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How to Care for Amazon Milk Frog: Habitat, Food, & Health

Published on January 16th, 2026

Updated on January 20th, 2026

Written by Petco's Animal Care, Education and Compliance Team

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Overview

Trachycephalus resinifictrix

Amazon Milk frogs are also known as mission golden-eyed tree frog or blue milk frog. Amazon Milk frogs are arboreal amphibians native to the tropical regions of South America along the shores of bogs, ponds and streams. The male’s distinct call can be easily heard in the evening and late at night, especially during the species natural breeding season or just before stormy weather. They thrive in groups of the same species, love to climb and have a friendly nature.

Typical appearance and behavior

They’re called "milk frog" for the milk-like, sticky, mild toxin secreted through their skin when stressed, protecting them from predators, although, rarely seen in captivity
Adults are light grey with dark banding but can appear bluish because their blood is blue, visible through their skin, especially in their mouth and toe pads
Nocturnal (active at night); typically sleep during the day unless disturbed
Arboreal (love to climb)
Females are usually larger than males
Milk frogs are a social species and do being in small groups.

Characteristics

Care Difficulty	Beginner
Average Life Span	Up to 8+ years with proper care
Average Adult Size	Males up to 2.5 inches long Females up to 4 inches long
Diet	Insectivore
Minimum Habitat Size	29-gallon aquarium minimum for 2-3 adults

Habitat

Habitat size

Provide a minimum 29-gallon glass tank for up to 3 frogs with a securely fitting screen top to prevent escape and allow adequate ventilation. Appropriate size and shape habitat should accommodate normal behavior and exercise. Provide as large a habitat as possible. Being arboreal, it is best to select a tall type of habitat verses a longer one.

Amazon milk frogs will continue to grow throughout their lives, and older animals can be quite large.

Building your habitat

Décor - Include live or artificial plants, with driftwood, vines, cork bark or other types of branches that create perching areas. While décor should be arranged for climbing, do not overcrowd the tank to enable insects to hide during feeding. Arrange branches and driftwood on the diagonal in the tank while connecting the floor to the top so that frogs can move around. Cover the back wall with dark green paper on the outside or use large suction cups to attach slabs of cork bark to the back wall to reduce stress and make frogs feel more secure. Ensure live plants/décor have not been treated with chemicals such as herbicides or pesticides and wash all plastic décor prior to use.
Substrate - Use a mulch-type such as coconut fiber, dampened sphagnum moss or large river rocks. Avoid gravel, small pieces of bark or small rocks that can be easily swallowed and lead to a potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal tract obstruction. Do not use reptile carpet or other artificial turf, as it is too harsh for frogs’ delicate skin.
Temperature – Habitats should be 65-75°F at night with a temperature range during the day of 70-85°F. Monitor temperatures with at least two thermometers. Under-tank heating pads under half the tank and attached to a thermostat can provide additional heat. Large rocks placed over the heating pad will absorb heat and provide a warm place for frogs to sit. You can also provide heat with a low-wattage (15 watt) incandescent bulb during the day and a nocturnal heat bulb placed over a high perching spot. If additional heat is needed, a ceramic heat bulb can also be used.
Lighting – Fluorescent lighting for 10-12 hours a day is needed. An incandescent day bulb can be used to provide light and low levels of heat in the basking area during daylight hours if not using an under-tank heating pad or ceramic heat bulb. Low-level UVB lighting is recommended to help frogs make vitamin D in their skin to absorb dietary calcium. Provide hiding places to hide from light, as needed.
Humidity – Supply dechlorinated water in a large, untippable bowl to help maintain humidity at 50-70% and to allow frogs to soak. Mist plants and other habitat décor to increase humidity. Monitor humidity with a humidity gauge.

Cleaning your habitat

Thoroughly clean and disinfect water bowls daily
The habitat should be spot cleaned daily to remove droppings
Thoroughly clean the habitat at least once a week:
Place frog in a secure temporary habitat
Scrub the tank and furnishings with a reptile/amphibian habitat cleaner or 3% bleach solution
Rinse thoroughly with hot water until no residue remains—it is imperative that all traces of the cleaner or bleach solution are gone
Dry the tank and furnishings completely and add fresh substrate back into the habitat before placing frog back in the habitat

What do Amazon Milk frogs eat?

A well-balanced Amazon Milk frog diet consists of:

A variety of insects, including gut-loaded (recently fed) crickets, roaches, mealworms, waxworms, calci-worms and small hornworms
A large bowl of dechlorinated water, refreshed daily, in the bottom of the habitat in which frogs can soak to maintain hydration (frogs absorb water through their skin). Do not use distilled water, as it lacks the minerals and salts needed for frogs to maintain their hydration

Things to remember when feeding your Amazon Milk frog:

Fresh, clean, chlorine-free water should be available at all times
Feed juveniles daily, adults every other day
Insects fed should be no longer than the width of the frog’s head
Sprinkle food with calcium supplement daily. Add a multivitamin supplement daily for juvenile frogs and 2-3 times a week for adults

Care

As frogs have very delicate, porous skin that absorbs bacteria and oils from our skin and can get damaged easily, do not handle unless necessary. Always wear moistened, non-powdered gloves when handling your frog.
Amazon Milk frogs secrete toxins from their skin to ward off predators. Because this secretion is irritating for humans, do not allow the frog’s secretions to contact your eyes, mouth, or open wounds.

Where to buy Amazon Milk frogs

Amazon Milk frogs are available for purchase at your local Petco Pet Care Center location. Please call ahead to check availability.

Supplies

Habitat mates

Amazon Milk frogs of the same species may be housed together in small groups, but do not house different amphibian or reptile species together

Health

Signs of a healthy Amazon Milk frog

Active and alert at night
Clear eyes, nose and mouth
Skin free of sores, wounds or discoloration
Clear vent
Plump, rounded body
Eats food and passes stool regularly
Males vocalize loudly particularly during breeding season[EW1]
Climbs readily
Hunts prey actively

Red flags (If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian)

Weight loss or decreased appetite
Lethargy
Bloated abdomen or other body parts
Skin lesions or discoloration
Distressed breathing
Weak movements
Sunken eyes
Dull reactions
Excess hanging shed skin
Discharge or bubbles from eyes, nose or mouth

Common health issues

Health Issue	Symptoms or Causes	Suggested Action
Chemical intoxication	Caused by exposure to soap, detergent, pesticides, oils on human skin or other chemicals that are absorbed through their porous skin.	Consult your veterinarian; protect your amphibian from exposure by handling only with moistened, non-powder gloved hands and removing all cleaning products from habitat before placing your amphibian inside.
Intestinal obstruction	Lethargy, decreased appetite, bloating; may be caused by swallowing gravel or other indigestible substrates, by eating too many hard-shelled insects and/or in addition to incorrect temperature or humidity.	Consult your veterinarian; surgery may be required.
Nutritional deficiencies/ metabolic bone disease	Weakness, fractured bones, lethargy, decreased appetite, change in skin color.	Consult your veterinarian; ensure a varied diet; use vitamin and mineral supplements and ensure proper UVB lighting.
Skin problems	Lesions, sores and discoloration of skin; caused by bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections.	Consult your veterinarian.

Amazon Milk Frog FAQs

Can you touch an Amazon Milk frog?

<p>Yes, but you must always wear moistened, non-powdered gloves. Minimal handling is best because they become stressed when handled frequently.</p>

Is an Amazon Milk frog poisonous?

<p>Yes, like all amphibians, Amazon Milk frogs do produce a mild toxic substance from their skin to ward off predators. The secretion released by Amazon Milk frogs is irritating, not deadly; do not allow frog’s secretions to contact your eyes, mouth or open wounds.</p>

What do Amazon Milk frogs eat?

<p>Amazon Milk frogs should be offered a variety of insects, including gut-loaded (recently fed) crickets, roaches, mealworms, waxworms, calci-worms and small hornworms.</p>

How long do Amazon Milk frogs live? Amazon

<p>Milk frogs can live up to 8 or more years with proper care and nutrition.</p>

How big do Amazon Milk frogs get?

<p>Males Amazon Milk frogs can grow up to 2.5” and females up to 4 inches long, nose to vent.</p>

Where do Amazon Milk frogs live?

<p>In nature, Amazon Milk frogs can be found in South America along the shores of ponds, bogs, and streams.</p>

What size tank does an Amazon Milk frog need?

<p>A 29-gallon tank is the minimum recommended for up to 3 adult Amazon Milk frogs.</p>

What do you put in an Amazon Milk frog tank?

<p>Live or artificial plants, driftwood and branches for climbing and perching; a large bowl of dechlorinated water to soak in; substrate (coconut fiber, sphagnum moss, river rocks); plus an under-tank heater, UVB light, thermometers and humidity gauge.</p>

How can you tell if an Amazon Milk frog is male or female?

<p>Females are larger and don’t croak loudly like males do.</p>

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center partner about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all frogs are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your frog and/or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of diseases.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physicians before purchasing and/or caring for a frog and should consider having a pet other than a frog.

Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about frogs and disease.

The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is ill or you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.

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How to Care for Amazon Milk Frog: Habitat, Food, & Health

Overview

Typical appearance and behavior

Characteristics