Josh's Frogs
Why you should buy from us
White Lined Monkey Tree Frog Care Sheet
Naming
Phyllomedusa vaillantii is commonly known as the white lined monkey frog.
Housing
White lined monkey frogs are easy to house. Choose a large enclosure – an 18x18x24 Exo Terra Glass Terrarium is a good size for 2-4 juveniles or adults. Opinions on substrates vary – we’ve had luck with Josh’s Frogs frog foam and sphagnum moss. If using sphagnum moss, make sure to press down the moss so it is flat – this will greatly reduce the risk of impaction. White lined monkey frogs need constant access to fresh, clean water – a large water bowl is a must! Use an easy to clean dish, such as an Exo Terra Water Dish, as the frog will be using the dish as a latrine and you will need to clean daily. Scrub the dish and disinfect with a 5% bleach solution or ReptiSan.
Habitat
White lined monkey frogs are tropical frogs found in the rainforests of Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Suriname. They require moderately high humidity, and are best kept at 60-70% humidity. Providing ventilation is very important - we recommend using at least a half screen top. Stagnant, humid conditions quickly leads to bacterial skin infections. An optimal temperature range is between 75-85 degrees with a 5-10 degree drop at night. A large dish of clean water should always be provided. Monitor humidity with a digital hygrometer.
Fake or live plants and plenty of vines should be utilized to give these frogs places to climb at night and sleep during the day.
Feeding
White lined monkey frogs are insectivores and can eat a diet of vitamin- supplemented crickets. We feed our adults ¾” adult banded crickets.
Appearance and Size
Phyllomedusa vaillantii is a medium sized phyllomedusid with females growing larger than males. Males reach 2-2.5 inches/ 5-6.5 cm SVL compared to females 2.75-3.25 inches/ 7-8.3 cm. Both sexes are dorsally green with white granulated lines behind their eyes. They often have a row of cream colored or pale orange spots along their flanks. They can be distinguished from the Giant Waxy Monkey tree frogs, Phyllomedusa bicolor by their generally smaller size, rougher skin, and lack of light brown fingers.
Socialization
These frogs do well in groups, but males may continuously try to amplect females which can be stressful for the females.
Lifespan
There is not any reliable data surrounding the average lifespan of P. Vaillantii but, like most other tree frogs, they will most likely live for at least 5 years and probably longer with ideal care.
Sexing
Females will grow larger than males. Facial shape also differs between males and females of this species. When viewed from above, males tend to have a shorter, more angular snout. Females tend to have a more rounded snout when viewed from above.
Breeding
Phyllomedusa vallantii breed year round but more frequently during rainy months in the wild, so a discernible gradient in humidity, whether it be an increase in spraying or introduction to a rain chamber, is a triggering factor for breeding. Clutches of 400-800 eggs will be laid in folded leaf nests above water, so be sure to provide plenty of foliage large enough for a single leaf to wrap around a pair of frogs. The leaf nest is provided with initial moisture by the female who releases eggless capsules into it. Bright orange tadpoles will hatch and fall into the water below.