyes are so routinely captive bred nowadays that demand by the pet-trade is almost satisfied by this supply. Therefore, pet owners searching for their first pet frog should have no trouble in finding a healthy captive bred specimen from many different shops and breeders across the country.

Of course, all amphibian species could be said to be delicate compared with reptiles, but red-eyes are surprisingly hardy captives once established in the correct set-up. Stuart Worth is an expert breeder who has worked with the species for a number of years. He explains: “they thrive in a well-planted terrarium or paludarium, and live plants are almost essential for their husbandry. Not only do these help provide the essential humidity this species needs, but the leaves also provide perches which red-eyes use in the wild.” Like many tree frogs, red eyes are nocturnal and so will spend most of the day, with their legs tucked in and eyes closed, camouflaging perfectly against the leaves. Stuart added:

“Expecting them to perch on unnatural surfaces is a sure-fire way to cause problems. As such, plants with broad leaves, especially those that overhang a water source are perfect for red-eye tree frogs.” Although they will rarely bathe, providing a body of water within a terrarium is a great way to keep humidity high and give the frog the option to soak should they wish to.

Red-eyed Tree Frogs

Like many tree frogs, red eyes will feed readily on an insect diet in captivity. Whether opting for crickets or locust, these should be dusted in supplements to ensure the frog gets the correct nutritional content. Funnily enough, the red eye tree frogs red eyes assist in their eating habits. As they blink they use their eyes to help push food down their mouth, allowing them to swallow.

A good-sized arboreal terrarium is perfect for these frogs. Despite them rarely exceeding 8.5cm, pet owners should aim for at least 45cm x 45cm x 60cm but larger is always better. Many breeders have successfully bred this species without UV but providing low levels of UVB to simulate wild conditions is sure to be beneficial. Humidity is also key to keeping red-eyes healthy and a misting system is certainly the most effective way of keeping this humidity high. Temperatures should also be kept relatively cool, not exceeding 25°C. This can usually be achieved in a warm home, or with the use of a heat mat on the back of the enclosure.

Stuart continued: “Live plants also play a role in breeding. Eggs are deposited on leaves over a pool of water, with tadpoles sliding out of their eggs and into the water below when they are ready to hatch. Breeding itself is initiated in the wild with a cool, humid rainy season, so breeders will need to replicate these conditions in captivity to be successful. Simulating rainfall is relatively easy nowadays using one of the various mist and spray systems available on the market, but many breeders are convinced that sound plays a key role too. I have set up rain chambers for one colony of frogs, only for the frogs in the non-rainy enclosure next door to begin calling. They could only be responding to the sound of the rain hitting the leaves in the adjacent enclosure. I know several keepers, including myself, who have used rainforest soundtracks to stimulate mating in several species of frogs, red-eyes included.”

With dedicated products being developed to allow people to easily create rain chambers with drainable terrariums, we may see more enthusiasts embarking on new breeding projects over the coming years. Despite red eyed tree frogs being such iconic animals, there are lots of other amphibians that are more readily kept in captivity. Nevertheless, when housed correctly, red eyed tree frogs can make wonderful observation animals.