BIRD POOP FROG - Hyla marmorata  

• Native to the tropical rainforests and woodland habitats near pond and stream areas of South America, Surinam, Peru, and Brazil.
• Also called South American Mossy Frogs and Marbled Tree Frogs.
• Adults will reach 1 ½ – 2 ½ inches in length.
• They are a nocturnal species meaning they are active at night.

Diet

Bird Poop Frogs are insectivorous but prefer insects that are faster moving. For this reason, food like mealworms or wax worms should be avoided. Never feed any insects that are found outside. They may contain diseases or may even be toxic. Their main diet should consist of crickets or wingless fruit flies. They should be fed prey that is smaller than the distance between their eyes. They have a fast metabolism and should be fed every other day. Younger frogs should be fed daily.

Insects should be gut loaded at least 12 hours prior to feeding to ensure proper nutrition. Bird Poop Frogs are nocturnal, so insects should be dusted with a Calcium powder with Vitamin D3, since they do not manufacture their own. Insects should be dusted with calcium every few feedings and a multivitamin supplement once every couple of weeks.

Bird Poop Frogs have a fast metabolism, so insects should be fed every few days at night. For example, a feeding schedule of Monday, Wednesday, Friday works best. Young Bird Poop Frogs can be fed more frequently. Any uneaten insects should be removed the following morning to avoid stressing out your frog.

Housing  

Bird Poop Frogs do not require a lot of space but the cage should be tall to provide adequate climbing room. Bird Poop Frogs are social and can be kept with others. To avoid overcrowding, 10 gallons of space should be provided per two to three frogs. If many males are present, they will often display to one another but rarely cause any harm.

The cage should be well decorated with lots of plants and branches to climb on. Using a live planted set up will yield the best results. Plants of choice seem to be Monstera, Philodendron, Pothos, and Syngonium. Be sure no decorations can shift, or fall, and injure your frog. Soil based substrates are the best choice for Bird Poop Frogs. Using moss, such as frog moss or sphagnum, in conjunction with the substrate will help maintain a higher humidity in the cage.

Daytime temperatures should be in the mid 70’s lower in the cage and 78-80 º up higher in the cage in order to provide a proper thermal gradient. This can be achieved by using a very low wattage bulb (about 25 watts). At night, temperatures can drop between 68-72 º and supplemental heat is not needed. If room temperature is below 65 º F at night, a low wattage (about 25-40 watts) infrared or black night bulb can be used.

UVB lighting is essential for the frog’s growth. UV rays also help eliminate excess bacteria growth that can grow in high humidity environments. Use full spectrum lighting 12-14 hours per day, with 2% UVB for froglets 2 months and older, with a maximum of 3% UVB.

Bird Poop Frogs have a moderate to high humidity requirement and humidity should range between 70-80%. Maintaining a higher humidity can be achieved in many ways. Using a misting system or fogger will help. Having a waterfall with running water available at all times is highly beneficial as well. A light misting once or twice daily as needed will also help keep the humidity up if a misting system or fogger is not used. However the cage should never be soaking wet or too dry for too long. Even with frequent misting, a large water dish of fresh water should be provided at all times.

Handling & Care

Like all amphibians, Bird Poop Frogs get their water by absorbing it through their skin. If any chemicals are present on your skin the frog may absorb it, which can be potentially fatal. Because of this, handling them is not recommended. If handling is ever required, always ensure your hands are wet prior to picking them up to ensure that you do not dry them out.

Spot cleaning by removing feces once a week will ensure a healthy, clean environment. Bedding should be replaced and the entire cage and decorations wiped clean once every few months.