The Barking Tree Frog, a rather hardy pet, can make a very interesting pet for frog keepers with a little experience. You should be prepared for some noise; as their name implies, Barking Tree Frogs bark.

In the wild, Barking Tree Frogs are arboreal, spending most of their time in trees. Usually, they are found in areas close to water, since they need high humidity. Barking Tree Frogs eat insects and are nocturnal. Males emit a call that is quite similar to the barking of a little dog. If the frog is in water, the call may sound more like a hollow plunk than a bark, however. Often, Barking Tree Frogs will choose a single spot in the tank where they will rest during the day. When they feel stressed, most Barking Tree Frogs will turn a lighter shade of green than they are normally colored. Their spots may also become obscured. When the stress lessens or the frog settles into its surroundings, its color will darken again.

Most Barking Tree Frogs reach a length of about 2.75 inches (6.5 centimeters). They have rather thickly built bodies, with short heads and very obvious tympanic membranes. Barking Tree Frogs also have short snouts. Generally, Barking Tree Frogs are a medium to dark shade of green, and have dark blotches over their bodies. These rounded blotches range in color from gray to brown. There may also be light yellow spots surrounding the darker blotches.

Barking Tree Frogs can be found in the southeastern regions of the United States. Although they are rather hardy, the loss of their habitats and the detrimental effects of water pollution have taken their tolls on Barking Tree Frogs. Although these animals are not uncommon as pets, little is known about their habits in the wild.

Barking Tree Frogs should be housed in a vertically oriented terrarium with lots of branches and plants. Bamboo sticks may be a good choice. For a substrate, many people use a mix of sand, potting soil, and cypress mulch. The tank should be kept around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (23.8 to 27 degrees Celsius), and should drop about ten degrees at night. Medium sized insects, including crickets, superworms, waxworms, or butterworms are all appropriate to feed a Barking Tree Frog. Apart from a shallow bowl of water, the hydration requirements of a Barking Tree Frog may be met with regular misting. The terrarium should be well-ventilated but fairly humid.

Barking Tree Frogs may be sexed by their calling. Only male Barking Tree Frogs "bark", and this may occur more frequently during periods of heavy rainfall.