Scientific Name: Phyllomedusa azurea.
Common Names: Orange-legged Monkey Frog, Grasping Frog, and Orange-legged Leaf Frog, Tiger-leg Monkey Frog.
Distribution: Columbia, Guianas, Chaco of Argentina, Paraguay, & Bolivia.
Size: 1.5 - 2".
Colouration: The back is a bright leaf-green - translucent brown (depending on mood and conditions). A white stripe runs from the top lip and over the fore leg where it turns to yellow-orange and continues to the base of the hind leg. This colouration continues down the insides of all four legs and over the hands where it is broken up with a network of brown.
Requirements: Being a rather active species they require quite a spacious terrarium. A 24"x24"x24" tank would be ideal for 2-3 adults. They require a woodland type set up with a substrate of either bark chips or topsoil covered with a layer of live moss. The tank can be furnished with a selection of twigs, logs, cork bark, and live plants such as Grasses. These items should be arranged in such a way that they provide a number of climbing, perching and hiding areas for the frogs. A medium sized water bowl (no deeper than the frog's height at rest) should be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. The enclosure will need to be heated to a daytime temperature of 26-28°C with a drop at night to 22-24°C. This can be done using an under tank heat-mat controlled by a thermostat. Spot bulbs / heat lamps are not recommended for use with amphibians and so a fluorescent UVB tube should be provided as a light source.
Maintenance: Water will need changing daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria. Whilst changing the water it is a good idea to spot clean the tank and remove, clean, and replace any soiled items. At least once a month the entire terrarium and it's contents should be striped, cleaned, and sterilized using an amphibian friendly disinfectant.
Feeding: Young should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including fruitflies, aphids and hatchling crickets. These food items should be dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement two-three times a week. Adults will take slightly larger insects including small crickets, hatchling locusts, moths, and curly flies. They should be fed every two-three days and the insects dusted with calcium and vitamin supplements once a week.
