Litoria caerulea — Fact Sheet
Litoria caerulea · Litoria caerulea
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 8-12 cm |
| Lifespan | 10-20 years |
| Subspecies | No captive-care subspecies split |
| Origin | Northern and eastern Australia and southern New Guinea, using woodland, savanna edges, human structures, and seasonal |
| Activity | Nocturnal |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Legal | CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply |
🏠 Enclosure
- Aquarium, paludarium, or terrarium matched to aquatic, semi-aquatic, terrestrial, or arboreal lifestyle
- Adult size must allow normal movement, stable water/soil conditions, and multiple hides
- Substrate: safe aquatic sand/bare bottom for aquatic species, drainage and leaf litter for terrestrial frogs
- Avoid sharp decor, contaminated water, soap residue, and mixed-species setups
🪨 Enclosure furniture
- Hides, plants, leaf litter, cork, water area, and climbing/resting surfaces as appropriate
- Easy access between land and water for semi-aquatic species
- No rough decor that damages delicate skin
💡 Lighting
- Strong lighting is usually unnecessary; planted setups may use moderate LEDs
- Low-level UVB can be useful for some species but must be paired with shade
- Keep a stable day-night rhythm
- Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no constant night light
🌡️ Temperature
Daytime air: 24-28 °C
Cool zone: 20-22 °C
Night: 20-23 °C
Measure air temperature at animal level and check sheltered areas separately. Avoid direct hot spots; use room heating or cooling where practical and control any heater with a thermostat.
💧 Humidity & water
- Stable clean water or high humidity according to species
- Dechlorinate all water and monitor aquarium parameters for aquatic amphibians
- Ventilation must prevent stagnant moldy air
- Avoid sudden temperature, pH, or moisture changes
🪳 Diet
Feed regularly:
- Earthworms, roaches, crickets, fruit flies, or aquatic foods sized to the species
In moderation:
- Waxworms, mealworms, and rich foods
Avoid:
- Wild-caught insects, oversized prey, hard sharp prey, feeder fish
Supplements:
- Gut-load feeders; use calcium/vitamins carefully for terrestrial frogs and none in aquarium water
🩺 Health — warning signs
- Red or inflamed skin → water quality, infection, or toxin issue
- Curled gills or surface gulping → water quality/flow/temperature problem
- Refusal to eat → temperature, stress, or disease
- Bloating → serious illness or water-balance issue
- Shedding problems → humidity, water quality, or skin disease
Consult a reptile- or exotic-animal veterinarian for severe weakness, injury, breathing signs, swelling, or prolonged refusal to eat.