Australian Golden Bell Frogs, a beautiful diurnal species, can make nice pets because they are active during daylight hours, when they will be visible. Many people adore these frogs, although they are sadly disappearing from the wild.

The Australian Golden Bell Frog, unlike a number of other frog species, has often been seen basking in the sun. Active in the daytime, the majority of the Australian Golden Bell Frog's diet is made up of other frogs. It hunts these frogs by following their territorial calls. The call made by the Australian Golden Bell Frog is usually raucous, and is best described as a growling or engine revving noise. The first parts of the call are long and gravelly, and the second two syllables are usually short and in quick succession. The calls are usually made by males that are in open water, floating. Most Australian Golden Bell Frogs are found near or in water; they frequent wet areas in a variety of wild and disturbed habitats. In captivity, Australian Golden Bell Frogs may eat other animals in their enclosures that are smaller than they are. They may even attempt to eat animals of similar size, so you may not wish to combine them with other pets in an enclosure. Apart from their charming appearances, Australian Golden Bell Frogs are desirable as pets because of their active natures.

By the time they are adults, Australian Golden Bell Frogs normally measure between 55 and 100 millimeters long. They have smooth skin, distinct ear openings, and dorso - lateral folds. The coloration of Australian Golden Bell Frogs ranges through various shades of green. Often golden or brown blotches or stripes are present over the background color. The sides of these frogs are marked with light golden stripes running from the hind legs to the snout. The thighs and the groin of the Australian Golden Bell Frog are usually tinted with aqua green. A Golden Bell Frog may lighten or darken slightly with varying environmental conditions. Their bellies are creamy in color. Females tend to be larger than males. Adult males have dark yellowish patches on their throats and nuptial pads on their hands, along with swollen thumbs.

Sadly, populations of Australian Golden Bell Frogs are declining. These frogs, native to Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania, have experienced a drastic drop in number. Foxes and cats prey on them, and the mosquito fish, an animal introduced to Australian waters to help control mosquitoes, eats their tadpoles. Fungal disease, habitat loss, and pollution have also contributed to the deaths of Australian Golden Bell Frogs. It is believed that there are less than 20 populations remaining.

The daytime temperature for Australian Golden Bell Frogs should remain around 76 degrees Fahrenheit. A basking spot should be provided, as these frogs seem to enjoy sunning themselves. The enclosure should be sprayed about once each day to help maintain humidity. You should provide some climbing opportunities for your Australian Golden Bell Frogs, but be sure that the lid to its enclosure is secure because your frog may be a good enough climber to escape. Because of their tendency to eat other animals, Australian Golden Bell Frogs should be kept alone. If you are looking for a pet to handle, the Golden Bell is not for you; they tend to be very fidgety, and they can secrete a toxin that irritates the skin. You should feed a variety of items to ensure proper nutrition.

Breeding usually occurs between October and March, when male Australian Golden Bell Frogs begin to call. After mating, between 3,000 and 10,000 eggs are deposited. Australian Golden Bell Frogs lay their eggs in floating rafts of jelly that will begin to disintegrate and sink within about 12 hours. The darkly colored eggs will hatch, within about two days, into grayish pink tadpoles that have yellow tinted fins. These tadpoles may remain immature for two months under normal conditions, though Australian Golden Bell Frogs in adverse conditions may remain in a tadpole state for longer periods of time. Tadpoles feed on detritus, algae, or other organisms that they can swallow.