Husbandry Manual For Common Name: Green tree frog Scientific Name: Litoria caerulea (Amphibia: Family): Hylidae Compiler: Brad Harper Date of Preparation: 13/8/07 Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond Course Name and Number: Cert 3 Captive animals 1068 Lecturer: Graeme Phipps 1 DISCLAIMER The information held with in this Husbandry Manual should only be used as a guide. Views and opinions expressed by the author may not necessarily be that of others working with such species. The information held within can only be used as a general guide in the husbandry and care of the species outline within this Husbandry Manual. The Author Brad Harper with 4 of his pet Litoria caerulea Amphibian Husbandry Manual- Litoria caerulea- Brad Harper 2008 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 5 2 TAXONOMY ...................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 NOMENCLATURE .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 SUBSPECIES .................................................................................................................................. 7 2.3 RECENT SYNONYMS ..................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 OTHER COMMON NAMES ............................................................................................................. 7 3 NATURAL HISTORY ....................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 MORPHOMETRICS ......................................................................................................................... 8 3.1.1 Mass And Basic Body Measurements ..................................................................................... 8 3.1.2 Sexual Dimorphism ................................................................................................................. 8 3.1.3 Distinguishing Features.......................................................................................................... 8 3.2 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT ....................................................................................................... 9 3.3 CONSERVATION STATUS .............................................................................................................. 9 3.4 LONGEVITY .................................................................................................................................10 3.4.1 In the Wild .............................................................................................................................10 3.4.2 In Captivity ............................................................................................................................10 3.4.3 Techniques Used to Determine Age in Adults ........................................................................10 4 HOUSING REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................11 4.1 EXHIBIT/ENCLOSURE DESIGN .....................................................................................................11 4.2 HOLDING AREA DESIGN ..............................................................................................................12 4.3 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................12 4.4 POSITION OF ENCLOSURES ..........................................................................................................13 4.5 WEATHER PROTECTION...............................................................................................................13 4.6 TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................13 4.7 SUBSTRATE .................................................................................................................................13 4.8 NESTBOXES AND/OR BEDDING MATERIAL ..................................................................................14 4.9 ENCLOSURE FURNISHINGS ..........................................................................................................14 5 GENERAL HUSBANDRY................................................................................................................16 5.1 HYGIENE AND CLEANING ............................................................................................................16 5.2 RECORD KEEPING .......................................................................................................................17 5.3 METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION ....................................................................................................18 5.4 ROUTINE DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................................18 6 FEEDING REQUIREMENTS ..........................................................................................................19 6.1 DIET IN THE WILD .......................................................................................................................20 6.2 CAPTIVE DIET .............................................................................................................................20 6.3 SUPPLEMENTS .............................................................................................................................21 6.4 PRESENTATION OF FOOD .............................................................................................................21 7 HANDLING AND TRANSPORT ....................................................................................................22 7.1 TIMING OF CAPTURE AND HANDLING .........................................................................................22 7.2 CATCHING BAGS .........................................................................................................................22 7.3 CAPTURE AND RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES .....................................................................................22 7.4 WEIGHING AND EXAMINATION ...................................................................................................23 7.5 RELEASE .....................................................................................................................................23 7.6 TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................24 7.6.1 Box Design .............................................................................................................................24 7.6.2 Furnishings ............................................................................................................................24 7.6.3 Water and Food .....................................................................................................................25 7.6.4 Animals per Box.....................................................................................................................25 7.6.5 Timing of Transportation .......................................................................................................25 7.6.6 Release from Box ...................................................................................................................26 Amphibian Husbandry Manual- Litoria caerulea- Brad Harper 2008 3 8 HEALTH REQUIREMENTS ...........................................................................................................27 8.1 DAILY HEALTH CHECKS .............................................................................................................27 8.2 DETAILED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION ...........................................................................................29 8.2.1 Chemical Restraint ................................................................................................................29 8.2.2 Physical Examination ............................................................................................................32 8.3 ROUTINE TREATMENTS ...............................................................................................................33 8.4 KNOWN HEALTH PROBLEMS .......................................................................................................34 8.5 QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS.....................................................................................................40 9 BEHAVIOUR .....................................................................................................................................41 9.1 ACTIVITY ....................................................................................................................................41 9.2 SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ....................................................................................................................41 9.3 REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR .......................................................................................................42 9.4 BATHING .....................................................................................................................................43 9.5 BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS ..........................................................................................................43