Amazon Milk Frog
Trachycephalus resinifictrix
Explore the Amazon Milk Frog, a bold canopy dweller known for its striking cross-patterned eyes and vivid bands. This nocturnal tree frog requires a tall, humid forest terrarium to thrive.
Ambiente
Terrestre
Umidade
60 - 80 %
Temperatura diurna
24 - 28 °C
Temperatura noturna
20 - 22 °C
UVB
Ferguson 3
UVI
1 - 2,6 UVI
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Amazon rainforest basin of South America, with established populations in Suriname, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It inhabits the high canopy of humid tropical rainforests, living at significant heights and sheltering in water-filled hollow cavities of large trees.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Hylidae and the genus Trachycephalus. It is a large, robust tree frog reaching 6-10 cm in length. It possesses large, sticky toe pads for climbing and a characteristic granular, bumpy skin. The eyes feature a striking golden iris marked by a distinct black cross.
Behavior and Habits: Nocturnal and strictly arboreal. During the daytime, it rests motionless on branches or inside hollow bark shelters. It becomes highly active at night to forage. Breeding males produce a loud, deep, barking croak from rain-filled tree hollows to attract females for spawning.
Morphology: The body displays a bold, banded pattern of dark brownish-gray and pale white-blue bands. Its common name, 'milk frog,' comes from the thick, sticky, white toxin it secretes from its skin glands when threatened or handled roughly. Females are significantly larger and heavier than males.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Terrarium Setup: Requires a tall, vertically oriented forest terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm for a pair, though larger is highly recommended). Furnish with thick climbing branches, cork bark tubes, and robust live plants with broad leaves (e.g., Monstera, Pothos). A large, shallow water dish is essential.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain daytime ambient temperatures between 24°C and 28°C, with a localized warmer basking zone. Provide a nighttime temperature drop to 20-22°C. A low-intensity (5.0) UVB light source is highly recommended to promote natural behaviors and proper calcium absorption.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain ambient humidity levels between 60% and 80% by misting the terrarium once or twice daily with clean, dechlorinated water. The water in the dish must be changed daily, as these frogs regularly soak and defecate in their water source, leading to rapid waste buildup.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed on crickets, roaches, and locusts of appropriate size. Dust prey items with pure calcium powder twice a week and with a high-quality multivitamin supplement containing vitamin D3 once a week. Avoid feeding overly large insects.
Compatibility: Peaceful and highly social with conspecifics of similar size, allowing them to be kept in groups. Do not mix with smaller frog species, as they will be eaten, or with aggressive animals that could injure their delicate skin.
Health and Common Diseases: Handling should be kept to an absolute minimum to avoid causing stress and triggering the release of their sticky, irritating skin secretion. Prone to skin infections from dirty water, Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) from poor calcium/UVB levels, and snout abrasions from glass rubbing.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Native to the Amazon rainforest basin of South America, with established populations in Suriname, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It inhabits the high canopy of humid tropical rainforests, living at significant heights and sheltering in water-filled hollow cavities of large trees.
Origem
Amazônia, Orinoco e Guianas
Perfil anfíbio
- Dieta
- Insectivore
- Amazon milk frogs are voracious insectivores that consume a wide variety of arboreal and flying invertebrates in the wild. In captivity, their diet should consist of gut-loaded crickets, dubia roaches, locusts, and occasional treats like waxworms or hornworms. All feeder insects must be dusted regularly with high-quality calcium and multivitamin supplements to prevent metabolic bone disease, a common ailment in growing frogs.
- Expectativa de vida
- 5-10 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 9 cm
- Estilo de vida/Microhabitat
- Arboreal
- Amazon milk frogs are highly specialized arboreal amphibians endemic to the Amazon Basin canopy. They spend their entire lives high above the forest floor, relying on specialized toe pads to leap accurately and adhere to smooth leaves and bark. A captive enclosure must prioritize vertical space, high humidity, ample ventilation, and numerous climbing structures like cork bark tubes.
- Ciclo de atividades
- Nocturnal
- These frogs are strictly nocturnal, resting perfectly still against branches or hiding in hollows during the day to avoid detection. As night falls and the humidity peaks, they become highly active, exploring the canopy to hunt for insects and vocalize. Their captive lighting schedules must strictly mimic tropical day and night cycles to prevent disruption of their natural circadian rhythms.
- Socialidade
- Gregarious
- They derive their common name from the sticky, toxic, milky secretion they exude from their skin when threatened by predators. Though generally peaceful and capable of being housed in small groups of similar-sized individuals, they possess a surprisingly aggressive feeding response and may accidentally bite cage mates during feeding time. Their distinctive "barking" calls are notoriously loud and can be heard persistently throughout the night.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- Breeding occurs exclusively in water-filled tree holes deep within the rainforest canopy following heavy seasonal rainfall. Males possess incredibly loud, resonant vocal sacs that they use to call females to these elevated breeding pools. After the eggs hatch, the tadpoles remain trapped in the tree hole, where the female returns periodically to feed them unfertilized trophic eggs until they complete metamorphosis.
- Toxicidade
- Harmless
- When stressed or threatened, this species secretes a sticky, milky-white substance from its skin glands. While not highly toxic to humans, this secretion can cause irritation if it comes into contact with the eyes or mucous membranes. Proper handwashing is essential after any necessary handling or enclosure maintenance.
- Estágio de vida
- Metamorphosis
- Tadpoles develop entirely in water-filled tree holes in the wild, undergoing metamorphosis over several weeks. Juveniles exhibit high energy and rapid growth, requiring daily feeding and strict humidity control. Adult frogs are robust and can live up to 8-10 years in captivity with proper husbandry.
- Tolerância de tratamento
- Display only
- Handling should be kept to an absolute minimum to protect their delicate, permeable skin. If handling is necessary for health checks, it should be done using clean, moistened gloves. Direct contact with dry skin can cause severe stress and potential damage to the frog's protective slime coat.
- Brumação
- Não obrigatório
- This tropical species does not undergo a true brumation period in the wild or in captivity. They require consistent, warm temperatures and high humidity year-round to thrive. Significant drops in temperature can severely compromise their immune system and lead to respiratory illnesses.
- Muda
- Periodic
- Like all amphibians, they periodically shed their skin as they grow and maintain skin health. The molting process is typically rapid and happens during the night, making it rarely observed. They consume the shed skin to recycle valuable nutrients and avoid leaving traces for predators.
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