How to Install a Frog House in Your Garden, Pond or Fence

So, you have a new FrodHouse.

Congratulations. You are now responsible for a small piece of frod real estate.

The Frog Hotel, or FrodHouse as we like to call it, is a frog house designed for climbing frogs, such as the iconic green tree frog. You can install it on a fence, in the ground, among rocks or over a pond. Depending on your model, it can also include a Frodcam for watching what really goes on behind the scenes of a Frodventure.

More than a basic frog hotel, the FrodHouse combines a sheltered resting space, water pool, outlook platform, multiple access points and optional planting areas to create a compact garden frog shelter.

Frogs can also help control slugs, mosquito activity, and other small garden pests. They ask for very little in return: shade, moisture, cover and a safe place to conduct important frod (frog) business.

This guide explains how to choose the best location for your frog house, create a suitable frog habitat, how to build a frog hotel using the FrodHouse system, and set up the optional Frodcam and fountain.

What Is a FrodHouse Frog Hotel?

A FrodHouse is a purpose-built tree frog hotel designed to provide climbing frogs with a sheltered place to rest, hide and access water. It all began with a frog living inside our fence. We made him a simple frog house, he moved in, and the project quickly became much more serious than expected.

Using custom 3D printing, we were able to turn that first shelter into the FrodHouse, adding purpose-built platforms, pools, plant spaces and mounting options without losing the strange little home that started it all.

Our 3D-printed products use PLA Plus, a plant-based material made from corn. We also use biodegradable packaging tape and compostable paper hex wrap, because creating wildlife products should not mean forgetting about the environment they are made for.

It performs a similar role to a birdhouse, except its features are designed around the needs of these unique amphibians rather than birds.

A good frog habitat needs more than a decorative shelter. Frogs rely on cool hiding places, moisture, plant cover, insects and safe routes between water and shelter. The FrodHouse brings several of these features together in one installable system.

FrodHouse features include:

• A sheltered frog house
• A raised outlook platform
• A built-in water pool
• Built-in rain capture
• Multiple frog access points
• Spaces for small plants
• Flexible fence, ground and pond installation
• Optional fountain circulation (hose and pump not included)
• Optional Frodcam recording
• Internal hiding space inside the pipe, which is more aesthetically pleasing than standard PVC pipes

The enclosed shelter gives frogs a darker place to retreat during the day, while the platform and pipe openings provide several ways to enter, leave and inspect the premises.

Birds and lizards may also investigate your new garden frog shelter, perhaps treating it as a temporary lounge: not openly invited, but they rarely ask.

Before Installing Your Frog House

The location of your frog house matters more than most people expect.

A perfectly assembled frog hotel may remain empty if it is placed somewhere hot, exposed or far away from existing frog habitat.

Frogs are cold-blooded and sensitive to heat, drying conditions, chemicals and vibration. Your FrodHouse should feel like a natural extension of your garden rather than an isolated structure placed in the middle of nowhere.

Choose a Shaded Location

Place your frog house somewhere protected from strong afternoon sun.

Good locations for a garden frog shelter include:

• The shaded side of a fence
• Under or beside garden plants
• Near a pond
• Along the edge of a garden bed
• Beside a sheltered downpipe
• Under a tree canopy
• Between rocks in a damp area

Some morning light may be suitable, but the FrodHouse should remain cool during the hottest part of the day.

Check the location around midday and again in the late afternoon before installing your FrodHouse. Shade moves throughout the day, so a spot that looks sheltered in the morning may receive direct sun later. Choose a location that remains shaded during the hottest part of the day.

Keep Your Frog Hotel Close to Frog Habitat

Look for areas where frogs already appear or where insects like moths, plants and moisture are present.

A frog house does not summon frogs from another dimension, nor does it broadcast frog calls to attract them. It gives local frogs a safe place to investigate while they are already moving through the area.

Suitable nearby habitat may include:

• A pond
• A bog garden
• A damp garden bed
• A shaded water feature
• Moist ground beneath dense plants
• A regular frog travel route

For the best chance of visits, treat the FrodHouse as one part of the surrounding frog habitat. Nearby native plants, moisture, insects and natural cover are just as important as the frog hotel itself.

Check the Drainage

Choose a location that stays damp without becoming a flooded mud pit.

The FrodHouse should remain stable after rain. Avoid low areas where runoff may collect around the base or cause the support pipe to shift.

A slight slope or well-draining garden bed can help prevent water from pooling around a ground installation.

For pond installations, the FrodHouse should sit securely above the water source with its centre drainage route clear.

Protect the Entrance From Strong Wind

Position the frog house so the entrance does not face directly into strong prevailing winds.

A fence, garden bed, shrubs or nearby rocks can provide extra protection. Keep enough open space around the entrance for frogs to reach it without crossing a completely exposed area.

Avoid Chemicals and Heavy Disturbance

Frogs have sensitive skin and should not be exposed to pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers or strong cleaning products.

Keep your frog house away from:

• Busy pathways
• Lawn equipment
• Regular foot traffic
• Curious pets
• Strong garden lights
• Constant sprinkler spray
• Areas treated with garden chemicals

Nearby plants are helpful, but make sure leaves or branches do not block the frog house entrance.

Consider Pets and Predators

Place your garden frog shelter where cats, dogs, cane toads and other animals cannot easily wait beside the entrance.

Dense plants, rocks and ground cover can give frogs more than one escape route. Avoid placing the entrance beside an open lawn where a visiting frog has nowhere to hide.

Make the installation visible enough that nobody accidentally hits it with a mower, trimmer or other garden equipment.

Plan for Occasional Checks

Choose a location you can inspect without pulling the shelter apart or trampling the surrounding habitat.

You should be able to check the water level, clear blocked drainage and inspect the mount while leaving any resident frog undisturbed.

What Comes With the FrodHouse?

Your included parts may vary depending on the FrodHouse model you purchased.

A standard FrodHouse setup may include:

• FrodHouse shelter
• Outlook platform
• Water pool
• Holed pipe
• Holeless support pipe
• Pipe connector
• Fountain connectors
• Pocket Frod

Lay all parts on a clean surface before beginning. Check that the openings and connection points are free from packaging or debris.

The Pocket Frod is technically optional for installation. Emotionally, it is not.

What Comes With the FrodHouse Camera Edition?

The FrodHouse & Camera Edition also includes:

• Tapo C120 camera
• Three-metre USB-C power cable
• Camera mount
• Close-focus lens
• 32 GB microSD card
• Four cable ties

Before choosing a location for your frog house, confirm that the camera can reach a suitable power point.

You should also check the Wi-Fi signal at the planned installation location. A perfect camera angle is less helpful when the camera cannot stay connected.

Consider completing the initial Tapo app setup indoors before mounting the camera outside. This makes it easier to confirm that the camera, microSD card and network connection are working.

How to Install a FrodHouse Frog House

The basic FrodHouse assembly remains similar whether you install your frog hotel on a fence, in the ground or over a pond.

The main difference is how you secure the lower support pipe.

Step 1: Choose Your Frog House Mounting Method

Installing a Frog House in the Ground

Push the holeless support pipe firmly into stable soil.

The pipe should remain upright and should not move when lightly pushed. Avoid loose soil that may soften, wash away or collapse after heavy rain.

Make sure the pipe is straight so the water pool and frog house sit level once installed.

A ground installation works well in a shaded garden bed where nearby plants, soil and leaf cover already help create a suitable frog habitat.

Keep the structure away from mower paths and areas that pets regularly cross.

Installing a Frog House on a Fence

Position the holeless pipe vertically against the fence.

Secure it with strong cable ties at multiple points. The pipe should not twist or wobble in the wind.

Leave enough space above and around it for the pool, platform and FrodHouse.

When positioning the frog hotel, keep the entrance and access hole facing away from the fence so frogs can reach them easily.

A fence installation can be useful when the ground regularly floods or when you want the shelter raised above an exposed garden area.

Installing a Frog House in a Pond

Position the support pipe inside or beside the pond.

Use rocks around the base to hold it upright. Make sure the rocks do not block the centre pipe or drainage path.

A pond installation works well if you plan to use the fountain accessory because the circulated water drains through the centre of the FrodHouse and returns to the pond, creating a healthy environment for tadpoles.

Check the position during different water levels. The support should remain secure after rain, pump movement or changes in the pond.

Installing a Frog House in Rocks or Sand

The FrodHouse can also be supported using rocks, sand or rocksand.

Yes, rocksand. You know how the song goes.

Brace the lower pipe firmly and test its stability before attaching the upper sections of the frog house.

Push it gently from several directions. If it leans, rotates or tries to begin a solo career, reinforce the base before continuing.

Step 2: Connect the FrodHouse Pipes

Attach the pipe connector to the top of the holeless support pipe.

Insert the holed pipe into the connector with the opening facing outward.

The hole provides another access point and internal hiding area for frogs, so do not position it directly against a fence, rock or branch.

Keep the opening visible and easy to reach from the surrounding frog habitat.

Press the connections together firmly—without the need for messy silicone—and check that the upper pipe remains straight.

Step 3: Add Plants to the Frog House Pool

The FrodHouse pool includes spaces for small plants.

Plants are optional, although the frogs may judge you if you leave them empty.

Small plants can:

• Provide extra cover
• Shade parts of the pool
• Help the frog hotel blend into the garden
• Support insects around the habitat
• Give frogs a less exposed route into the shelter

Choose small plants suited to the light and moisture levels in your chosen location, such as the shade-loving native violet or a compact lomandra.

Local native water plants, like the common rush for pond edges, are often a good choice because they suit the climate and support local wildlife. Avoid invasive plants and anything recently treated with pesticides or fertilisers.

Keep the plants trimmed so they do not block the frog house entrance, platform or drainage path.

Step 4: Attach the Water Pool

Push the pool firmly onto the pipe assembly.

Check that it feels secure and sits level.

For fence installations, you can add another cable tie around the support area for extra stability.

A level pool is especially important when using the fountain because the water needs to drain correctly through the centre of the FrodHouse.

Before continuing, add a small amount of water and watch where it settles. Adjust the support if all the water runs towards one edge.

Step 5: Add the Outlook Platform

Attach the outlook platform to the pool section.

Keep it clear of nearby branches, fencing and thick foliage.

The platform gives frogs another place to land, sit and quietly review your landscaping decisions.

It also creates another route between the surrounding frog habitat and the FrodHouse shelter.

Nearby plants can provide cover around the platform, but leave enough open space for frogs to climb onto it.

Step 6: Add the FrodHouse Shelter

Attach the main FrodHouse shelter to the assembled base.

A ceremonial pause is encouraged for this monumental piece.

Press it into place and make sure the entrance, internal path and platform remain clear.

The darker interior is designed to provide the type of enclosed hiding place that climbing frogs may seek during the day.

Check that the complete frog house feels stable before adding water or installing accessories.

Step 7: Add Frog-Safe Water

Fill the FrodHouse pool using water that is safe for frogs.

Suitable options include:

• Rainwater
• Properly dechlorinated tap water
• Distilled water
• Spring bottled water

Rainwater is usually the simplest option when available.

Do not rely on leaving tap water uncovered unless you know how your local water supply is treated. Chloramine does not disappear as easily as chlorine. Use a suitable water conditioner when needed.

Do not add:

• Detergents
• Fertilisers
• Pool chemicals
• Algaecides
• Water-softener salt
• Untreated chlorinated water

Your standard FrodHouse frog hotel is now installed.

How to Install the FrodHouse Fountain

The optional FrodHouse fountain keeps water moving through the pool and returns it to the pond or water source below.

You will need:

• A pond pump (not included)
• A 12 mm hose (not included)
• The fountain connectors included with the FrodHouse
• A pump adapter if required (should be included with your pond pump)

The pump and hose are not included unless stated with your order.

Connect the Fountain Hose

Attach the supplied connectors to the 12 mm hose.

Push one connector into the fountain inlet underneath the FrodHouse pool.

Route the hose behind the pool and connect the other end to the pond pump.

Some pumps may require an adapter.

Push each connection firmly into place and make sure the hose is not bent, pinched or pulling against the pool.

Position the Pump

Submerge the pump in the pond or water source according to the pump manufacturer’s instructions.

The pump should remain fully submerged while operating.

Keep it away from loose leaves, mud and debris that may block the intake.

Position the cable and hose so frogs can move around the pond edge without becoming trapped.

Test the Water Flow

Switch on the pump and watch how the water moves.

The water should enter the frog house pool, move gently across the intended area and drain through the centre pipe back into the water source.

Check that:

• The pool is level
• The pump remains submerged
• Water is not spilling over the wrong edge
• The centre pipe drains freely
• The hose connections do not leak
• The pump flow is not too strong

Frogs do not require a water cannon.

Adjust the pump to a gentle flow that replenishes the pool without splashing the shelter, washing out plants or flooding the platform.

How to Install the FrodHouse Frodcam

The Frodcam lets you record visiting frogs in high definition.

It may also capture birds, lizards, insects and the occasional leaf that triggers six notifications.

Prepare the Camera Before Mounting

Insert the included microSD card into the Tapo C120 camera.

Remove the protective film from the camera lens and the close-focus lens.

Push the close-focus lens securely onto the front of the camera. This helps the camera focus on activity close to the FrodHouse.

Before taking the camera outside:

• Connect it to the Tapo app
• Confirm that it joins your Wi-Fi network
• Check that the microSD card is recognised
• Test the live view
• Install any available firmware update
• Confirm that the power cable works

Doing this indoors saves you from balancing beside a pond while arguing with a setup wizard.

Attach the Camera Mount

Apply the double-sided adhesive pad to the camera mount.

Feed the USB-C power cable through the mount, then connect the camera to the magnetic mounting point.

Plug the USB-C cable into the camera.

Check that the camera remains secure when the mount is gently moved.

Position the Frodcam

Attach the camera assembly to the side of the FrodHouse.

Adjust the angle to capture the area you want to monitor, such as:

• The main frog house entrance
• The water pool
• The outlook platform
• The inside of the frog hotel
• The surrounding garden frog habitat

Open the live view in the Tapo app before fixing the final angle.

The entrance and pool should fill enough of the frame for small animals to remain visible. Avoid aiming the camera towards moving branches, reflective water or a bright road if possible.

Route the cable underneath the platform and behind the support pipe.

Use the included cable ties to keep it secure and away from:

• Frog entrances
• Moving water
• Garden tools
• Walking paths
• Sharp edges

How to Set Up the Tapo Camera App

Download the Tapo app and follow the instructions to add the Tapo C120 camera.

Once connected, review the camera settings.

Menu names may vary slightly depending on the app version.

Turn On Local Recording

Enable local recording and confirm that the microSD card has been recognised.

Choose the recording schedule that suits how you want to use the Frodcam.

Continuous local recording can capture activity even when a detection alert is missed. Event recording uses less storage and saves clips when movement is detected.

A Tapo subscription is not required for local microSD recording.

Enable Pet Detection

Turn on pet detection and increase the sensitivity.

This may help the camera recognise smaller visitors around the FrodHouse, although the feature was not designed specifically for frogs.

Detection results will depend on:

• The frog’s size
• Movement speed
• Camera distance
• Camera angle
• Lighting
• Background movement

Do not take it personally when the camera identifies a leaf but ignores the frog sitting directly in front of it.

Set Up Line-Crossing Detection

Place a detection line near the frog house entrance, pool or platform.

This can help trigger recordings when an animal enters or leaves the FrodHouse.

Position the line across a route the animal must cross rather than across the entire frame.

Adjust Night Settings

Frogs are often active after dark, so the night settings can make a large difference.

Use infrared viewing where possible.

Turn off the white spotlight unless you specifically need it.

We are trying to record frogs, not interrogate them.

Test the night view after dark and adjust the camera angle if nearby surfaces reflect too much infrared light into the lens.

Create Detection Zones

Moving branches, trees, water reflections and shadows can trigger false notifications.

Use detection zones to focus the camera on:

• The frog house entrance
• The pool
• The outlook platform
• The main climbing route

Exclude roads, large plants and other areas with frequent background movement.

Creating a Frog-Friendly Habitat Around Your FrodHouse

The frog house itself is only one part of the habitat.

Give frogs several ways to move between water, plants and shelter without crossing large exposed areas.

You can improve the surrounding frog habitat by adding:

• Native ground-cover plants
• Ferns or other shade-tolerant plants
• A small area of leaf litter
• Rocks with gaps between them
• A log or branch pile
• Dense plants near the entrance
• A nearby clean water source

Leaf litter and logs can provide additional hiding places while supporting insects and other small invertebrates that frogs eat.

Do not make the area so dense that the FrodHouse entrance disappears completely. Frogs need cover, but they still need a route in.

Keep Some Areas Natural

A frog-friendly garden does not need to look abandoned, but it should not be completely stripped of every fallen leaf, branch or insect.

Consider leaving a small managed habitat zone around the FrodHouse.

This can include:

• Leaf litter beneath plants
• Low-growing vegetation
• A shaded log
• Damp soil
• Small gaps between rocks

Avoid using chemical sprays in this area.

Provide More Than One Escape Route

Frogs are vulnerable when moving between water and shelter.

Arrange plants, rocks or logs so they can escape in more than one direction. Avoid creating a single narrow path where a cat or bird can wait.

Reduce Bright Outdoor Lighting

Strong garden lights or a bright solar light may disturb nocturnal wildlife and change insect activity around the frog habitat.

Keep unnecessary lighting away from the FrodHouse or direct it towards pathways rather than the shelter.

Be Patient

Do not repeatedly move the FrodHouse if you have chosen a suitable location.

Frogs may take days, weeks or longer to investigate a new garden frog shelter.

The timeframe depends on:

• Whether frogs already live nearby
• The season
• Rainfall
• Temperature
• Nearby plants
• Water availability
• Insect activity
• Predator activity
• The amount of disturbance in the area

A frog house provides a suitable opportunity. It does not guarantee an immediate tenant.

Frog House Maintenance

Check your FrodHouse occasionally without disturbing any animals inside.

Check the Water Level

Inspect the pool regularly during hot or dry weather.

Top it up with rainwater, dechlorinated water, or another frog-safe water source when needed.

If the water disappears quickly, check whether the pool is level or whether the surrounding plants are drawing more water than expected.

Remove Excess Debris

Remove fallen leaves, sticks and other debris before they completely block the pool or drainage path.

A small amount of natural algae is normal. You do not need to scrub the pool until it looks surgically prepared.

If heavy algae or decomposing material begins to foul the water, clean the affected area gently without using detergents or chemical cleaners.

Inspect the Mount

Check:

• The support pipe
• Pipe connections
• Cable ties
• Pool level
• Drainage opening
• Frog house entrances
• Outlook platform
• Fountain hose
• Pond pump
• Camera mount
• Power cable
• Nearby plant growth

Replace damaged cable ties and correct any leaning or movement before the structure becomes unstable.

Trim Nearby Plants

Trim plants when they begin to block:

• The main entrance
• The pipe opening
• The platform
• The camera view
• The water drainage route

Keep enough vegetation for cover without burying the entire frog hotel.

Do Not Disturb Frod Residents

Do not reach inside the FrodHouse, lift the shelter or remove a frog that has moved in.

Observe from a distance or use the Frodcam.

The property is occupied now. 

Explore FrodHouse frog houses and mounting options.