Description: An attractive nocturnal tree frog, widespread and abundant east of the Andes in South America. Two subspecies are known which differ in color pattern. Dorsal coloration varies from the normal bright green to brownish. Tiger-striped markings are visible when they are moving behind the arms, legs and lower sides. The belly is whitish. Adult size of the male is about 1 ½", females are about ½" larger. These slender amphibians are called monkey frogs because they don‘t hop much, but instead climb about using their hands and fingers in a way similar to monkeys.

Temperature: Daytime around 77° to 85°F, with a slight drop at night.

Humidity: Moderately high, around 60 to 75%. A humidity gradient throughout the enclosure is preferred.

Lighting: Plant grow lights are necessary for the live plants in a forest habitat, use a timer to simulate the tropics, 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: Small crickets and fruit flies are fine as a staple diet but a variety of other appropriately sized insects should be offered. A good vitamin/mineral supplement should be given twice a week for adults and more often for young, growing frogs.

Clean water must be available at all times and they need to be able to get in and out of it easily to avoid drowning.

Habitat: A ten-gallon tank with a secure ventilated top will work for a pair but a larger and taller tank would be more suitable. A savanna forest should be created with plants and branches to climb on and hide among. A good-sized water area with overhanging plants will facilitate breeding. These frogs can be seen actively roaming about their enclosure at night. During the day, they will sleep on plant leaves, branches or the glass.

Sexing: Males call and are smaller and thinner than females.

Breeding: Cycle them first by keeping the enclosure dryer and feeding them well for a month or so. Then stimulate the rainy season with heavy misting or use a "rain chamber" for best results. The 30 to 80 eggs will be laid on plant leaves (folded into a funnel) overhanging the water. Eggs must not be incubated in water but instead, keep them at high humidity, suspended over water in a tank without the frogs being present.

The eggs hatch in about 10 days and the tadpoles will drop down into the water. It should be filtered and not be too deep. They can be fed tropical fish food flakes, algae flakes, live or frozen blood worms etc. Keep the temperature around 77°F and they should metamorphose in 10 to 12 weeks at which time they need easily accessible land areas. Keep the froglets under the same conditions as the adults and feed them tiny insects.

ENJOY YOUR PET LIFE FORMS, Dave & Donna