Red Eye Tree Frog
(Agalychnis callidryas)

Red eye tree frogs range from the southern Mexico to eastern Panama. Male red eye tree frois are only 2 to 2½ inches long while female red eye tree frogs are slightly larger at 2½ to three inches long.All red eye tree frogs have their signature red eyes with vertical pupils and a green back and a creamy white belly. Some red eye tree frogs have white spots on their back as well. The feet are yellow to orange in color. Color and size can vary depending on the geographic location the red eye tree frog comes from. Red eye tree frogs from the northern part of the range tend to be slightly smaller with blue display flanks while red eye tree frogs from the southern part of the range tend to be larger but have less colorful display flanks.

Difficulty

NOVICE to MODERATE: The Red eye tree frog's smaller size make it an excellent choice for hobbyists to keep, however red eye tree frogs do require a higher level of maintenance than other reptiles and amphibians.

Requirements

An enclosure, such as:

• Glass or acrylic aquarium (10 gallons or more, depending on the number of red eye tree frogs kept) with a secure lid

Substrate, such as:

• Potting soil
• Orchid Bark

A heating element, such as:

• Under the tank heater
• Incandescent heat bulb
• Ceramic infrared heat emitters

Enclosure

Enclosures should be at least 10-gallons in size for a pair of red eye tree frogs. As a rule, there should be five gallons of aqauium for each red eye tree frog kept. Cage tops should be half glass and half screen to help maintain humidity levels. Enclosures that are taller allow red eye tree frogs places to climb and room for foliage.

Substrate

The substrate should be able to help hold higher humidity levels. A layer of three to five inches of substrate such as orchid bark or potting soil and sphagnum moss can be used. Placing a layer of aquarium gravel below the substrate can provide drainage. Since red eye tree frogs come from a tropical rain forest, a 60% to 70% relative humidity is required. Higher humidity levels can be maintained by regular mistings, appropriate substrate, and by partially cover the cage top. If water droplets begin to form on the glass, the humidity is probably too high. Red eye tree frogs also love to climb on broad-leaf plants such as Philodendron, Anthurium, and Mongtera species.

Heating and Light

Red eye tree frogs should have daytime temperatures of 75°F to 80°F. Nightime temperatures should be 70°F to 75°F. A spotlight with an appropriate wattage incandescnet bulb or ceramic emitter can be used to provide heat. In summer months steps need to be taken to keep the enclosure cool, such as to make sure the enclosure is not in direct sunlight and to circulate the air in the room with a fan or open window. Red eye tree frogs are nocturnal and do not require bulbs to provide UVA or UVB, however if live plants are used a plant grow bulb should be used to keep the plants healthy. An under tank heater can be used to increase the ambient temperature of the enclosure. Many hobbyists will install thermometers or thermostats in the enclsosure to be able to accurately maintain these temperatures.

Diet

Red eye tree frogs are insectivorous. Insects such as crickets, flies, fruit flies, and just about anything smaller than their mouth can be offered. Crickets are usually the easiest and most readily available prey. When offering crickets be usre to gut load the crickets with a good diet to provide the best nutrition for your red eye tree frog. Fresh water should be provided in a dish for the red eye tree frogs because they will rehydrate themselves by soaking in the disk. They will often drink from the water accumulated on the plants from misting as well.