Leslie Massey
The White's tree frog, also known as the dumpy tree frog, is native to northern and eastern Australia and the island of New Guinea. These frogs are a popular choice for pets due to their docile nature and tolerance for handling. As they are insectivores, their diet consists primarily of insects such as crickets, cockroaches, and worms. In captivity, their diet may include commercially available insects, and it is important to ensure they do not overeat, as they can become obese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Primary Source of Food | Insects |
| Most Common Food | Crickets |
| Other Food Options | Waxworms, mealworms, dubia roaches, hornworms, phoenix worms, earthworms or nightcrawlers |
| Occasional Food | Pink mice |
| Cannibalistic | Yes |
| Feeding Frequency for Adults | Every two to three days |
| Feeding Frequency for Babies | Every one to two days |
| Feeding Frequency for Sub-adults | Every one to two days |
| Additional Diet Requirements | Calcium and vitamins to be added to the food |
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What You'll Learn
Crickets are the main staple
Crickets should be gut-loaded with calcium and vitamins to prevent nutritional diseases such as metabolic bone disease, which is common in captive frogs. This is because frogs need calcium to metabolise, and a lack of calcium can lead to chronic deficiencies.
Other insects can be offered to the frog, including waxworms, mealworms, dubia roaches, hornworms, phoenix worms, earthworms, and nightcrawlers. These should be placed in a shallow ceramic dish or offered by hand using tweezers, tongs, forceps, or chopsticks. Make sure the hand-feeding tool has a plastic-coated or blunted tip to prevent cuts or damage to the frog's mouth.
While insects are the primary source of food for white tree frogs, adults may occasionally eat pink mice. However, this is not a necessary addition to their diet.
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Other insects include waxworms, mealworms, and earthworms
Australian white tree frogs are insectivores, with insects forming the primary source of food for this species. Crickets are the main staple, but other insects can be included in their diet, such as waxworms, mealworms, and earthworms. Waxworms and mealworms are very high in fat, so care must be taken with portion sizes to avoid overfeeding and significant health problems.
Waxworms are the larvae of the wax moth and are a good source of protein and energy for white tree frogs. They are typically fed to the frogs when they are in their larval stage, as this is when they are most nutritious. Mealworms, on the other hand, are the larvae of darkling beetles. They are also a good source of protein and can be fed to the frogs either alive or dead.
Earthworms, or nightcrawlers, are another important food source for white tree frogs. They provide a good source of nutrition and can be easily found in the wild or purchased from pet stores. They are typically fed to the frogs alive, as part of a varied diet.
When feeding these insects to white tree frogs, it is important to place them in a shallow ceramic dish or offer them by hand using tweezers, tongs, or chopsticks. This is to prevent the frog from accidentally ingesting something harmful, such as sharp pieces of metal or plastic. It is also important to gut-load the insects with calcium and vitamins to prevent nutritional diseases and promote proper bone growth.
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Calcium and vitamins should be added to food
Calcium and vitamins are essential additions to the diet of Australian white tree frogs. They are insectivores, and their primary food sources include crickets, cockroaches, earthworms, silkworms, slugs, moths, mealworms, wax worms, and more. However, the high-fat content of mealworms and wax worms means they should be fed sparingly to avoid health issues.
All insects should be treated with calcium and vitamins to prevent nutritional diseases. This can be done through gut-loading or dusting before feeding. Calcium is necessary to prevent metabolic bone disease, a common condition in captive frogs caused by chronically low calcium diets.
Gut-loading involves feeding the insects a calcium-rich diet before offering them to the frogs. Insects can be gut-loaded with calcium supplements or by feeding them calcium-rich foods such as dark, leafy greens. This process ensures that the frogs receive the necessary calcium for bone growth and overall health.
Dusting is another effective method of adding calcium and vitamins to the frog's diet. It involves gently dusting the insects with calcium and vitamin powder before placing them in the food dish. This method ensures that the frogs receive direct calcium and vitamin supplementation with each meal.
In addition to calcium, providing a good source of UV light is crucial for captive frogs. UV lights enable frogs to metabolise calcium effectively. Without adequate UV lighting, frogs are at risk of developing metabolic bone disease due to their inability to process calcium efficiently. Therefore, it is recommended to provide UV lighting or access to natural sunlight to promote healthy bone development and overall well-being in Australian white tree frogs.
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Feed babies daily, sub-adults 2-3 times a week, and adults once a week
The dietary requirements of baby, sub-adult, and adult White's tree frogs differ. Baby White's tree frogs should be fed daily, while sub-adults should be fed every one to two days, and adults should be fed every two to three days.
White's tree frogs are primarily insectivores. Crickets are the main staple of their diet, but they can also eat waxworms, mealworms, dubia roaches, hornworms, phoenix worms, earthworms, or nightcrawlers. Insects should be gut-loaded with calcium and vitamins to prevent nutritional diseases such as metabolic bone disease, which is common among captive frogs. Additionally, other feeder insects can be kept in the food dish, but owners should ensure that the frog is finding and eating them.
Baby frogs should be fed with food dusted with calcium and vitamins daily. For sub-adults, this should be done two to three times a week, and for adults, once a week.
While rodents and mince meats can be fed to adult frogs occasionally, these foods are not a necessary addition to their diet, as they cope poorly with high-protein diets and can develop kidney disease.
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Avoid rodents and mince meats
Australian tree frogs are insectivores and eat various live insects in the wild. Crickets are the main staple of their diet, but they also eat waxworms, mealworms, dubia roaches, hornworms, phoenix worms, and earthworms or nightcrawlers.
The feeding of rodents and mince meats should be avoided in tree frogs, as they cope poorly with high-protein diets and can develop kidney disease. In addition, it is important to treat all insects with calcium via gut-loading before feeding them to the frogs. This is to prevent nutritional diseases such as metabolic bone disease, which is common among captive frogs.
Australian tree frogs are native to northern and eastern Australia and the island of New Guinea. They are nocturnal and often spend the day sleeping, avoiding the hottest and driest times of the day. They are long-lived, with some species reaching 20 years of age and growing up to 14cm in length. They are also quite docile and will tolerate handling, making them a good choice for beginners.
In captivity, Australian tree frogs require a glass or mesh enclosure that is tall and provides plenty of climbing opportunities. The enclosure should be sealed and escape-proof, with a tight-fitting lid to prevent the frog from escaping and to maintain adequate airflow. The temperature and humidity in the enclosure should be carefully regulated, and a basking light or heat pad can be used to maintain a daytime temperature range of 72 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian white tree frogs are insectivores and primarily eat crickets, cockroaches, earthworms, silkworms, slugs, moths, mealworms, and wax worms.
Australian white tree frog babies and sub-adults should be fed every one to two days. Adults should be fed every two to three days.
Crickets can be added directly to the cage. Other foods should be placed in a shallow ceramic dish or offered by hand using tweezers, tongs, forceps, or chopsticks.
Yes, overfeeding wax worms and mealworms can lead to significant health problems as these insects are very high in fat. Rodents and mince meats should also be avoided as tree frogs cope poorly with high-protein diets and can develop kidney disease. Additionally, tap water should be avoided as it may contain chlorine and heavy metal additives that can be dangerous to frogs.
