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Rusty Tree Frog
Boana boans
The Rusty Tree Frog is a massive, heavily built Amazonian giant that camouflages as tree bark. Strictly nocturnal, it requires a monumental vertical terrarium with strong, thick climbing branches.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Hylidae
Subfamily:Cophomantinae
Genus:Boana
Species:Boana boans
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 90 %
Day temperature
26 - 28 °C
Night temperature
22 - 24 °C
Ambient temperature
26 - 28 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: A large arboreal frog endemic to the humid primary rainforests, dense canopies, and swamps of the Amazon Basin (including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Suriname). Strictly nocturnal, it rests camouflaged against tree trunks during the day.
Taxonomy and Genetics: One of the largest tree frogs in the world, with females reaching sizes of 9 to 12 cm. It features a robust, flattened body, webbed toes with large adhesive pads, and large eyes. Males possess sharp, black bony prepollical spines (spurs) on their thumbs.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and arboreal. Inactive during the day, it becomes active at night to hunt and move. Males are highly territorial; they construct crater-like mud nests near rivers and fight other males using their thumb spurs.
Morphology: Significant sexual dimorphism is present. Females are larger and heavier than males. Males possess vocal sacs and sharp bony spurs on their thumbs used in territorial fights.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a very large, vertical, well-ventilated enclosure (minimum 60x45x90 cm). Furnish with thick branches, bamboo tubes, and large-leaved plants (like Monstera or Pothos). A large water basin with a filter is necessary.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain warm daytime temperatures of 26-28°C, with a nighttime drop to 22-24°C. A moderate UVB source (5.0) is essential for proper skeletal development.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels (70-80%) by misting daily with declorinated water. Efficient ventilation is critical to prevent stagnant air and skin infections.
Feeding and Supplementation: Highly voracious predator. Feed a variety of large insects, such as crickets, Dubia roaches, and locusts. Dust prey items with calcium and D3 three times a week.
Compatibility: Males are extremely territorial and aggressive toward each other and must not be housed together. Keep individually, in pairs, or in small groups containing only one male. Do not house with smaller species.
Health and Common Diseases: Susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD), snout abrasions from colliding with glass walls, and bacterial infections like red leg syndrome if water quality is poor.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
A large arboreal frog endemic to the humid primary rainforests, dense canopies, and swamps of the Amazon Basin (including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Suriname). Strictly nocturnal, it rests camouflaged against tree trunks during the day.
Origin
Amazon, Orinoco, and GuianasNorth America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- 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
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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