Dryophytes gratiosus (Barking Tree Frog)

Age: 10 to 15 years
Origin: Southeast America
Length: Up to 7 centimeters
The barking tree frog can be recognized by its deep green color with round black spots on the back and a white flank stripe bordered in black that extends to below the eyes and the upper lip. The color can vary from light to dark green.

Care
Experience: Beginner frog keeper
Food: Insectivore
Feeding adults: Every 3 days
Feeding young: Daily
Water bowl: Water bath 5 to 7 cm deep
Water change: Daily

Diet
The barking 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, which 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
Offer the frogs a water bath approximately 5 to 7 cm deep for them to bathe in. The water temperature should be 24 to 26 degrees Celsius. The water can be heated using heating cables or an aquarium heater. The water bowl should occupy about a quarter of the enclosure.

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 required 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 2 frogs: 45x45x60 centimeters
Daytime temperature: 22-26 degrees Celsius
Nighttime temperature: 20-24 degrees Celsius
Light hours: 12 to 14 hours per day
Humidity: 70-90%
Substrate: Moisture-retaining covering such as hydro granules topped with bark, peat plates, and flat stones. This can be covered with live moss.

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
The terrarium must contain 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
Barking tree frogs rest in trees during the day, but can also be found on the ground during the day in puddles or in low vegetation along the water's edge. When the animals are not hunting at night, they sit on branches and leaves of trees. During rain, the frogs may also be active during the day.

Points of attention
In the spring, barking tree frogs may also croak at night, which can keep you awake. This lasts for about 5 to 6 weeks.

Costs and Purchase
Legislation: -

One-off costs: the cost of the animal and the enclosure.

Fixed costs: food and clean bedding. Unexpected costs: veterinary costs should the animal become ill.