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Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Agalychnis callidryas

Advanced Family Phyllomedusidae

The iconic jungle poster-frog — stunning, but demands high humidity and experience.

🖼️ Free Red-Eyed Tree Frog wallpapers — phone & desktop →

A red-eyed tree frog lounging as if at a spa — the joke that it doesn't want 'a misting,' it wants a spa membership. The point: red-eyed tree frogs need consistently high humidity and regular misting.
A red-eyed tree frog doesn't need 'a misting' — it needs a spa membership. They are high-humidity rainforest frogs that want frequent misting and a planted, humid tank.

✅ We have a full, fact-checked care sheet for the Red-Eyed Tree Frog.

Open the Red-Eyed Tree Frog care sheet →

📋 At a glance

Tank
Tall arboreal 18×18×24 in (2–4), dense foliage
Temp
75–80°F day, ~68–72°F night · never above 80°F
Humidity
60–80% WITH strong ventilation (stagnant air kills)
Food
Gut-loaded, calcium-dusted crickets + flies
Lifespan
~5–10 years

🛒 Before you buy

  • A tall, densely-planted (ideally bioactive) vivarium + a large water dish
  • Strong ventilation — a half-screen top (stagnant humidity = skin infection)
  • A mister/hygrometer to hold 60–80% without going stale
  • Calcium + D3 supplement — and buy captive-bred

A healthy one: Bright, clear red eyes · smooth unblemished skin · good weight · active and climbing at night.

🚨 See a vet / act now if…

  • Red or cloudy skin patches (bacterial infection — moves fast)
  • Not eating, or weight loss
  • Sitting low and listless by day
  • Gasping or bloating

⛔ Never

  • Stagnant humid air (deadly)
  • Heat above 80°F (the mid/high 80s can be fatal)
  • Frequent handling

Common red-eyed tree frog questions

How hard are Red-Eyed Tree Frogs to keep — are they good for beginners?

Advanced. Stunning but demanding — precise humidity, strong ventilation and gentle warmth.

What do Red-Eyed Tree Frogs eat?

Gut-loaded, calcium-dusted crickets + flies

What size tank do Red-Eyed Tree Frogs need?

Tall arboreal 18×18×24 in (2–4), dense foliage

What temperature do Red-Eyed Tree Frogs need?

75–80°F day, ~68–72°F night · never above 80°F

What humidity do Red-Eyed Tree Frogs need?

60–80% WITH strong ventilation (stagnant air kills)

How long do Red-Eyed Tree Frogs live?

~5–10 years

What are the signs Red-Eyed Tree Frogs are sick?

See an exotics vet if you notice: Red or cloudy skin patches (bacterial infection — moves fast); Not eating, or weight loss; Sitting low and listless by day; Gasping or bloating.

🧠 Myths, kindly busted

Common myths about the red-eyed tree frog and its relatives, gently corrected — each one checked against a named source, never a pet-shop rumour.

“A red-eyed tree frog is a great first frog, just as easy as a White's.”False

Chewy's vet-reviewed care sheet says beginners should avoid red-eyed tree frogs because they need a lot of care, and PetMD rates their care as intermediate. For a first tree frog, an exotic-vet care sheet calls the White's a good choice for beginners. — Chewy (vet-reviewed) · PetMD (Melissa Witherell, DVM) · Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital (Dr Gregory Rich)

“Red-eyed tree frogs need a basking lamp, like a reptile.”Mostly false

Vet-reviewed care sheets say the enclosure should never get hotter than 80°F, and Chicago Exotics calls basking lights contraindicated. At most, PetMD suggests a low-watt day bulb for light and a little warmth. — Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital · PetMD (Melissa Witherell, DVM) · Chewy (vet-reviewed)

“Tree frogs are easy, low-maintenance starter pets.”

They are rewarding, but they do take real work: daily misting to hold humidity, regular cleaning, and a steady supply of live insects. Wonderful once set up — just not effortless. — Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital (Dr. Gregory Rich, DVM)

“You can handle a tree frog like a hamster.”

A frog's skin is delicate and permeable, so oils, salts and soap on our hands can harm it. Handle only when needed, with moistened, powder-free gloves or clean, wet hands — it is very much a look-don't-hold pet. — PetMD (Maria Zayas, DVM)

“A tree frog can live in a small, flat tank.”

Tree frogs are arboreal climbers that need a tall enclosure with branches and plants to climb, not just floor space. Giving them height lets them behave naturally. — Agriculture Victoria — Code of Practice for Amphibians in Captivity

🐸 Did you know? — Red-Eyed Tree Frog fun facts

Little true delights about the red-eyed tree frog — each one checked against a named source, no old-wives' trivia.

More amphibian fun facts →

Free tools for the red-eyed tree frog

Calm, honest help — each one knows when to say "see a vet."

Symptom checker Triage a worrying sign and know when to see a vet. Arboreal setup planner Nail the climate + build for your tree frog. Is my frog fat? Check body condition — over or under. Vivarium builder Plan a bioactive planted vivarium. Feeder culture Culture your own feeder insects, cheaply. Male or female? The honest way to sex this one — and when you can tell. What does a red-eyed tree frog cost? The honest cost — setup vs ongoing, and where to save. No price tags. Common questions Real questions keepers ask — answered straight.

📚 More tree frogs guides

🎓 Ready to go deeper?

Past the basics — genetics & morphs, responsible breeding, tankmates, and advanced setups. Same plain voice, no ceiling:

Get the free Red-Eyed Tree Frog Starter Kit

A one-page setup-criteria checklist and a first-30-days plan for your first red-eyed tree frog — what to get, what makes each thing matter, and the honest bits the pet shop skips. Join the burrow and we’ll send it over. Free sheets and tools always stay open, no gatekeeping.

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