Kassina (Running Frog)

Age: Up to 10 years
Origin: Africa
Length: 6 to 8 centimeters
This species is grey-brown to green in color and has a leopard-like pattern of dark brown to black spots on its back and legs. On the inside of the legs, you can find a bright red color that serves to deter enemies when the frog jumps away. On the belly, it has a white color with rough skin.

Care
Experience: Beginner frog keeper
Food: Insects
Feeding adults: 3 times per week
Feeding young: Daily
Water bowl: Yes
Water change: Daily

Diet
The tree frog's menu includes insects such as crickets, flies, moths, small grasshoppers, and fruit flies. It is best to feed these insects live to encourage hunting; this is beneficial for the animals' health. Remove uneaten prey to prevent the resting frogs from being disturbed or harmed. The best time to feed the frogs is after daylight has faded, as they become active then.

To compensate for a calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency in captivity, the prey animals can be dusted with vitamins and minerals; these can be purchased at a pet store.

Water
A water bowl the size of a quarter of the terrarium is recommended. The depth should be 5 centimeters. Ensure that the frogs can easily climb out of the water by placing a branch in it for them to climb up. Change this water daily or place a pump with a filter in the water section.

Cleaning
Keeping the terrarium clean is very important. The water in the water bath must be changed daily, as tree frogs often use the water as a toilet. Inspect the terrarium daily, remove dirty furnishings, clean them, and put them back. The entire terrarium and interior must be cleaned several times a year. If disinfectants are necessary for cleaning (use only mild variants), rinse everything thoroughly and dry. This prevents the frog's sensitive skin from coming into contact with chemicals.

Handling
The frog should be handled as little as possible, as otherwise you will damage the skin; even a small amount of salt on our hands can irritate the skin. If necessary, you can catch them by letting them walk into a container without using your hands.

Housing
Minimum enclosure size for a pair: 60x45x90 centimeters
Daytime temperature: 24 to 27 degrees Celsius
Nighttime temperature: 22 to 23 degrees Celsius
Light hours: 12 hours per day
Lighting: If you wish to hang UVB lamps near the animals, use a maximum of 2.5% UVB and not higher. This can harm your animals.
Humidity level: 50 to 70%
Substrate: Moisture-retaining covering such as hydro granules topped with bark, peat chips, and flat stones. This can be covered with live moss.

Setup
The terrarium must feature many robust, large-leaved plants. Sturdy branches are also needed for climbing. Ensure that these branches are free of splinters, as the animals can injure themselves on them. The frogs can hide under sheets of cork bark or hollowed-out logs.

Behavior
Hunting method: At night, at dusk, it hunts insects.
Lifestyle: Nocturnal
Character
During the day, the frog rests and often burrows into the moist soil to do so. When dusk falls, it wakes up and goes hunting for insects.

Points of attention
To maintain humidity levels, it is important to spray the enclosure daily or to install an automatic spraying system.

Costs and Purchase
Legislation:

One-off costs: These include the costs for the enclosure, lighting, heating, water bowl, and decoration. This can cost anywhere from a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros in total. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.

Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the cost of food, which is a few tens of euros per year.

Unexpected costs: Costs are incurred if your snake happens to get sick or your equipment breaks down.