Amazon milk frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix)

Short answers

Amazon milk frog: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Arboreal and tall: from approx. 60×45×60 cm for one animal; ~80×50×100 cm for a group of 3–4; with climbing branches and a water-filled tree hollow or bromeliad as a spawning site.

Amazon milk frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, at night 22–24 °C (slight drop).

Amazon milk frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential (nocturnal); weak UVB optional.

Amazon milk frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 8–12 years (up to ~15).

Amazon milk frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

22–24 °C (slight drop)

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

UVB not essential (nocturnal); weak UVB optional

Enclosure

Minimum size

arboreal and tall: from approx. 60×45×60 cm for one animal; ~80×50×100 cm for a group of 3–4; with climbing branches and a water-filled tree hollow or bromeliad as a spawning site

Substrate

Coco humus or forest floor with moss, dense planting, climbing branches, a water dish

Feeding

Food

Crickets, locusts, roaches, worms; adults occasionally take a pinkie

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

6–8 cm (females up to ~8 cm, males up to ~7.5 cm)

Life expectancy

approx. 8–12 years (up to ~15)

Origin

The Amazon basin (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas)

Protection status

No CITES protection; captive-bred animals are freely tradable

Brumation

No real winter rest; possibly simulate a dry or rainy season to stimulate breeding

Cohabitation

Group keeping is possible and recommended – a sociable species, ideally a group of three or four (or a pair); keeping them singly is possible as well. Only similarly sized animals of the same species; avoid size differences (large frogs eat smaller ones).

Notes

The "milk frog": under stress it releases a milky, sticky, skin-irritating secretion – wash your hands after contact and minimise handling. Loud callers. A tree-hole breeder (spawn in water-filled cavities). Robust and easy to care for.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Red-eyed tree frog (Litoria chloris) – Intermediate
• European tree frog (Hyla arborea) – Beginner to intermediate
• Fringed leaf frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus) – Expert
• Splendid leaf frog (Cruziohyla calcarifer) – Expert
• Gliding leaf frog (Agalychnis spurrelli) – Intermediate
• White's tree frog (Litoria caerulea) – Beginner
• Cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) – Beginner
• Lemur leaf frog (Agalychnis lemur) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Amazon milk frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (arboreal and tall: from approx. 60×45×60 cm for one animal; ~80×50×100 cm for a group of 3–4; with climbing branches and a water-filled tree hollow or bromeliad as a spawning site), substrate (Coco humus or forest floor with moss, dense planting, climbing branches, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.