Red-eyed Tree Frog Care Guide, Facts & Setup

Overview

The red-eyed tree frog is one of the most famous frogs in the world, thanks to its bright green body, blue and yellow sides, orange feet, and enormous red eyes. It lives in the warm, wet rainforests of Central America, high up among the leaves and branches. It is a tree frog, which means it is arboreal, spending its life climbing and clinging to plants rather than sitting on the ground or swimming.

This frog is beautiful but it is not a pet to handle or to keep with fish. It is a shy, night loving amphibian that needs a tall, humid, planted terrarium that acts like a slice of rainforest. Its sticky toe pads let it grip leaves and glass, and it rests during the day tucked under a leaf, tucking its bright colours away. It comes out at night to hunt insects.

Care level	Moderate, needs a planted rainforest tank
Adult size	2-3 in (5-7 cm)
Lifespan	5 years, sometimes more
Temperament	Shy, nighttime climber, not a fish tankmate
Min. tank	Tall 18 in (45 cm) or higher planted terrarium
Temperature	75-82F (24-28C) day, cooler at night
pH	Not a fish, keep high humidity and clean water
Diet	Insectivore (crickets and other small bugs)
Habitat	Tall, humid, planted rainforest terrarium with branches

What it is and where it comes from

The red-eyed tree frog is an arboreal amphibian from the rainforests of Central America. Arboreal means it lives in trees and plants, high above the forest floor. During the day it sleeps stuck to the underside of a leaf with its eyes closed and its bright colours hidden, looking like a plain green leaf. At night it wakes up to climb and hunt. It is not a fish and cannot live in a water tank.

Tank and water needs

This frog needs a tall, planted terrarium that copies the rainforest, with lots of branches, leaves, and vines to climb. Because it climbs upward, height matters more than floor space. Keep the air warm and very humid, around 75 to 82F (24 to 28C) in the day and cooler at night, and mist the tank often to keep the leaves damp. A shallow, clean water dish gives the frog a place to soak, but it is not a swimming pool.

Diet and feeding

Red-eyed tree frogs are insectivores that hunt at night. They eat crickets and other small insects, usually dusted with vitamins to keep the frog strong. They wait quietly, then snap up bugs that come close. Since they are active in the dark, they are often fed in the evening. Only feed insects that are the right size, no wider than the space between the frog's eyes.

Behaviour and handling

This is a shy, gentle frog that hides by day and climbs by night. Its skin is delicate and soaks up oils and chemicals from our hands, so it should almost never be handled. It is also not safe to keep with fish or other different pets. The red-eyed tree frog is a look-but-do-not-touch animal, best enjoyed by watching it climb and rest in its leafy home.

The startle trick

When the red-eyed tree frog is resting, it hides its bright colours and looks like a green leaf. But if a predator finds it, the frog suddenly pops open its huge red eyes and shows its orange feet and blue sides. This burst of colour, called startle colouration, can surprise the attacker for a split second, just long enough for the frog to leap away to safety.

Fun facts

Red-eyed tree frogs are arboreal, which means they live and climb in trees and plants.
They flash their big red eyes and orange feet to startle predators and escape.
They are active at night and sleep hidden under leaves during the day.
They need a tall, humid, planted terrarium, not a water tank or a fish community.
Their sticky toe pads let them grip leaves and even glass.