Lemur Tree Frog Care Guide

Housing Requirements

• Terrarium Size: 18x18x24 Exo Terra or similar minimum for a pair; taller is better — this is a canopy species that lives high in the enclosure
• Tank Mates: Keep as same-species pairs or small groups; do not mix with other species
• Temperature: 68-75°F (20-24°C) during the day, 60-68°F (16-20°C) at night — a mid-elevation species that runs cooler than most tropical tree frogs, and the night drop is important
• Humidity: 70-80% ambient, spiking higher during misting cycles
• Lighting: Standard vivarium LED on a 12-hour day/night cycle; UVB is not required — dust prey with a quality calcium plus D3 supplement instead

Substrate & Environment

• ABG mix or similar well-draining substrate with a leaf-litter layer
• Densely planted — broad-leaved plants such as spathiphyllum, pothos, and philodendron give daytime perches; tall branches and vines for canopy access
• Several sturdy horizontal leaves above the substrate for the frogs to sleep on during the day
• A shallow water feature or reservoir with dechlorinated or RO water
• Keep the enclosure in a quiet, cool room — heat stress is a routine cause of loss for this species

Diet & Feeding

• Small crickets (1/4" or pinhead) as the staple; adjust prey size to mouth width
• Hydei fruit flies, small moths, and other soft-bodied flying insects for variety — flying prey is taken well
• Aphids as a small enrichment item
• Springtails and melanogaster fruit flies for froglets
• Dust prey with a quality calcium plus D3 supplement at most feedings; rotate in a multivitamin weekly
• Feed adults 2-3 times per week; more often for growing juveniles

Breeding

• Sexual maturity around 12-18 months
• Trigger breeding with a cool, drier winter rest (humidity dropped to 50-75%) followed by heavy misting or a rain chamber over dense foliage above water
• Clutches of roughly 10-20 pale greenish-blue eggs laid on the underside of leaves above the water; tadpoles hatch and drop into the water within about a week
• Rear tadpoles individually or in small groups in clean, aged water; feed a plant-based tadpole diet
• Considered a difficult species to reliably breed — captive success is limited and every produced clutch matters to the ex-situ population

Special Notes

• Diurnal color-changer: yellow-green with silver-rimmed eyes and dark-spotted flanks by day; body darkens to reddish-brown and the pupils narrow to slits when active at night
• Mid-elevation species — the night temperature drop is not optional, and sustained daytime warmth into the low 80s°F is dangerous
• Critically Endangered and CITES Appendix II — buy only from breeders with clear captive-bred provenance, and expect paperwork
• Handle only when absolutely necessary for medical care or moving
• Quarantine all new animals for 30+ days