The white-lipped tree frog is a bright green color with distinctive white lips. It is the largest tree frog in the world,1 so it’s also called the giant tree frog. Since it can grow to 5 inches in length, it requires a larger terrarium than most other types of frogs and is considered an intermediate-level pet.
It is carnivorous, requires adequate lighting and steady heat levels, and is arboreal, which means it likes to climb on top of things to survey its home. Read on to determine whether the white-lipped tree frog is a suitable pet for your requirements and to learn what you need to keep one and ensure that it is happy and healthy.
Quick Facts About White-Lipped Tree Frogs
Species Name:
Nyctimystes infrafrenatus
Family:
Pelodryadidae
Care Level:
Intermediate
Temperature:
75°F
Temperament:
Docile
Color Form:
Leaf green with white lips
Lifespan:
10 years
Size:
3–5 inches
Diet:
Insects
Minimum Tank Size:
15” x 15” x 20”
Tank Set-Up:
Tank, branch, heat mats, thermostat, UVB light, water dish
Compatibility:
Can live with other frogs
White-Lipped Tree Frog Overview
Image By: Kurit afshen, Shutterstock
The white-lipped tree frog is a large tree frog that originates from Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its size and arboreal nature have earned it the name of the giant tree frog. It can be found in most areas where trees are abundant, including rainforests and wet forests. It may also be found in parks, fields, and some gardens. The species is not considered endangered because it is found in many different regions and has adapted to various climates and living conditions.
These tree frogs live up to 10 years, are relatively low maintenance, and can be handled minimally. This combination makes them quite popular as amphibian pets. However, they do grow large, which means that they require a big enclosure. They also need live feedings, and it is almost impossible to sex a tree frog accurately, which means that many captive breeding programs tend to be unsuccessful.
The frog can be handled, but only minimally, and you must wash your hands before and after handling it. Handling should be kept to a minimum because as with most amphibians, too much human contact can stress them out and make them ill.
How Much Do White-Lipped Tree Frogs Cost?
White-lipped tree frogs are not expensive. You should be able to buy one for around $15. However, the vivarium and equipment will be the greatest expenses, and you should expect to pay around $200 for a decent setup and initial food. You may also be able to get specialist reptile or exotic pet insurance, which costs a few dollars per month and will ultimately keep vet and medication costs down.
Typical Behavior & Temperament
Image By: Anneka, Shutterstock
Too much handling can be stressful for most amphibians, but the white-lipped tree frog is slightly more open to being handled. It will happily get on with its business in the terrarium, regardless of your proximity, but you should only handle the frog every other day for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time. Don’t forget to wash your hands before and afterward.
Appearance & Varieties
The white-lipped tree frog has a distinctive look. It has a green color that is common in a lot of species of tree frogs. This is designed to match the color of leaves and enables the frog to blend into a leaf to avoid being spotted by predators. This species is so named because it has white lips. In fact, a white stripe runs down the entire lower jaw and the side of the frog’s head. During mating season, the frog might adopt a salmon-pink color on its arms. Tadpoles are dark brown and have a cream stripe on the head.
It is Australia’s largest native frog and is widely credited with being the world’s largest species of tree frog. Generally, the female of the species is slightly larger than the male, but it is difficult to sex this frog, and size difference is not a guarantee.
How to Take Care of White-Lipped Tree Frogs
Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup
Image Credit: Michal Sloviak, Shutterstock
The breed is considered relatively easy to care for. To ensure your amphibian pet has everything it needs, you will require the following.
Tank
The so-called giant tree frog does grow quite large and can reach a length of 5 inches. As such, your tree frog will require a terrarium at least 15” x 15” 20”. The tree frog is arboreal and will need vertical branches and elevation to stay happy and content. A glass terrarium is better than wood and other materials because the glass does a good job of letting heat out and ensuring that the tank is a good temperature.
Decoration
Although the frog doesn’t need any decorations, they do require branches. Offer pieces of wood, branches, and vines. These will offer vertical space for your frog, enabling them to climb up and survey their tank and their home. You can use fake plants for a natural look or use wooden ornaments for a more decorative finish.
Heating
Image By: Michele Dale, Pixabay
The giant tree frog needs a tank temperature of approximately 75° F. If you have a glass tank, you can get this temperature by placing a heat mat on the side. This will also ensure that there is a heat gradient within the tank, meaning one side is hot while the other side is comparatively cooler. This enables the frog to swap to a cooler section and regulate its temperature. You can place a basking bulb, but the temperature should not go more than a couple of degrees above the 75°F desired temperature.
Lighting
Jungle animals require UVB light to mimic their natural habitat. While they may live under the cover of tree canopies, they would still get a lot of UVB light naturally. Offer a UV tube or compact light to ensure that your white-lipped frog can adequately synthesize the required vitamin D.
Do White-Lipped Frogs Get Along With Other Pets?
The white-lipped frog is considered a docile amphibian and will usually get along with others of its own kind. Since it is so difficult to tell the male and female of the species apart, there are no limitations to the number that you keep together. Just ensure that they have enough room, plenty of oxygen, and the climbing and living space that each frog requires.
You can also keep the giant tree frog with other species of frogs, though you must ensure that the other species are considered sociable. The White’s tree frog, for example, is considered suitable for living with other species while it is young but will attack smaller frogs when it gets older. While this doesn’t include the white-lipped tree frog, which will be the largest in a tank, it could still lead to animosity.
What to Feed Your Giant Tree Frog
Image By: Richard Malo, Pixabay
The giant tree frog is carnivorous. It should be fed a diet of live foods, primarily insects, which should be high in protein. Crickets and hoppers are common food sources. Mealworms and other types of worms can be offered occasionally as treats and to provide diversity in the diet.
The live food that you serve should be gut-loaded. This means feeding the live food a nutrient-rich supplement before giving it to your frog. If you buy live food from a pet store or another source, it may come gut-loaded, but you will need to continue the process at home. If you breed the insects, you will obviously have to take on the mantle of gut-loading nutrients yourself.
Mist the tank every morning, and this will help provide the water that your frog requires. You should also provide a water bowl that can be used to offer a source of fresh water for your little one.
Keeping Your White-Lipped Tree Frog Healthy
Image By: Pixabay
Like most frogs, the breed can become obese with overfeeding, so monitor the amount you serve. If you offer pinkies, ensure that you only do so once a month. Feed small frogs every 2 days. Feed large frogs slightly less than this, so every 2 or 3 days.
Ensure that you keep the tank at the right temperature. If it gets too hot, it can lead to dehydration and other problems for your frog. If you provide a water bowl, it should be shallow because this species of frog is a poor swimmer.
Mist the substrate in the morning and dampen it to raise the humidity level in the tank and ensure a healthy living environment. The humidity level should be maintained between 60% and 70%.
You should avoid feeding the tree frog wild insects that you have caught. They could make the frog ill. It is necessary to keep the terrarium clean too, to prevent bacteria and other unwanted visitors from causing illness.
Breeding
The frog will reach sexual maturity by the age of 2. Differentiating sexes is difficult, which means that breeding programs can be hit and miss. However, the chances are good that if you keep several frogs together, you will have some males and some females. Only the males call, and the females are known to be slightly larger than the males when both are mature.
Eggs will begin to hatch within about 36 hours, and the tadpoles will start to move around after another 2 to 3 days. They transform after about a month, though some can take 2 or even 3 months.
The white-lipped tree frog is the largest tree frog, and it has an attractive white stripe down the side of its jaw and head. It can grow to 5 inches in length and does require quite a sizable terrarium.
Since it is an arboreal frog, the enclosure will need to be tall and include branches or vines that the frog can climb and use to survey its home. Ensure a good diet, supplement by gut loading, and keep handling to a minimum to ensure the best health for your amphibian pet.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
