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

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Babies about as big as my finger tip behind them. Good jumpers at this size.

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