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Blue-sided Tree Frog
Agalychnis annae
A rare gem from Costa Rica. Similar to the Red-Eyed Tree Frog, but featuring golden/pink irises and entirely sky-blue limbs. Demands extremely high hygiene standards.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Phyllomedusidae
Subfamily:Phyllomedusinae
Genus:Agalychnis
Species:Agalychnis annae
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 85 %
Day temperature
22 - 25 °C
Night temperature
18 - 20 °C
Ambient temperature
22 - 25 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Arboreal species endemic to the cool and moist premontane and montane rainforests of the Central Valley in Costa Rica. They live high in the canopy, clinging to large leaves of bananas, vines, and tree ferns near slow-moving water sources.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Phyllomedusidae. Commonly known as the Blue-sided Tree Frog or Orange-eyed Tree Frog. It is an endangered species threatened by habitat loss and urbanization. Highly prized by experienced keepers.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and arboreal. During the day, they sleep flattened and camouflaged against broad leaves. At night, they become active, walking and leaping gracefully along branches in search of prey.
Morphology: Large tree frog, reaching 6-8 cm in length. Dorso is bright green to dark olive-green. The flanks and inner thighs feature striking sky-blue, lavender, or purple coloration. Eyes are large with golden-orange irises. Females are significantly larger than males.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a tall, vertical terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm, ideally taller) with excellent ventilation. Furnish with sturdy branches, vines, and broad-leaved live plants (Monstera, Pothos, Philodendron). Provide a shallow water dish.
Lighting and Heating: Prefers cool temperatures between 22-25°C during the day, with a night drop to 18-20°C. High temperatures above 30°C are fatal. Provide 5% UVB lighting to ensure proper bone development.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain humidity between 70-80% using daily misting with dechlorinated water. Ensure high ventilation to avoid stagnant conditions, which can lead to bacterial skin infections (Red Leg disease).
Feeding and Supplementation: Voracious nocturnal insectivore. Feeds on crickets, roaches, and flies. Dust food items with high-quality calcium and vitamin D3 supplements three times a week.
Compatibility: Peaceful and gregarious. Can be housed in groups in sufficiently large setups. Do not mix with other frog species to avoid stress, disease transmission, or hybridization.
Health and Common Diseases: Stress-sensitive. Avoid handling as human skin oils are harmful. Snout injuries can occur if they panic and crash into the glass. Maintain pristine terrarium hygiene to prevent pathogens.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Arboreal species endemic to the cool and moist premontane and montane rainforests of the Central Valley in Costa Rica. They live high in the canopy, clinging to large leaves of bananas, vines, and tree ferns near slow-moving water sources.
Origin
Central America and CaribbeanNorth America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 8.42 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 8.42 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 8.42 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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