Woods and Forests Media
Wild Vivariums
Australian Frogs Vivarium
Australian Frogs – The Land Down Under in 135 Gallons
In Wild Vivariums Season 6, viewers are welcomed into the world of our Australian Frogs Vivarium—an ecosystem modeled after the wetlands and forest edges of Australia, but brought to life inside a 135-gallon Repti Zoo enclosure. At the heart of this habitat is Max, an 11-year-old female White’s Tree Frog and the longest-standing ambassador of Woods and Forests Media. She is joined by Jeremiah, the resident male White’s Tree Frog, and three bold and curious Green and Golden Bell Frogs, one of Australia’s most iconic amphibian species.
This vivarium is visually striking, dominated by thick patches of lush Peace Lilies—an ironic choice, as these plants are invasive across parts of Australia’s natural ecosystems. Their inclusion becomes a subtle lesson in ecology: even the plants can carry a story of competition, dominance, and the unintended consequences of human movement across the globe.
This season also introduces controlled experiments and observations focused on enrichment, environmental adjustments, and natural behaviors. We explore how the frogs react to new food sources, shifting weather simulations, layout changes, and more.
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Wild Vivariums Season 6
Wild Vivariums Season 6
Invasive Italian Wall Lizards Take Over Pennsylvania Backyards
What I Learned Keeping Gray Tree Frogs for 6 Years: Part 1
The Gray Army
The Gray Army Vivarium represents one of the most iconic and beloved habitats on the Woods and Forests Media Channel—an Appalachian woodland ecosystem living just steps from suburbia. Leading the group is Esperanza, the longtime resident who has become one of the channel's most recognizable frogs. Alongside him are Dexter and Melania, who together form the three-part ensemble known as the Gray Army.
This vivarium hopes to transform this season and recreate a natural Appalachian forest floor and canopy environment, complete with native plants, mosses, bark, leaf litter, and seasonal changes that mirror the outdoors.
Their behavior, health, feeding habits, and environmental needs help viewers better understand what these amphibians face both in captivity and in the wild. The vivarium serves as both a thriving naturalistic habitat and a field research station, where nutrition, husbandry, environmental controls, and enrichment are tested and refined.
The Wall Lizard Republic
The Wall Lizard Republic – Italy Comes to Pennsylvania
A new force has entered the Wild Vivariums lineup: the Italian Wall Lizards, a fast, intelligent, and adaptable species making their debut in the 125-gallon PA Backyard Vivarium. Known in their homeland for thriving among Roman stone ruins and sun-washed Mediterranean walls, these lizards now find themselves in a recreated suburban Pennsylvania habitat—bringing with them a storyline unlike anything else on the channel.
The group is collectively known as The Wall Lizard Republic, inspired by the ancient Roman world and the species’ European origins. Their leader—an assertive male named Trajan, after the famed emperor—quickly seized control of the habitat, establishing himself as the dominant ruler of the enclosure. Viewers follow these lizards as they explore their new world, patrol territory, and compete with one another in ways that resemble the political struggles of old Rome.
Italian Wall Lizards are invasive in parts of the United States and have the potential to compete with, prey on, or displace native wildlife, including American toads and gray tree frogs. This vivarium becomes a safe, controlled environment for studying how they hunt, feed, interact, and adapt when provided with the same naturalistic setup as native herpetofauna.
