Kvaksha vulgaris: a description. Maintenance at home, care and nutrition

The common tree frog, a representative of the order of the tailless family of the frog, is a miniature frog with a body length of about 5.5 cm, long hind legs and a glossy surface of the skin. Remarkably, the frog is variable in the coloration of the skin. This change can take place literally before our eyes: everything depends on the color of the surrounding substrate and the emotional state. The usual color of the frog is green, but can acquire all shades of white, gray and brownish-brown colors. The ordinary kvaksha (amphibian class) is a peaceful and cleanliness creature. This article will tell about her, her dwelling in nature and the peculiarities of the content at home.

Lifestyle in the wild

A frog-tree (the second name of a tree frog) is found almost on the whole European territory. Usually quiet, it sits on rocks, plants, trunks or leaves of trees, in the grass. It does not immediately notice in nature - its kind of tree frog looks like a leaf of a tree, besides it is well disguised as the surrounding entourage. So she hunts, waiting for insects. The ordinary kvaksha is an animal active: it perfectly swims, easily jumps on plants. In nature, the activity of the frog grows with the onset of twilight, it is at this time that a real hunt begins. Darkness does not prevent a frog from searching for prey - it has great eyesight. The overwhelming part of its diet consists of flying insects: mosquitoes, flies, butterflies. But she does not disdain to catch small, mobile living creatures. Its weapon is not only sticky tongue, but also jaws with which it can capture flightless prey. Is the tree fowl poisonous? No, it's a harmless sight, the tree fox grabs its prey honestly, without paralyzing it. The protection of the frog from external danger is its ability to hide, merging with the surrounding world.

In summer, during the active season, the tree frogs do not hide in crevices or mink. They rest and hide from the danger and bad weather in the foliage of bushes or grass. Winter is waited under the ground, climbing into holes left by other animals, under rocks, in crevices of rocks, hollows of trees, can leave for the winter on the bottom of the reservoir.

Reproduction of a tree frog

To multiply frogs, you need to choose a suitable place - a standing pond surrounded by banks with high vegetation (trees, shrubs, cane). Males, sitting in water or on bushes, attract females with rhythmic appeals, thanks to the available throat resonators. We all heard croaking frogs. It is the developed resonators that nature has provided to males that allow them to make very loud sounds. On the spawning pond, where all the district males gather, an impressive choir is spontaneously organized, reaching its apogee, usually in the evening hours. The females are only able to lay eggs and go off to the breeding site, and the males do not leave the spawning period from here, so the majority of them and the females can always choose in the pond.

The female lays several portions (from 3 to 21) of eggs, which is a lump attached to aquatic plants from a different number of eggs. They can be from 15 to 215 pcs. Embryos develop one to two weeks, transforming into larvae grow another 1.5-3 months. It happens that the larvae hibernate and grow into small frogs only in the next year. Baby-frogs first keep on the shores of their native reservoir, and then, by analogy with the behavior of adult individuals, they find a place for wintering. Sexually mature frogs become aged 2-4 years. In the wild, the frogfish can live up to 12 years, and when kept in the terrarium, it can reach 20-22.

Problems: reduction in the number of populations

Quaker common - a vivid example of the rapid disappearance of amphibians. Over the past 100 years, its range in Russian borders has decreased markedly - in some central regions of the European part and within the Southern Urals, this species of frogs has disappeared. The number of frogs in other European countries is also declining. The main cause of this disaster is industrial pollution of the environment, or, as they say, biotopes of the species.

Maybe that's why, frogs today have become a favorite object of keeping in domestic terrariums. Let's talk about the rules of care for these animals and the necessary equipment to provide them with a comfortable life.

What to prepare: terrarium vertical

For a tree frog, a vertical aquatorarium is suitable, which includes a small pond, a stretch of shore and vegetation. The minimum size of the terrarium for placing 1-2 animals is 20x20 cm at the base and 50 cm in height (without taking into account the height of the luminaire). It is necessary to equip the tank with an additional downward-directed day heating, using an incandescent lamp or a mirror lamp. At night the terrarium is not heated. The temperature should be maintained at 23-26 ° C in the daytime, 16-20 ° C at night.

Inside, imitating the natural landscape:

• Place small snags, branches, branches, on which the frog will rest.

• Plant or install in containers moisture-loving plants: bromeliads, anubias, orchid, small ficuses, philodendrons, scindapus, etc.

• Arrange a shallow (8-15 cm) body of water with aquarium plants - echinodorus, cryptocoryn. The bottom is spread with aquarium pebbles, near the shore a large stone is set, which stands out from the water. You can run a few snails-ampulyary in the reservoir, providing a natural cleaning of the walls.

• At the back or side wall of the terrarium, the shore is equipped with a substrate, which is necessary for the placed plants. When using pot plants, the shore is covered with sphagnum.

Every day the terrarium is sprinkled with warm water - the moss should not dry out. The kvaksh can be kept singly or in groups.

Another type of terrarium

They use another entourage in the terrarium - without land plants, but only with representatives of aquarium flora floating in the water. Such aquaterrarium should be a large volume: on the base - 30x30 cm, height - 40-50 cm. Water is poured to half, large stones are installed with imitation of grottoes, a large number of aquarium plants are placed. Experience shows that tree frogs feel good in such conditions.

Equip any terrarium in such a way that it is easy to clean. It is necessary to conduct such events at least once every 3-4 weeks.

What you need to know about the characteristics of behavior

The frog frog with its peace-loving temperament, good appetite and calm behavior quickly adapts in conditions of captivity. As a rule, it does not create problems for future masters, but one should take into account the fact that the male will periodically "sing". It is noticed that males like to "talk", especially if they hear the sounds of music or conversation. Females are more silent: she can voice only in case of danger. Predominantly the nighttime natural activity of frogs at home is somewhat different: the frogs in the terrariums are more mobile during the day, and at night they are resting.

Change in coloring in conditions of captivity

If the tree frog has changed the habitual green color of the skin, you should pay attention to it. Darkening is an indicator for any irritation. The fading of the color signals that the animal is cold, it is necessary to turn on the heating. It is necessary to conduct sessions of ultraviolet irradiation (15 minutes every other day) to destroy pathogens.

Kvaksha vulgaris: keeping and feeding

In the conditions of the terrarium, the frogs are fed with house / banana crickets, marble cockroaches, flour worms, zofobas, etc. Tadpoles, as a rule, are carnivorous. They are fed and invertebrates (daphnia, bloodworm, cyclops). Young people are fed every day, adults - every 2 days. Once a month, vitamins (in accordance with the instructions) and calcium preparations, crushed egg shells are added to the feed.

Breeding

At the end of wintering, the male and female are placed in the terrarium together. The female lays several portions of caviar, which are attached to aquatic plants. Tadpoles appear after 8-14 days and another 1.5-3 months develop. They are recommended to be planted separately in specially prepared horizontal water aquariums with a bridge to exit the water after conversion. Before metamorphosis, the tadpole reaches 4.5-5 cm. The water temperature is maintained at 20-24 ° C, aeration by the compressor is necessary, as well as controlled filtration.

The rest period

Quaker common - reptile with a pronounced rest period. In winter it must be provided for "domestic" pets:

• Reduce the preheating heating for 2 weeks;

• the tree frog is placed in a breathable, but without access to light, a garden filled with wet moss, and placed in a cool place (15-17 ˚С) for 2-4 days;

• The container is placed on the shelf of the refrigerator, where the temperature is maintained at 8-10 ° C for 2 months (do not forget to keep the humidity in the cage).

The way out of wintering is carried out in the reverse order.