How long do White's tree frogs live?

White's tree frogs live 12–20 years with good care.

How big do White's tree frogs get?

3-5 in (7.5-12.5 cm) snout to vent.

Amphibians · Ranoidea caerulea

White's tree frog enclosure & care

Q: How much is a White's tree frog?

A White's tree frog usually costs $25–$80. Prices vary based on color morph, age or size, and whether purchased from a local pet store, specialized breeder, or rescue organization. The setup adds more: the first year all in, with setup and supplies, runs $590–$1,190.

White's tree frogs need at least an 18 × 18 × 24 in enclosure, an 82–84°F basking spot and UVB lighting. They live 12–20 years, and a complete setup costs $365–$720.

Lifespan: 12–20 years
Adult size: 3-5 in (7.5-12.5 cm) snout to vent
Smallest enclosure: 18×18×24 in
Diet: Crickets, roaches, worms, supplements
Handling: Tolerates brief handling
First year: $590–$1,190

A correctly set up White's tree frog enclosure — Illustration of a correct setup, checked against this guide. The numbers on this page are what your animal needs, not the picture.

Layout drawn from the numbers on this page, not to scale. Humidity 50–70%.

What do White's tree frogs eat?

Insectivores. Feed juveniles daily and adults 2-3 times a week, as many gut-loaded crickets or dubia roaches as they will eat in about 15 minutes, with earthworms, silkworms and the odd waxworm for variety. Dust feeders with calcium and a multivitamin.

Food per year: $120–$250

White's tree frog temperature & humidity

Basking surface

82–84°F

Warm side

74–78°F

Cool side

70–74°F

Night: 65–72°F
Humidity: 50–70%

Aim for about 50% humidity by day, with a spike to 70-80% after the evening misting, then let it dry back down. Soggy, stagnant air invites skin infections, so keep the tank ventilated rather than constantly wet.

White's tree frog enclosure size

18 × 18 × 24 in (1.5 × 1.5 × 2 ft) for an adult. Front-opening glass terrarium, vertical layout.

Juveniles can be raised in a smaller enclosure such as 12x12x18 inches or a 10-gallon tall tank to ensure they easily find food.

They do fine alone or in a small group of similar-sized adults. Add about 10 gallons of space per extra frog, and don't mix in other species.

Lighting & heat

UVB: Low-output UVB, such as an Arcadia ShadeDweller T5 kit or a 5-6% T5 HO tube over the screen, with the frog's top branch at least 6 in below it

Heat: 25W white basking bulb in a small dome over the screen, on a dimming thermostat; no heat light at night unless the room drops below 65°F

Day length: 12 hours of light

Substrate

Good choices: Tropical bioactive soil mix; Coco coir; ABG mix; Unbroken layer of leaf litter over soil; Damp paper towels (quarantine only).

Avoid: Small gravel or pebbles; Reptile bark chips without leaf litter cover; Sphagnum moss as top layer; Untreated garden soil; Cedar or pine wood shavings.

How much is a White's tree frog?

The White's tree frog itselfPrices vary based on color morph, age or size, and whether purchased from a local pet store, specialized breeder, or rescue organization.: $25–$80
Setup, essentials: $365–$720
Every year after: $225–$470
First year, setup plus supplies: $590–$1,190

What you keep buying, per year

Live Feeder Insects (Crickets & Dubia Roaches)White's Tree Frogs are strict insectivores that require a steady, varied diet of gut-loaded live feeders.	weekly	$120–$250
Water Conditioner & Dusting SupplementsTap water dechlorinator is essential for daily misting and soaking, while calcium and multivitamin powders must be replaced before degrading.	every 3-6 months	$25–$45
Substrate & Leaf Litter ReplacementsRefreshing damp tropical substrate and leaf litter prevents harmful bacterial growth and ammonia accumulation from frog waste.	every 1-3 months	$40–$90
T5 HO UVB Bulb ReplacementUVB output degrades over time even though the bulb still emits visible light, risking metabolic bone disease if not swapped regularly.	every 6-12 months	$25–$50
Incandescent/Halogen Basking BulbHeat bulbs eventually burn out or suffer filament degradation, requiring timely replacement to maintain proper ambient thermal gradients.	every 6-12 months	$15–$35

Typical US prices. Vet care isn't included: budget for a check-up with an exotics vet after your pet comes home, and keep an emergency fund.

Are White's tree frogs good pets?

Yes, and a good first pet.

White's tree frogs live 12–20 years, need about 10–20 minutes of care a day and cost $225–$470 a year in supplies. They tolerate brief, calm handling.

Handling: Tolerates brief handling
Difficulty: Beginner
Daily care: 10–20 min
Lives: 12–20 years
Before you buy: Legal to keep in most US states. Hawaii does not allow them as pets.

Before your White's tree frog comes home

01
2-3 weeks before
Assemble enclosure and set up heating and lighting controls
Installing the lighting, heating bulb, and dimming thermostat early ensures all electrical equipment operates safely before animal arrival.
02
1 week before
Run the enclosure empty to calibrate temperature and humidity
Monitoring parameters with digital gauges without the frog inside prevents fatal overheating, thermal burns, or severe dehydration.
03
48 hours before
Establish clean water and gut-load feeder insects
Preparing dechlorinated water in advance and feeding live insects ensures nutritional supplementation is ready for immediate post-arrival care.
04
day one
Place the frog directly into the habitat and minimize disturbance
Immediate, stress-free transfer into a dark, quiet enclosure reduces shock and allows the amphibian to acclimate smoothly.
05
first two weeks
Maintain a strict hands-off quarantine period while monitoring appetite
Leaving the frog alone while verifying that it hunts, produces healthy droppings, and shows no skin lesions prevents stress-induced illness.
06
first 30 days
Schedule a baseline wellness visit with an exotics veterinarian
An initial exam and fecal check by an experienced exotics vet rule out parasite overgrowths and establish baseline health records.

Common setup mistakes

Keeping the tank constantly wet with humidity above 70%, which leads to bacterial skin infections.
Using unconditioned tap water containing harmful chlorine and heavy metals.
Exposing bare damp soil or sphagnum moss where food can stick, causing fatal impaction.
Using heat rocks or bottom heat pads inside the terrarium, which severely burn sensitive amphibian skin.
Handling frogs with dry hands or hands that carry soap, lotion or sanitizer, which their skin absorbs; rinse with dechlorinated water first and keep handling brief.

Questions people ask

What size tank does a White's Tree Frog need?

One adult needs a tall terrarium of at least 18 x 18 x 24 inches. For a pair or small group, go bigger, adding about 10 gallons of space per extra frog.

What temperature and humidity do White's Tree Frogs need?

Give a basking spot of 82-84°F under a low-wattage bulb, general air of 74-78°F, and nights of 65-72°F. Keep humidity around 50% by day, rising to 70-80% after the evening misting.

What essential supplies do I need to set up a White's Tree Frog tank?

You need a vertical glass terrarium, overhead heat light on a dimming thermostat, linear Ferguson Zone 2 T5 UVB lighting, shallow water dish, dechlorinated water, digital thermohygrometers, climbing branches, leaf-litter covered soil, and dusting supplements.

How much does a White's Tree Frog setup cost?

Expect to spend about $365-$720 on the essentials: a tall terrarium, low-wattage heat and UVB with a thermostat, gauges, substrate and leaf litter, branches, and supplements. Live plants or a full bioactive kit cost more.

Sources

The numbers on this page come from these care sheets and references, checked October 2026. How we make these guides.