LA
Prologue: We've had these guys
before. We never did an info page on them because they're way more
'spensive than your average frog. But on the other hand, they're not
your average frog. Good looking and not really all that hard to keep
-- harder than a toad, but what isn't?
LA
Great big night time eyes.
Handling?: Limit your handling
of all frogs. If you're a touchy-feely person, you should probably get
a dog or a cat. Some frog keepers wear latex gloves when handling and
feeding these cute little dudes. Some sources insist that oils and
toxins on human hands will kill your frogs. These humans should learn
to wash their hands more often. And it's always a good idea to wash
your hands after handling any amphibian, reptile, or toxin-covered human.
I wash my hands more often than a team of heart surgeons. Anyway,
we're not recommending carrying these guys around or kissing them on a
regular basis.
LA
Peculiar Skin: Most frogs plonk
their butts in shallow water and wait for something small and edible to
wander or fly past. Waxy monkey tree (thus the name) frogs scuttle up
a tree and hunker down during the day. They climb down at night to
actively search for small edible prey. That's in the wild. In
captivity, that also eat during the day (if they're hungry). Back to
their skin, they exude a waxy (thus their name) substance that they rub all
over their body. This keeps their skin from drying out.
LA
Waxy monkey tree frog "walking."
Monkey?: Supposedly the waxy
monkey tree frog walks rather than hops like any other unpithed frog would
do. (Actually, they hop very well when they want to). But they
supposedly walk like a monkey. They climb more like a monkey than walk
like a monkey (like every other tree frog). I haven't had a large
enough population to deliver a final decision on this yet. They will
not wear one of those silly looking hats.
LA
Another waxy monkey tree frog "walking."
LA
Perfectly content to loaf rather than walk.
LA
He looks a little uncomfortable in the water.
Not a Shore Lurker: When first
dropped into the water, he looks a bit shocked or even stressed. Your
waxy monkey tree frog will not stay in the water. Most frogs dive into
the depths to escape from kids and other roving bands of marauders.
For instance, you can hear the bullfrogs kind of squawk as they leap from
their shore leave locations.
LA
Belly (ventral) view of waxy monkey tree frog climbing up the glass.
LA
Life at the top. Better keep yours covered.
Keep 'em Covered: Your waxy
monkey tree frog will shinny to the top and out into the free world almost
as fast as you can watch. Use a secure mesh lid. He wants lots
of air circulation. He's not a high humidity lover like most frogs.
LA
Waxy monkey tree frog checking out a new cave.
Not Normally a Ground Dweller:
We put this ceramic cave in his "cage" to keep his crickets from drowning.
He thought it was for him. He went inside. So did his crickets.
They did not come out.
LA
The cave helps him feel secure and makes the crickets easier to snare.
Big night time eyes.
LA
Typical daytime pose.
LA
He sleeps with his eyes covered during the daytime.
LA
A night time shot captures him with eyes wide open.
Mostly Nocturnal: Your waxy
monkey tree frog prefers to rack out during the day. He slavers on his
own special sunscreen and anti-dehydrating lotion, then he loafs all day in
an out of the way corner.
LA
Special Lighting?: Most
references recommend four hours of full-spectrum (containing UVA and UVB)
and feeding crickets dusted with calcium and vitamin D. Growing
critters pretty much all need vitamin D to build their bones. That's
why the all-knowing "they" requires 400 IU of vitamin D in every quart of
milk you buy. Some people even drink it. A 20-minute walk in the
sunshine will give you the same results. Vitamin D from the sun or
milk performs lots of extra goodies -- and they're all free from the sun.
Your froggie on the other hand apparently needs his special bulbs.
Although, why a nocturnal frog needs UVB is not obvious. In any event,
the special lighting costs way less than one of these frogs. End of
editorial.
LA
Just a very good looking frog.
Last Words: Waxy monkey tree frogs
are not for everybody -- especially those with limited funds. But if
you're a true red-blooded ranaphile (might be a neologism, but we need it),
you'll want to look into these little croakers. LA
© 2010
LA Productions
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