Defining Characteristics:

• Great beginner tree frog
• Bright tan and gold coloration
• Bold personality
• Loud call
• Small size
• Can be housed in groups

Name: The Hourglass Tree Frog has a very obvious common name – it has a golden hourglass shape on its back! It’s scientific name is Dendropsophus ebraccatus which means to not wear pants. The hourglass tree frog was previously known as Hyla ebraccata. 

Recommended Terrarium Size: Hourglass Tree Frogs are easy to house. They are smaller tree frogs, and can inhabit a smaller enclosure–a 12x12x18 glass terrarium is a good size for 1-2 juveniles or adults.

Opinions on substrates vary–we’ve had luck with finely ground coconut fiber, damp paper towel, and sphagnum moss. If using sphagnum moss, make sure to press down the moss so it is flat–this will greatly reduce the risk of impaction. Paper towel will need to be changed 2-3 times a week.

Hourglass Tree Frogs need constant access to fresh, clean water–a large water bowl is a must! Use an easy-to-clean dish, as the frog will be using the dish as a latrine and you will need to clean daily. Scrub the dish and disinfect with a 5% bleach solution or ReptiSan.

Want to make caring for your Hourglass Tree Frogs easy? Check out the Josh's Frogs Tree Frog Kits!

Temperature (°F): They do best when kept in the mid-high 70s. At Josh's Frogs, we house our hourglass tree frogs at 74-76°. Temperatures in the mid/high 80s can quickly be fatal, especially when coupled with a lack of water or humidity.

Measure temperature with a digital thermometer.

Humidity: Hourglass Tree Frogs require moderately high humidity, and are best kept at 60-70% humidity. Providing ventilation is very important-we recommend using at least a half screen top. Stagnant, humid conditions quickly leads to bacterial skin infections in Hourglass Tree Frogs. A large dish of clean water should always be provided.

Monitor humidity with a digital hygrometer.

Size: At the time of sale, captive bred Hourglass Tree Frogs from Josh’s Frogs will measure about 1/2 an inch and be between 8 and 10 weeks old. After about 10 months they will be nearly adult size, with males measuring about 3/4 of an inch and females around 1 & 1/2 inches. 

Age: With proper care, Hourglass Tree Frogs can live up to and over 5 years. Reports of 8-10 year old animals abound, and many hobbyists routinely keep Hourglass Tree Frogs for 4-5 years. All Hourglass Tree Frog froglets sold by Josh's Frogs are 8-10 weeks old.

Feeding: At the time of sale, captive bred Hourglass Tree Frogs from Josh’s Frogs have been chowing down on 1/4 inch crickets, and they will continue to eat that size for the rest of their life. All crickets should be be dusted with a quality vitamin/mineral supplement. At Josh's Frogs, we dust with Repashy Calcium Plus, Rep-Cal Calcium with D₃, and Rep-Cal Herptivite.

Sexing: Hourglass Tree Frogs are fairly easy to sex as adults. Females are much larger than males, with a wider and more stout head. Females will be about 1 inch longer than males, and are easily 50% heavier.

All Hourglass Tree Frog froglets sold by Josh's Frogs are unsexable.

Color/Pattern: In daylight, Hourglass Tree Frogs are more of a muted brown, yellow, and cream color. At night when they are active, these frogs are bright white, tan, and gold in color-very pretty little frogs!

Social Behavior: These frogs are easily kept in groups, especially when young. Make sure that all frogs are getting adequate food, as sometimes froglets will outcompete each other. We house males and females separately at Josh's Frogs, considering males may bother females by constantly trying to mate. If this happens, separate the frogs or reduce the humidity. 

Breeding: Hourglass Tree Frogs travel down to the forest floor in search of pools of water to breed. Eggs are laid on vegetation hanging above the pools or among vegetation that's partially submerged—eggs can be laid at, above, or below the water's surface. Tadpoles quickly grow in the pools, and can leave the water in 6-8 weeks. Young Hourglass Tree Frogs live around the edges of the pools, before making their way back up into the canopy. In captivity, hourglass tree frogs are typically bred in a rain chamber.

Natural Range: In the wild, Hourglass Tree Frogs inhabit the canopy of tropical rainforests, and are endemic to Mexico, all the way through Central America, to the western coast of Colombia. They rely on camouflage to blend in, and do a great job during inactivity during the day!

History in the Hobby: Hourglass Tree Frogs have had a mixed history in the hobby. Available typically as wild caught animals that did not survive for long, captive bred hourglass tree frogs tend to be hardy captives. Increasing numbers of hourglass tree frogs are available from businesses and hobbyists - definitely a step in the right direction!

Links of Interest:

• Hourglass Tree Frogs on Wikipedia
• IUCN Redlist - Hyla ebraccatus

Still not sure if Hourglass Tree Frogs from Josh's Frogs are the right pet frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!