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Care Sheet: Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa)

Common Name: Barking Treefrog.

Scientific Name: Hyla gratiosa.

Distribution: Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, & Tennessee.

Size: 5-7cm.

Life Expectancy: 7 years is attainable.

Sexing: The males throats have a loose greenish appearance, males also emit a loud barking call.

Colouration: Bright to dark olive green speckled with light and dark spots, occasionally these spots will be completely absent. In certain areas of their wild distribution they will cross breed with the American Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea).

Requirements: These agile frogs are the largest of the Hyla found in the United States and so require a fairly large terrarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for a group of 4 adults. They require a well-planted woodland type set-up with a substrate of bark chips, topsoil and moss. Furnishings such as logs, cork bark and sturdy leafed plants can be arranged to provide a number of climbing, perching and hiding places. A small water bowl (no deeper than the frog's height at rest) must be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. The water will need to be changed daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water whilst changing the water it is a good idea to visually inspect the tank and remove, clean and replace any soiled items. The tank will need to be heated to a daytime temperature of 25°C with a drop at night to 20°C this can be done with an under-tank heat-mat controlled by a thermostat. It is not advisable to use spot / heat lamps with amphibians and so a separate light source should be provided by the means of a fluorescent UVB tube. Once every two-three weeks the tank and its contents should be completely cleaned and sterilised using an amphibian / reptile friendly disinfectant.

Feeding: For adults a mixture of suitably sized insects including crickets, mini-mealworm, flies, waxworm, small locust, caterpillars and moths should be fed every two-three days. A calcium and vitamin supplement should be used once a week. Young frogs will take hatchling crickets and fruitflies, these should be fed every day and a calcium and vitamin supplement used two-three times a week.

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