Hyperolius (African Reed Frog)

Age: Average around 5 years
Origin: Sub-Saharan Africa
Length: Up to 4 centimeters
Reed frogs come in many colors and patterns. Usually, the back is green or brown with red, yellow, white, or blue markings, and the belly is white or yellowish with red or yellow adhesive pads. As they get older, they change color, which usually becomes brighter.

Care:
Experience: Beginner frog keeper
Food: Small insects
Feeding adults: Crickets 3 times a week
Feeding young: Fruit flies daily
Water bowl: Yes
Water change: Daily

Nutrition
The diet of the African reed frog consists of small insects. Crickets can be given as the main food, alternating with fruit flies and moths. They have a large appetite and will eat anything smaller than their own head. Fruit flies are suitable food for young animals. It is also important that you supplement the food well with vitamin and mineral supplements. Various powders for this purpose are available for purchase at specialized pet stores.

Water
The terrarium must be equipped with a water section; this should occupy a quarter to a third of the terrarium and be between 5 and 10 centimeters deep. It is important that the water temperature is around 23 degrees Celsius. A pump can help maintain humidity levels and also keeps the water fresh for longer.

Cleaning
You actually only need to completely clean your frog's enclosure once a month. Turning over the substrate every few days or once a week and cleaning up any droppings you find is sufficient. The water in the water bath must be changed daily if there is no filter attached. With a filter, the entire water can be changed once a week.

Handling
Since frogs breathe through their skin, it is not recommended to touch them with bare hands, as this can damage the skin by allowing them to absorb substances. If you need to catch them, it is best to let them walk or jump into a container so that you do not have to touch them. Should you still need to handle them with your hands, ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly with water only; soap can damage their skin.

Housing
Minimum enclosure size: For 2 to 4 frogs, a terrarium of 80x40x50 cm
Daytime temperature: 24-28 degrees Celsius
Nighttime temperature: 18-24 degrees Celsius
Light hours: 12 hours
Humidity: 70-70% for 8 months and 80-100% for the other 4 months
Water temperature: 23%
Substrate: Moisture-retaining substrate. Coco husk/cocopeat is best, but regular potting soil is also acceptable. Sphagnum moss is not recommended, as the animals can swallow it and become constipated. Regular moss, however, can be used. Ensure the substrate is slightly damp, but not soaking wet. If you take a handful of substrate and can squeeze a few drops of water out of it, it is fine.

Lighting: If you want to hang UVB lamps for frogs, use a maximum of 2.5% UVB and no higher. This can harm your animals.

Setup
A water section is important for the terrarium setup; you can place floating plants or reed stalks along the sides to mimic their natural environment. This type of frog also likes to climb, so you can place plants with large leaves and branches in the terrarium for this purpose. Hollowed-out logs or cork bark are suitable for hiding. However, make sure that all furnishings are free of splinters or small twigs that the animals could injure themselves on.

The frogs love bright white light; you can use daylight lamps for this. To achieve the desired temperature and provide the animals with a place to bask, a spotlight can be placed in the terrarium. Furthermore, ensure good ventilation in the terrarium; this can be done by placing mesh at the top and front. Behavior
Lifestyle: Nocturnal
Character
The African Reed Frog is nocturnal, hunting for food, and during the mating season, they go in search of a partner. During the day, they rest and bask in the sun on leaves.

Points of attention
The males can croak very loudly during the breeding season.

Costs and Purchase
Legislation: No CITES or transfer papers are required to own the African Reed Frog.

One-time costs: These include the costs for the terrarium, terrarium lighting, hiding places, and decoration. This can amount to a few hundred 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 reed frog happens to get sick or your equipment breaks down.