Amazon Milk Frog Care

Amazon Milk Frogs are one of the larger tree frogs in captivity. They are big, bold, easily handled when mature, and visually striking with their brown and white stripes, and blue toes. Amazon milk frogs have a loud call at night.

Amazon Milk Frogs are also sometimes called Gold Mission Frogs due to their peculiar eyes.

Trade Name(s)

These frogs are most commonly called 'Amazon Milk Frogs' presently, due to the milky white secretions that are released from the frog's back when threatened (this rarely occurs with captive-bred animals). In the past, Amazon milk frogs have also been called Amazon Cave Frogs, and Gold Mission Frogs, due to black markings on their eyes that resemble crucifixes.

Family & Scientific Name

Hylidae; Trachycephalus resinifictrix

Range & Origin

In the wild, these frogs are found in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago, French Guiana, British Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Basically, Amazon milk frogs can be found throughout the Amazonian Basin, below 800m in elevation.

Adult Size

Adult Amazon milk frogs can measure from 3 to 5 inches, with females being larger than males. Amazon milk frogs will continue to grow throughout their lives, and older animals can be quite large.

The Amazon milk frogs sold by Josh's Frogs measure about 1-1.25 inches long, and are eating 1/4 inch crickets.

Adult Amazon milk frogs can get quite large.

Lifespan

Captive lifespan of the Amazon milk frog is unknown, but suspected to be in the 5-10 year range, based on experience with similar species. Amazon milk frogs are 8-12 weeks old when sold by Josh's Frogs.

Enclosure

Being large frogs, Amazon milk frogs require a large enclosure. A 29 gallon aquarium or 18x18x24 terrarium is a good sized enclosure for 2-4 Amazon milk frogs. The enclosure should provide plenty of perching areas, such as wood branches or vines, as well as live plants or fake plants. A large water bowl is a necessity.

Josh's Frogs offers Tree Frog Kits that are perfect for Amazon milk frogs.

Substrate

For younger Amazon milk frogs, moist paper towel, long fiber sphagnum moss, or Josh's Frogs Frog Foam is preferred. Adult Amazon milk frogs can also be kept above water instead of a substrate. All substrate should be changed frequently.

Temperature (°F)

Amazon milk frogs can tolerate temperatures between 70-85°, and seem very tolerant of temperature swings. Ideally, keep Amazon milk frogs in the mid/high 70s. A 5-10° temperature drop at night is ideal. A good thermometer and hygrometer is recommended to keep track of environmental conditions.

Social Structure

Amazon milk frogs do great in groups. Overly amorous males may harass females on occasional, but Amazon milk frogs typically coexist peacefully in groups.

Diet

Amazon milk frogs are voracious eaters, consuming anything that moves and fits into their mouth. A staple diet of appropriately sized crickets is a great place to start. Add other feeder insects such as waxworms, roaches, hornworms, and mealworms, with the occasional pinky mouse appreciated. All feeder insects should be dusted with the proper vitamin/mineral supplement.

Josh's Frogs sells Amazon milk frogs that are eating 1/4 inch crickets. Try house flies for an entertaining treat!

Cleaning

Amazon milk frogs are big frogs, and as such, can make a big mess. Water bowls should be cleaned daily and scrubbed out with hot water. Change the substrate at least once a week, and clean the enclosure and décor with a 5% bleach solution or ReptiSan. If paper towel is used as a substrate, it should be cleaned daily.

Handling

Young Amazon milk frogs can be fragile, and should not be handled on a regular basis. However, once your Amazon milk frog is 2 inches or larger, it can be handled with some frequency. Make sure to moisten your hands before handling your frog, and always wash with warm water and soap afterward.

Handling young Amazon milk frogs is not recommended, but adults will tolerate occasional handling.

Conclusion

Amazon Milk Frogs continue to grow in popularity. These large, bold, easily kept frogs win people over with their attractive pattern and ease of care.

Check out the captive-bred Amazon Milk Frogs we have available! We breed the Amazon milk frogs we sell right here in our facility to ensure quality, healthy, captive-bred animals.

For more information, Josh's Frogs recommends visiting the following websites:

• Wikipedia - Amazon Milk Frog natural history and information.
• Amphibian Care - Good Amazon Milk Frog Care sheet by Devin Edmonds, a very accomplished frog hobbyist and researcher.
• American Museum of Natural History - Everything you could ever want to know about the natural history and classification of the Amazon Milk Frog, from a very reliable source.