Amazon Milk Frogs

Oat, soy and coconut the amazon milk frogs

These three are amazon milk frogs, they’re babies at around a year old. They are native to the amazon rain forest, they're commonly found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and they live high up in the canopy of tropical rainforests. They can grow to 2.5-4 inches in length, the females are usually a bit bigger than males and they can live up to 8-10 years in captivity.

By Lola Watts (Student Volunteer Ranger)

Key Facts

Poison glands!

Wearing gloves can also protect us, as amazon milk frogs can produce a mild milky secretion when stressed, while not toxic to us it can irritate our eyes or skin. Gloves can also reduce the risk of any bacteria the amphibians may be carrying or the accidental transfer of pathogens between vivariums and animals.

Insectivorous

Amazon milk frogs are insectivores and currently eat small locust or small insects.

Enclosure requirements

Their temperature should be about 24-28c in daytime and 20-23c in nighttime, their humidity should be at around 60-80%.

Please wear gloves!

When handling frogs, you need to wear gloves as their skin is very sensitive, thin and absorbent meaning it absorbs water, oxygen and chemicals directly from their environment and through touch. This means that they can absorb soap or hand sanitizer residue, lotions or perfumes and natural oils from our skin which can irritate their skin and can cause serious health issues.

Did you know?

Did you know that most amphibians eat their shed? A frog's shed skin is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, by eating their shed they're making sure none of those vital things go to waste. In the wild, leaving behind their shed could attract predators but even in captivity they naturally do this as they are born knowing how to do it.

We eat with our eyes!

Did you know frogs use their eyes to eat? Amphibians, including the amazon milk frogs, will use their eyes as a part of the feeding process, amphibians have muscles connected to their eyeballs that also run along their oral cavity which help with pushing their food down their throat. Amphibs have slightly flexible skulls with soft tissue behind their eyes, allowing the eyeballs to compress into the oral cavity during swallowing.