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AmphibianTerrestrialIntermediate
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European Tree Frog
Hyla arborea
The European Tree Frog is an energetic, small amphibian known for its loud vocalizations and bright green skin. Sun-loving and agile, it thrives in a tall, well-illuminated and ventilated terrarium.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Hylidae
Subfamily:Hylinae
Genus:Hyla
Species:Hyla arborea
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
20 - 25 °C
Night temperature
15 - 20 °C
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed across Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, extending to the Balkans and Anatolia. It lives in humid deciduous forests, riparian woodlands, reed beds, and orchards near clean, standing bodies of water.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A small frog reaching 4–5 cm in adult length. Possesses bright emerald-green dorsal skin (which can shift to olive or grey) and a spongy, cream-white belly. A distinct dark stripe runs along each side from the nostril to the groin. Fingertips are equipped with expanded adhesive discs.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and arboreal. During the day, they remain motionless on leaves, camouflaged perfectly. Males possess a large, inflatable vocal sac under the throat, producing a rhythmic and exceptionally loud call during spring.
Morphology: Females are slightly larger and stockier. Males have a wrinkled, yellowish-brown throat area due to the presence of the vocal sac, and develop nuptial pads on their thumbs during the breeding season.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a vertical terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm) equipped with thin branches, climbing vines, and broad-leafed live plants (such as Pothos and ferns). A shallow water dish with clean, dechlorinated water is essential.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures at 22–25°C. High heat above 28°C must be avoided. Nighttime temperatures should drop to 16–20°C. A cold winter brumation period is highly recommended. Provide a low-output (5%) UVB source.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high relative humidity of 60–80%. Mist the enclosure thoroughly every evening with dechlorinated water. Excellent ventilation is critical to prevent stagnant air and skin infections.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly insectivorous. Feed live crickets, flies, and small locusts. Dust prey items with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement three times a week to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Compatibility: Highly peaceful and gregarious. Can be kept in small groups in spacious enclosures. Avoid housing them with very small insects or frogs that could be swallowed.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to soaps and skin oils; handle only when necessary with wet, clean hands or vinyl gloves. Panicking can cause snout-rubbing injuries on glass. Stagnant conditions can lead to fatal bacterial red leg syndrome.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widely distributed across Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, extending to the Balkans and Anatolia. It lives in humid deciduous forests, riparian woodlands, reed beds, and orchards near clean, standing bodies of water.
Origin
North AmericaEurope, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 5 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 5 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 5 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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