Caring for your new White's Dumpy Frog, Litoria caerulea, with pictures

Dumpy Frog Factoids
Origin	Australia and New Guinea
Maximum Size	4.5 inches, males smaller
Sexing	Darkened thumbs on males
Space Needs	20-gallon tank or larger
High Humidity	With ventilation
Climbers	Add branches to clamber on
Life Span	20 to 25 years
Color	Green/brown/bluish depending on mood.
Temperature	Room temp okay, 85^o best
Water	Dish plus sprinkling
Attitude	Tame, hungry, escapers.
Threat	Dirty cage
Security	Will crawl into small crevices
Foods	Worms, crickets, smaller frogs
Feeding Time	Prefers dawn and dusk
Supplements	Gut load or dust crickets
Lighting	Full-spectrum not needed but preferred
Resting	November thru March
Breeding	Spawns in summer
Breeding Age	Next summer after birth
Incubation	2 days depending on temp
Fry Food	Carnivores
Metamorphosis	One to two months
Froglet Threats	Insufficient small insects

Origins: Doctor White originally found these frogs in Australia in 1790. White accompanied Captain Cook in his journeys there. Australia allows no animal exports these days, so most White’s tree frogs are now captive raised. Most of them come from Indonesia.

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Who wouldn't like such a friendly tho dumpy frog?

Appeal: These unbelievably friendly frogs are the only “handleable” frogs. You can hand hold White’s dumpy tree frogs from day one. If they do get excited, they will jump to the nearest wall. They stick to slick surfaces.

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Young dumpy frog -- about the average size you find them for sale.

Size: Most White’s tree frogs sell at 2 to 3 inches. They grow larger fast -- about hand size.

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Lots and lots of variation in dumpy frog coloration.

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This is about as blue (caerulea) as we've seen them get.

Color Factors: Dark gravels and low light tend to darken dumpy tree frogs. They darken by enlarging their brown color cells. If you like green frogs, warm them up.

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Sometimes White's tree frogs just conk out for awhile.

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Dumpy frog still squinching around to find the best spot to hunker down.

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Much better belly shot (ventral view).

Loafing Areas: Most White’s dumpy tree frogs will plaster their bellies to the glass sides of their container – as high as possible. They also like high, larger limbs to loiter on.

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Typical dumpy tree frog holder. Don't try this with other frogs.

Foods: Provide live insects and worms. Dumpys quickly learn to eat from your fingers. Provide a good variety of prey animals. Growing frogs need a lot of calcium. Feed every other day, or your frog will get fat.

Supplements: Supplement White’s tree frogs' crickets with powdered calcium and vitamins. Since food crickets often get wet and rinse themselves free of calcium dust, you’ll get better results by feeding their crickets a nutritious diet.

High Humidity: Provide at least an inch of water to raise their humidity. Deeper water is easier to filter. Keep your dumpy tree frog tank very clean.

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You can hold White's dumpy tree frogs from day one.

Mixers: White’s tree frogs may mix well with other similar sized species with the same basic requirements. They will eat smaller newts, tadpoles, anoles, tree frogs, and some snails. Beware of overcrowding.

Sexing: Males develop black breeding pads on their “fingers” for grasping the slippery females.

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Adult dumpy tree frog plenty old enough to start a family.

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Another adult.

Spawning: If you’ve kept your White’s tree frogs until summer, you’re ready to spawn them. Keep them in their own tank with four to six inches of water. Feed them a variety of foods. Once they spawn, remove the parents to protect the eggs.

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Just a good-looking, friendly dumpy tree frog.

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Here's some little one-inch baby dumpy tree frogs.

Tadpoles: Baby White’s tree tadpoles eat infusoria or powder-fine fish food. Move them up to brine shrimp and/or microworms as they increase in size. They start turning into frogs in four weeks. The parents will eat the smaller froglets. New froglets need pinhead crickets or fruit flies. Later they will eat house flies which they love. Most people feed them LOTS of crickets. LA

Frog "Fan" Mail

Stephanie B., May 17, 2008
I am concerned. I found your website while looking for amphibian
breeders. The way you are depicting the white's
tree frogs, is very unsafe for the animals. Frogs are not meant to be
handled like this. The toxins from our skin, face, and hair can be
very deadly to them. You can look anywhere on the internet and any
serious frog hobbyists will tell you the same thing. You are
misleading your customers by leading them to believe that it is ok to
handle the frogs like this. It is extremely unsafe for them. Please
do the little guys a favor and research these things so that all the
new hobbyists do not think that this is a good practice. Frogs of all
types are meant to be looked at, not played with. They should only be
handled on an as needed basis (to clean their cage or transfer to
another enclosure for feeding). Also the small rocks/pebbles and loose
moss can be harmful to them if ingested. Coconut fiber substrate is
safe and free of parasites, this is a good substrate for them. Forgive
my forwardness, but I found this to be a very big concern for the
animals that you are selling. And mixing species in one tank is also a
bad thing. They can be toxic to each other. Thanks for your time.

A: I appreciate your concern, but I don't have any toxins on my skin, face, or hair. Well, maybe right after kickboxing, but I can usually work in an occasional shower. In the three decades I've been keeping the Whites, I've never seen them eat rocks or loose moss. They usually spend their time in the upper decks. Very few frogs have toxins that would kill a whites and vive versa. They can be a danger to other frogs in that they will eat smaller frogs. LA

Jen Gahagan, United Kingdom, May 17, 2008
Dear sir/madam, ok, on your website you are advertising White's tree frogs. You are advertising them as the only handleable frog. Where exactly do you get your information? WTFs along with all other frogs should be handled as little as possible due to the fact that the natural oils in human hands and skin can damage the frog and make it very ill. WTFs, the same as other frogs, can get stressed with too much handling and stress is a killer to these amphibians.
Please change your advertising. Frogs are not toys and by advertising them in this way you are in part responsible for any fatalities that would occur due to bad husbandry when they are being over handled. Yours sincerely,
Very Concerned

A: I appreciate your concern for the whites (probably my favorite frog). I get some of my info from books and some from decades of working with the critters. I don't consider most websites very good info sources. Too many forums just like to rant and flame each other. LA

Stephanie B., May 19, 2008
All people have toxins in their skin...all of us...My main concern is
simply that these animals are meant to be looked at not played with.
And frogs can accidentally ingest things...just look up
impaction...It's a very common case (sic) of death. And I am not just
referring to the White's...I was referring to the White's and all
other frogs.

A: Maybe women have toxins in/on their skin from all that hand lotion they slather on? But I really doubt it. Have you been watching a lot of late night cable commercials? What toxin(s) are you referring to? What is/are their effect(s)? On frogs? On other people? On little babies? Can you eat finger foods without poisoning yourself?
White's are not all other frogs. They have a tougher, waxy skin that makes them able to sustain handling. Their placid nature also makes them more amenable to handling. I'm not recommending you play bocce ball with them or squeeze them till their eyes pooch out. But letting one sit on your hand (or nose) will not kill it (the white's or your nose). LA
PS They can ingest coconut shell fiber, too.

Jon, May 19, 2008
This is concerning your facts about White's Tree Frogs. The way you advertise these frogs is incorrect, NO frogs are really supposed to be handled unless it's really needed (i.e.: clean out tank) You should remove any pictures of people handling these frogs immediately, especially the ones with the kids and the guys that has a lot of hair product in while the frog climbs all over it.
The reason these frog are not supposed to be handled is due to the chemicals in our skin and hair products. Frogs are very sensitive and will absorb these chemicals.
Many people that take pictures while holding their frogs is while cleaning out there habitats, it is very clear that your pictures show that it is ok to handle them at anytime, that is simply NOT true at all.
Moss and rocks are not recommended as substrate, and you should NEVER mix any frogs!
Please update your site, don't continue to miss-represent these beautiful frogs. Your site will only lead to people to think that these things are ok, and they will stress and eventually kill their frog. Thank you,

A: Am I detecting some sort of trend from the frog aficionados? I always feel that people wanting to impart information should use their whole names and locations. Otherwise it's like taking information from a CB radio handle. "petfreak1321" is not a name that inspires confidence or believability. Maybe I need to come up with a standard form letter reply? Maybe you frog folks need to cite some specific references rather than thinking your feelings are all that's necessary to prove your point? I'll add ALL your comments to my Dumpy frog page and let people make up their own minds. By the way, how many dumpy frog do you have? How many have you kept during your whole life? LA
PS I'm still waiting for a list of specific toxins, their concentrations, and their specific deleterious effects.

Vy Do, May 21, 2008
I have a cocern about the way you handle your frogs so carelessly. frogs should not be carelessly handle like that. "You can hand hold White’s dumpy tree frogs from day one." and ""Keep your dumpy tree frog tank very clean." you just cantradict yourself. frogs can not be "clean" if people handle them regularly. human have toxin in our skin that are harmful to frogs. frogs should be at least moist when people hold them and human should handle them with fresh clean ruber gloves or at least washed and moist hands. the frogs in your pictures are not moist the humans' hands or faces are not moist. and frogs gets very stress when you handle them so if your do handle them it is only when it is nessary not for fun. I recommend you research firt before getting any animals or handling any animals.

A: Usually I edit all correspondence that I publish in the Q&As. I realize that English is a difficult language for some people. But I decided to publish your letter "as is." It's funner that way. First, I'd strongly encourage you to learn what those squiggly red lines under your words mean. Ask your mom to help. Second, I'd encourage you to google the phrase "group think." Third, realize that the toxins come not from humans, but from frogs, toads, and newts. The exact opposite of that which you fear. Fourth, I will be happy to research any toxin citations which you send me (if you are familiar with the citation phrase). LA
PS Make sure you check into that group think thing. I also apologize for the two words that exceeded three syllables. Darn, there's another one. What the heck, I'd also like you to google the word "apocrypha."
PPS Keep those cards and letters rolling in. But if they all contain the same dubious info, my replies will become snarkier. However, they do make interesting additions to my White's page.

BOB, Virginia, May 22, 2008
Hi Larry, Usually I just go to your site and get my daily dose of the Q&As, and then mosey on over to another site on the Internet. Lots of times I make the trip to google to learn the meaning of a new word that I learned here at your web site. A year or so ago you had the mice lovers that would attack your info on mice. This time it's the frog lovers' turn. They have a right to their opinions but most of their complaints carry no validity whatsoever. Handling a dumpy frog does them no harm people! They seem to like the attention. The only thing that I agree with them on is that it makes sense to keep the hands and the frogs a little moist because some amphibians dry out quickly. Most frogs and salamanders need a moist environment where toads aren't as picky. We are in more danger from the secretions coming from some frogs skin than they are from ours. Poison dart frogs are a great example.

A: You get the very best poisons from the phyllobates by slow roasting them over a campfire while telling ghost stories. However, if you're in a hurry, you could probably use a microwave oven. I always wet my hands before (and after) handling amphibians -- frogs, newts, and toads. Many of their skins are sensitive to handling but not to toxins from me. I especially wash my hands afterwards because their toxins can make your eyes, nose, and lips sting -- plus most of them taste nasty. But the dumpy frogs don't have any toxins that I've ever noticed. LA

Jon T. Zych, Rochester,MN, May 24, 2008
I was just reading over your Dumpy frog page, when I noticed your fan letters. I would like to say that you've got a great info page for them, and that I have found no errors in the info you have posted. I have kept several dumpys, and am not sure where the other "fan" letter authors are getting their info. Keep up the good work,

A: Thanks for your input, Jon. I'll add it to my dumpy page. LA