Description: A very agile nocturnal tree frog from the South American (Payamino) rainforests. The basic color is a mottled brown and some individuals may have black spots. Attractive blue and black tiger stripes on the sides and thighs plus pointy calcars on their heels are the distinguishing features. Wide color changes occur with the temperature and the amount of light they are exposed to. Males are around 1 ½" to 1 ¾" in size, females are about ½" or so larger.

Temperature: 75° to 80°F daytime, 5° to 10°F cooler at night.

Humidity: High humidity should be provided, approximately 70 to 80% is good.

Lighting: Plant grow lights are necessary for the live plants in a jungle habitat, use a timer to simulate the tropics, average 12 hours on / 12 hours off. Seasonal day length fluctuations are not needed but could help to stimulate breeding. A dim night light is required for viewing nocturnal activities.

Feeding: Crickets are the main staple diet along with fruit flies and small mealworms plus various other small insects when available. Dusting food items with a supplement (twice a week for adults and more often for young frogs) is good husbandry and will help keep them healthy. Clean water must be provided at all times.

Habitat: A ten-gallon tank will work for a pair but a larger and taller tank would be more suitable. Provide climbing branches and sturdy plants to make an arboreal jungle habitat. They will also walk around on the ground hunting and going about their business. A good-sized water area can provide a place for egg deposition.

Sexing: Males are smaller and have a very low call repeated in quick intervals.

Breeding: In their natural habitat there is a slightly cooler, dry season and then a warmer, wet season that signals breeding time. This cycle must be simulated to induce breeding. Slightly cooler/drier and an hour or two shorter days plus a bit less food makes up the "dry" season. Then, gradually increase the temperature, humidity, day length and feed them very well (give extra supplement also) for a few weeks. Simulating the "wet" season is the most important step. Some breeders use a separate "rain chamber", where a pump continuously recirculates water, spraying the tank down for most of the night. Breeding should occur in less than a week but if it doesn’t, go back to feeding them well and try again in another week. Females can lay as many as 1200 eggs, usually on the water surface film. They take about 3 days to hatch. Tadpoles can be raised together and fed with fish food flakes, algae, frozen blood-worms, etc.

ENJOY YOUR PET LIFE FORMS, Dave & Donna