DETAILED HOUSING FOR THE WHISTLING TREE FROG (Litora Ewingii)

SIZE:-

These frogs like to utalise the hight of the avaliable cage and so a
minimum height of 18" x 10' x 10" (45 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm) would suit
2-3 adults.  These frogs like to climb up the glass and the height of
the cage is far more important than the floor space.  A good solution
is to stand a glass fish tank on it's side and glue a mesh door on to
the side.  Commercially avaliable "Small pal pens" or such like with a
plastic bottom, ventilation on the top and a plastic door on top.
These retail pretty cheaply. 

REMEMBER: Do not use glass cleaner to erase tongue prints, a wet cloth
should do the trick.


DOOR:-

A sliding door is much better than a hinged door, it should be meshed
and use fiberglass mesh, the steel stuff will rust and kill your
nearest and dearest.


WATER:-

These froggers need very little water but must have acess to it.  An
inch or so or water in the bottom and with spaghnum moss soaking most
of it up will suffice but it looks nicer and is better for the frogs   
if they are supplied with a small dish of water, a potplant base full
will do nicely.  As these frogs like to sit in a shallow edge rather
than swim (which they do ocassionally) about 4" (10 cm) in diameter
and 1/2 of an inch deep (2 cm).  It must be changed regularly as it
will foul or evepourate quickly.


SUBSTRATE:-

The easiest way is to flood the base with water and toss in a little
spaghnum moss.  A piece of wood to hide under, a couple of rocks and
you have a very attractive cage.  Draping moss over the wood and rocks
makes the frogs happy and gives a rainforest effect.  Bark and fish
bowl ornaments are good. So is driftwood, but boil it first to make it
clean. If you have the inclination, a small, large leaved pot plant
looks really cool but remember that these frogs hate dirt and the dirt
should be covered in moss.                     


If you go the limits, cover the bottom in 2" of gravel, cover it in 2"
of dirt from your backyard (make sure there is no fertiliser or
potting mix or pesticides etc in the dirt) and plant real moss.  The
effect is STUNNING!!!!!   A good indicator of good conditions is if
the moss is thriving.  Spray the whole thing in fine water mist once a
day and you have it made.


LIGHTING:-

These are nocternal frogs and do not need D3 lighting
       DO NOT EXPOSE THE HOUSING TO SUNLIGHT




courtesy Robbie Allan <air_man01@yahoo.com>