Grey Tree Frog

[monkeyboy]

Any one else on forum ever tried Grey Tree Frog? I see some UK keepers on Frogforum, but no mention in previous posts here.

Enclosure is in one end of a greenhouse (approx 2'6" high/ wide and 18" deep) and has housed three adults since mid Feb. As at least 2 are males, I'm hoping to add a couple more individuals.

Although substrate is insulated I suspect I'll hibernate them in a box.

Attachments:

[viridis]

I know of a oerson who keeps them in an outside vivarium near London and they breed most years.Interestingly he keeps them in the same enclosure as European Treefrogs.Every few years they seem to be hit by the cold but so do his Europeans.

I am not well up on North American herps but aren`t there two species of Grey Treefrogs?

[monkeyboy]

Hi Viridis,

Yes there are, Copes and Eastern. Extensive range overlap with perhaps slight north and east bias for Eastern. Apparently only way to seperate in field is by call. Sadly shop didnt know anything about mine, and as hybrids are unknown I'm gonna have to be pretty lucky with species on next purchase!
They should be a lot more cold tolerant than European Green, as both species get up into canada. Wonder if winter losses are more closly linked to dampness of climate? Great frogs though really glad I got them. As they are calling at moment I'm trying to record to compare sonograms of both species.
Interesting about mixing species (always a bit risky with stuff from different continents...) was wondering whether to try something like Pacific Chorus frog in there as well (as they are less arboreal, so shouldnt be competing for space quite as much) though these very noisy (as are H.arborea) and at mo my neighbours quite like 'phib calls drifting over garden fence (Green toad, YBT and Grey tree) don't want to upset things!!

[viridis]

I have kept the Europeans off and on outside for a few years and found them quite hardy.I really do like them ,they were one of the first herps that I bought with my pocket money about thirty five years ago.£2.50 each!

Anyway back to subject ,not enough people keep and breed the North American species for my liking.One species that I wouldn`t mind getting again is th Spring Peeper.Lovely little frogs.

[monkeyboy]

Ah yes the good old days, I'm haunted by memories of green lizards for £7 in my local petshop (along with walls and even meadow lizard!) and dad saying "£7 for lizard! get yerself down the heath and catch one I'm not paying that"

I agree members of this forum should look seriously at yankee herps, plenty of temperate species to choose from. Did you keep your spring peepers outside?

[viridis]

I didn`t keep the Spring Peepers outside,this was thirty plus years ago and it wasn`t really done then,except for tortoises.I used to keep Green Lizards and Wall Lizards in aquaria with incandescant light bulbs.If only I had known.