Need info on frog species

[goReptiles]

I'm looking into getting a few frog species and creating a nice natural vivarium, but I'm not sure what to get. I have a pacman right now, but I'm looking at something a little different.

I found two on kingsnake I'm interested in, but I can't seem to find any info on them on the web.

1. red eye moon frog
2. ornate hopper (S. gottlebei)

Does anyone know anything about these species? Or know where I can find info on them?

Thanks

 

[M_surinamensis]

1. red eye moon frog
2. ornate hopper (S. gottlebei)

Does anyone know anything about these species? Or know where I can find info on them?

Scaphiophryne gottlebei has a number of common names used by the pet industry, they're a narrow mouthed frog, from madagascar, variable but pretty bright coloration, spend most of their time burrowing and buried, they don't swim or climb too well. They're pretty small, inch and a half- massive females might get to about two inches but I have never personally seen one that size. Mostly WC, how they do in captivity, like a lot of amphibians, is pretty much entirely dependent on how they're treated during the first year or so. What exactly do you need to know?

I have no clue what species a red eyed moon frog is. Got nomenclature?

Edit: I think I found the kingsnake ad for "red eyed moon frogs" and they look like Leptopelis uluguruensis... or something pretty closely related, although I'd want to look at one in person before confirming that.

Edit 2: You're looking to add more than one species to a single vivarium? With a pac man frog? This is... not the best idea.

 

[Tony C]

I have no clue what species a red eyed moon frog is. Got nomenclature?

Edit: I think I found the kingsnake ad for "red eyed moon frogs" and they look like Leptopelis uluguruensis... or something pretty closely related, although I'd want to look at one in person before confirming that.

They are L. uluguruensis. My suggestion would be to start out with something captive bred and hardy, wild caught frogs can be touchy even in the hands of experienced keepers. Multispecies vivariums are also not the domain of a beginning hobbyist...

 

[M_surinamensis]

They are L. uluguruensis.

Glad to have the confirmation- after seeing the ad that was my immediate thought but there are fifty odd species in the genus and I've gotta admit, I am not visually familiar with them all. Is that a common name many dealers use? I have seen them before labeled as Uluguru tree frogs/big eyed frogs, Tanzanian big eyed frogs and Ruby Eyed tree frogs- never red eyed moon frogs though. In fact, I don't know any frog known as a "moon frog" and web searches kept spitting back Harry Potter references.

My suggestion would be to start out with something captive bred and hardy, wild caught frogs can be touchy even in the hands of experienced keepers. Multispecies vivariums are also not the domain of a beginning hobbyist...

Excellent advice.

Just to add a bit of a personal opinion to the two species-

Narrow mouthed frogs make mediocre captives from a technical standpoint and pretty miserable display animals because they will bury themselves completely much of the time. Even deeper and more thoroughly than many of the terrestrial species that exhibit ambush behaviors- you might as well just keep a tank full of deep dirt and plants, skip the frog but tell people it's in there.

The Leptopelis can be alright captives and will be more visible but they are fairly small, sensitive to environmental conditions and being mostly wild caught, there's a higher rate of health issues and death than I would suggest anyone who isn't really experienced with keeping amphibians and micromanaging enclosures should attempt. Please do not take this as an insult, I don't intend it as one at all- but even with someone like Tony (who is clearly experienced and clearly likes his frogs) or myself (I've kept literally tens of thousands of frogs and toads from dozens of species and used to pretty heavily supplement my income through captive breeding) I'd expect to probably lose somewhere between ten and thirty percent of a mail order group, depending on how the importer/wholesaler has been keeping them, how large they are at the time and if they have been dosed with antiparasitics yet or not. They are really aesthetically pleasing frogs but they're moderately delicate and not a good choice for a first foray into arboreal species.

For arboreals- Whites and white lips... giant waxy monkeys... personally I really like Cope's (and most the NA species actually, Hyla is a really neat genus)... it's pretty easy to find full grown cubans available for sale- I don't want to suggest that you have to get something that doesn't appeal, but it's often best to get some of the species that are a bit bigger (a larger body mass sometimes gives you more leeway in recognizing and addressing problems or health concerns) or a bit hardier, just to have the experience of maintaining the environmental conditions throughout the entire volume of an enclosure, as opposed to the few inches near the base.

For terrestrial species there are even more options, different varieties of horned frog, my personal favorite that I keep as a pet is a Pyxie, lots and lots of toads in varying flavors of warty and leathery.

 

[Tony C]

Glad to have the confirmation- after seeing the ad that was my immediate thought but there are fifty odd species in the genus and I've gotta admit, I am not visually familiar with them all. Is that a common name many dealers use? I have seen them before labeled as Uluguru tree frogs/big eyed frogs, Tanzanian big eyed frogs and Ruby Eyed tree frogs- never red eyed moon frogs though. In fact, I don't know any frog known as a "moon frog" and web searches kept spitting back Harry Potter references.

I have never seen anyone use that name except for that particular vendor. I would not be shocked if they were using Harry Potter to try to sell them. :main_rolleyes:

For arboreals- Whites and white lips... giant waxy monkeys... personally I really like Cope's (and most the NA species actually, Hyla is a really neat genus)... it's pretty easy to find full grown cubans available for sale- I don't want to suggest that you have to get something that doesn't appeal, but it's often best to get some of the species that are a bit bigger (a larger body mass sometimes gives you more leeway in recognizing and addressing problems or health concerns) or a bit hardier, just to have the experience of maintaining the environmental conditions throughout the entire volume of an enclosure, as opposed to the few inches near the base.

For terrestrial species there are even more options, different varieties of horned frog, my personal favorite that I keep as a pet is a Pyxie, lots and lots of toads in varying flavors of warty and leathery.

Good list there. Even though they are almost all wild caught our native hylids are usually hardy and make great beginner frogs. Can't go wrong with a White's either, though white lips seem to be more difficult to find now. I would even go so far as to say that a captive bred subadult or adult red eyed tree frog would make a decent first frog, they are reasonably hardy and a bit more exotic.

 

[thegeckoguy23]

I would recomend looking at some care sheets.


Jake

 

[goReptiles]

Thanks guys. I'm looking at one species in the tank but more in my collection. I have a pacman but wanted something else.

I'm definitely trying to do my research before getting anything, so caresses are a must. I don't gets new pet without research. I just couldn't find much about these two species so I wanted to ask here.

I have heard of the tanzanian frog but couldnt find any info about moon Frog.

I'm really looking for a good and hardy display species.

I'm also considering a mossy frog or fire belly toads. I would like a species that can live with others of the same species.

 

[Tony C]

I'm also considering a mossy frog or fire belly toads. I would like a species that can live with others of the same species.

Fire bellied toads are very hardy and do well in groups. I've never kept mossies, but I believe they also can be kept in a group. Both are semi-aquatic.

 

[goReptiles]

I really want to set up something visually attracting. It may be a while before I do anything, but I'm wanting to do my research now and learn everything I can now. I did a quick search last night on fire bellies and saw they swim, so I would definitely set up a partially land/water enclosure, if I went that route.

What would be the best method to create heating for a land/water enclosure? Also, would the water need a filter? If yes, what type would be best?