Breeding

Gonadal growth and maturation of gametes typically requires a preconditioning cooling period that simulates the dormancy period that White’s tree frogs experience in the wild. Breeding requires a large enclosure partitioned into land and water areas. Two to four inches of chlorine- and chloramine-free water should be provided. Large commercial breeders induce breeding by using exogenous hormones, but small-scale breeders often succeed by environmental manipu­lation alone.



Before conditioning the frogs, withhold food for seven to 14 days and do not feed the frogs during the cooling period. Place the frogs in a dim or darkened cool enclosure for six to eight weeks. Maintain the temperature at 20°C (65°F) for at least 1.6 hours per day with a daytime high of 21 - 24°C (70 - 75°F) for no more than one to two hours per day. The temper­ature should be elevated to 25°C (77°F) over the course of seven days with artificial rain provided for five to eight hours each night for 7 to 14 days (de Vosjoli, et al, 1996). Usually after a few days of rain the males will begin calling. Breeding typically starts within five days during the off phase of the artificial rain.



Amplectic pairs usually spawn within seven days and each female may produce up to 3,000 eggs. After a successful spawn, return both parents to their non-breeding enclosure and feed them heavily for two to six weeks. Remove the eggs from the breeding enclosure and place in a shallow water rearing enclosure. Hatching and rearing should occur in enclosures that receive high levels of full spectrum lighting. Eggs hatch in two to three days if the water temperature is 27 - 30C (80 - 86°F). Tadpoles are inactive for the first 24 - 36 hours and may not eat for 72 - 96 hours. Offer high quality tropical fish food flakes two to three times daily. Sponge or foam filters help maintain water quality in the rearing tanks, but the caregiver must remove uneaten food, fecal matter, and dead or dying tadpoles and do frequent partial water changes to ensure healthy tadpoles.



Overcrowding may retard growth of White’s tree frog tad­poles and lead to increased mortality. As a general guideline, no more than ten tadpoles should be maintained per gallon of water. Water plants such as Anachris, Elodea canadensis, or water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, floating Styrofoam platforms, and hydroponically cultured devil’s ivy, Epipremnun aureum, should be provided in the rearing enclo­sure so that metamorphosizing tadpoles have haul-out areas. Individual tadpoles may be maintained in small plastic cups with a piece of natural, untreated sponge as a haul-out area (synthetic kitchen sponges may contain chemicals toxic to tadpoles). However, this is much more labor-intensive for tad­pole maintenance than the large rearing pools.



Metamorphosis occurs in four to eight weeks if conditions are right. The froglets are a murky gray or light brown color with light lips and a dark band across the eyes. Exposure to natural sunlight or ultraviolet-B emitting bulbs and high intensity fluorescent lights may stimulate development of bright green coloration (Mattison, 1993).