Amazon Milk Frogs are adorable, long-lived, and easy-to-care-for amphibians. Their engaging personalities, bluish-green color with distinct brown-to-black patterns, blueish lips and toe pads, and big golden eyes make them appealing display animals for both beginning reptile enthusiasts and advanced hobbyists. Amazon Milk Frogs live an arboreal lifestyle, sleeping on branches or in bark crevices and hollow tree trunks, always near water-filled tree holes that they use for reproduction.

These frogs are a fairly social species and are best enjoyed when kept in small groups of 4 to 8 animals. Interaction within these groups enhances viewing enjoyment and stimulates their natural mating behavior. Amazon Milk Frogs have been successfully captive-bred in the USA and Europe for more than 20 years, and captive-bred juveniles are readily available in reptile stores as well as from breeders.

Characteristics:

Amazon Milk Frogs belong to the family Hylidae and the subfamily Hylinae.

These frogs are somewhat plump, with a cute, arboreal appearance. The dorsum is bluish-gray with contrasting brown bands, while the belly is creamy white with a bluish shimmer toward the flanks. The brown bands continue across the legs and feet, with each band outlined by a fine white stripe. In juveniles, the contrast between the brown bands and the bluish-gray dorsum is more pronounced. The frog’s lips, mouth, and large toepads also have a bluish hue. As the frogs age, particularly males, their skin develops glandular tubercles that release milky white secretions used as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened.

The Amazon Milk Frog’s golden iris, with its black pupil resembling a Maltese cross, has earned it the nickname “Mission Golden-eyed Tree Frog.”

With their plump physique and endearing appearance, Amazon Milk Frogs are widely regarded as among the most beautiful and easiest tree frogs to breed.

To prevent daytime evaporation and to camouflage themselves, Amazon Milk Frogs sleep on branches, in bark crevices, or within hollow tree trunks. While resting, they keep their golden eyes closed and tuck their limbs close to their body, making them barely recognizable as frogs.

During mating, Amazon Milk Frogs engage in an intimate embrace called amplexus. Male frogs develop brown nuptial (mating) pads with roughened surfaces on the first digit of their forelegs during the breeding season. These pads help males grip females during amplexus, and glands beneath the nuptial pads secrete pheromones (amplexins) that may affect the courtship duration. Males attract females with a loud mating call, audible up to 200 meters away. It typically starts with one male croaking, soon joined by others in a chorus.

Adult frogs range from 2.5–4 inches (6.5–10 cm) in length, with males generally being smaller and slimmer than females. Mature males can be identified by the loose skin on their throats, which accommodates their two large vocal sacs.

With proper feeding and care, Amazon Milk Frogs can reach adult size and sexual maturity in 12–16 months and may live up to 8 years or more.

In the Terrarium:

Amazon Milk Frogs are strictly crepuscular and nocturnal, so it’s best to feed them when they are awake. Disturbing them during daytime hours is not recommended.

As an arboreal species that prefers to live close to water, Amazon Milk Frogs thrive in a vertically oriented, well-ventilated terrarium or paludarium. A paludarium is a semi-aquatic terrarium that replicates a rainforest, swamp, or stream environment, accommodating both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. The bottom part of a paludarium features an extra-high front glass, allowing for a higher water level and increased water volume compared to common terrariums. This design enables the incorporation of a substantial water section or aquarium area for aquatic animals and plants alongside the terrestrial section.

A portion of the aquatic section may include a false bottom, which supports the land area, conceals aquatic equipment like filters, pumps, and heaters, and can serve as biological filtration media.

Amazon Milk Frogs are fairly social and are best kept in small groups of 4 to 8 individuals. Interaction within these groups enhances viewing enjoyment and also stimulates natural mating behaviors.

Nutrition:

Amazon Milk Frogs are insectivores and should be fed a variety of live, canned, or vacuum-packed insects of appropriate size. As a general rule, the insects should be no larger than the width of the frog’s head. Offering a variety of insects in your frog’s diet helps ensure they receive all essential nutrients. All live insects should be gut-loaded with nutritious foods—such as apple slices, sweet potatoes, oranges, cereals, and bee pollen—24 to 48 hours before being fed to your frog.

Amazon Milk Frogs can be picky eaters and may not consistently accept all insects. They tend to dislike worm-type insects like mealworms or superworms at times, but may readily accept them at other times. It may take them some time to adjust to tweezer feeding, but with training, most frogs will accept this method. Juvenile frogs should be fed daily, while adults can be fed every two to three days.

Water:

The availability of clean, fresh water is essential for the proper care and maintenance of captive reptiles and amphibians.

Because Amazon Milk Frogs absorb water through their skin and lay their eggs in water, it is important to always provide them with fresh, clean water. Treat tap water with Aquatize to remove harmful heavy metals, chlorine, and chloramines, ensuring safe, healthy water for your captive reptiles and amphibians. Liquid electrolytes and calcium can also be added to the water to promote healthy bone and muscle growth, especially in frogs and tadpoles.

Humidity should be maintained at an average of 70-75%, with peaks reaching 90% in the morning and evening when the terrarium is misted. This humidity range closely mimics the natural environment of Amazon Milk Frogs.

Maintenance:

Land Area: Spot-clean your Amazon Milk Frog’s enclosure once a week, or more often if necessary, to remove any feces, dead insects, or other debris. For a more thorough cleaning, remove all decor pieces and wash them with warm water. Monitor the substrate carefully; as long as it is not degrading or producing a foul odor, spot cleaning should be sufficient. Once the substrate starts to degrade or emit an unpleasant smell, it needs to be completely replaced.

Water Area: If using a water circulation pump or filter, clean the water inlet and filter media every 2–3 weeks to ensure optimal performance. Perform water changes every two weeks, removing about ¼ to ⅓ of the water and replacing it with fresh water at the appropriate temperature. Partial water changes help remove toxins and improve water quality. Avoid complete water changes unless absolutely necessary, as this can disrupt beneficial bacteria and organisms. If using water dishes, clean them daily and provide fresh water. Always treat tap water with Aquatize to remove harmful heavy metals, chlorine, and chloramines when performing water changes.

Breeding:

Reproductive Behavior and Development Cycle:

Amazon Milk Frogs have a unique reproductive behavior and development cycle. Their entire reproductive process takes place exclusively in water-filled tree holes at heights of 2 to 32 meters. While some frogs use other elevated water sources, such as bromeliad hearts or palm leaves, Amazon Milk Frogs rely solely on these tree holes. Males perform their mating calls from their designated tree hole and will defend it from any male intruder. Often, males will return to the same tree hole each breeding season. In a terrarium, water dishes, canopy caves, or other elevated water-holding containers can be used to simulate these water-filled tree holes. In nature, tadpoles remain in the tree hole until they metamorphose; in captivity, they can either be kept in the original water hole or raised in a separate, low-rearing tank. Exo Terra® Turtle Heaters preset to 78-79°F (25-26°C) can help maintain optimal water temperatures.

The Amazon Milk Frog’s breeding season typically coincides with the rainy season, usually from November to May. In captivity, breeding can occur year-round, but it is recommended to induce breeding only during the rainy season to allow the frogs a resting period to maintain health. To simulate the conditions of the rainy season, reduce the light cycle from 12 to 10 hours daily and lower the temperature to 72°F (22°C) for 5-6 weeks. During this period, keep humidity at the lower end (60%) and reduce misting from 2-3 times daily to 2-3 times weekly to create a cooler, drier environment. Allow the water temperature in the terrarium or water dish to drop to 70-72°F (21-22°C), and feed sparingly during this brumation period.

After 5-6 weeks, restore the light cycle to 12 hours per day, and return temperatures to the usual 75-85°F (24-29°C). Also, increase the water temperature back to 78°F (25°C) using Exo Terra® Turtle Heaters, which are preset to 78-79°F (25-26°C). Increase misting to simulate the rainy season, maintaining humidity at 80-85%. The frogs will become more active and increase their feeding. After a week, spray the terrarium more heavily to simulate summer rains. Once these rains stop, the males will begin their mating calls from their water-filled tree hole, attracting females and initiating amplexus.

A 2:1 male-to-female ratio is ideal for encouraging competition among males, which can lead to successful mating.

When a female approaches, she descends into the water where the male embraces her in amplexus. The pair will stay partially submerged, with the female absorbing water into her bladder to produce the gelatinous mass that surrounds the eggs. She deposits a large, floating mass of 200-1500 eggs on the inner wall of the tree hole. After laying the eggs, both frogs leave the water.

After the eggs hatch, the humidity should be reduced to a normal 70-75%.

Tadpole Development:

Within 24-48 hours, the 5-7 mm long tadpoles hatch and float near the water surface for several days. In nature, they initially feed on detritus, algae, decaying plant fragments, and parts of dead insects, but will begin feeding on eggs (opportunistic oophagy) if another female deposits eggs in the same water hole. In captivity, the tadpoles are generalists, feeding on frog and tadpole food, dead insects, chopped earthworms, fish food flakes, algae, and decaying leaves.

It takes approximately 1.5-2.5 months for the tadpoles to fully metamorphose into air-breathing amphibians. During this time, it is crucial to provide plants, branches, or a sloped surface so the metamorphosing tadpoles can easily access the land area.

After metamorphosis, the young frogs will absorb the remnants of their tails for a few days before they begin feeding on appropriately sized food items, such as fruit flies, freshly hatched crickets, bloodworms, waxworm hatchlings, and flour moth larvae. As with adults, feeder insects should be dusted with a multivitamin and Calcium +D3 powder supplement. The young frogs can be raised in conditions similar to those of adult frogs, though water depth should be kept shallow with slopes for easy land access.

Handling:

Amazon Milk Frogs are agile and do not tolerate frequent handling well. If held for an extended period, they may try to escape, leaping into the air and potentially injuring themselves. For this reason, we do not recommend excessive handling. If you need to inspect one of your frogs, consider guiding it into a clear plastic tub to avoid direct contact.

Like most amphibians, Amazon Milk Frogs have highly sensitive skin and are especially vulnerable to chemicals like soap and lotion. Always thoroughly wash and rinse your hands with warm water both before and after handling any amphibian.

All amphibians have mildly toxic substances on their skin that can irritate the eyes or open wounds, so take care to avoid touching your face during handling. If you accidentally touch your eyes, you may experience a mild burning sensation; should this happen, rinse your eyes immediately and thoroughly with water, which should relieve the discomfort.

DISCLAIMER: Always thoroughly wash and rinse your hands with warm water both before and after handling any reptile, amphibian, or invertebrate.