White-lipped Bright-eyed Frog

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to central and eastern Madagascar. Inhabits primary rainforests, living along fast-flowing forest streams where adults perch on high vegetation.

Taxonomy and Genetics: Member of the Mantellidae family, genus Boophis. Part of the Madagascar bright-eyed tree frogs group, known for large, colorful eyes.

Behavior and Habits: Nocturnal and strictly arboreal. Rests camouflaged under leaves during the day. At night, males produce complex, melodic calls near moving water.

Morphology: Large size for the genus; females reach 7.0 to 8.0 cm. Skin is smooth, light green, and semi-translucent, with a white line on the lip. Eyes are bright green.

Terrarium Setup: Vertical enclosure of at least 50x50x80 cm with live broad-leafed plants (like Philodendron) and branches. Ensure high ventilation to prevent stale air.

Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures cool between 22°C and 25°C, with a night drop to 18-20°C. Provide low-intensity UVB (2.0) and a stable day cycle.

Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity of 75-90%. Mist several times daily with RO water. A small waterfall or moving water feature is highly recommended.

Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed on crickets, flies, and locusts. Dust feeders with calcium and multivitamins twice a week.

Compatibility: Best housed singly or in pairs. Do not keep with highly active or aggressive species that might cause chronic stress.

Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to handling stress and skin infections from waterlogged conditions. Demands pristine dechlorinated water.