Peron’s Tree Frog – Litoria peronii

Our backyard is home to an unknown number of these common but lovely tree frogs. They are there because around 12 months ago I rescued as many tadpoles as I could from a friend’s leaking in-ground swimming pool. ( It was due to be emptied and repaired).
Most of the tadpoles were placed in the frog pond but about 6 were raised indoors in an old fish tank. They grew quickly on a diet of boiled lettuce and fish flake food. Once they became young metamorphs all but one were released down by the pond. Some of them escaped the fish tank and climbed up the nearest wall. It took a while to find them! Below is a picture of one such escapee.

As I said, all but one were released by the pond. The remaining metamorph was kept in a nursery and fattened up with insects caught around the yard. A bright light at night near a white surface is a great way to catch moths etc. Catching enough food is quite difficult so crickets bought from the local pet shop were the main food source. My little frog was released after about a month – a strong, fit fellow and now quite skilled at catching his food. (Some frogs I have raised in a nursery in the past have been hopeless. It is a wonder that any of them survive the early days in the wild at all!)

It is wonderful that a year later some of these frogs are still living in our backyard. One lives and calls from somewhere down by the pond. 3 have taken up residence in a hanging pot. It is one of those with a water well and it hangs from the pergola which is covered with a sultana grape vine. No, we have not eaten any. The birds get them all before they are sweet enough for human consumption. I think the sticky grape juice the birds manage to send everywhere is attracting lots of insects for the trio. They look so cute with their heads poking out the water hole!

The best news of all is that the frogs are breeding and we have tadpoles in the frog pond. 🙂

Click for a slideshow of the frogs

Information about Peron’s Tree Frog ( link to Frogs Australia Network Database)

Frog Call (mp3)

Posted on January 6th, 2008 by Sue
Filed under: Frogs | 27 Comments »