Pet Frogs 101: How to Take Care of a Frog
When you decide that you are going to keep frogs as a pet, it can be an extremely rewarding experience that will give you great memories for your entire life. However, for some others who have frogs as a pet, the complete opposite is actually true. Here are all of the pros and cons of taking care of pet frogs, as well as a list of things that you will need, and exactly what the best way to get started with your new pet frog is.
Before You Even Think About Getting a Pet Frog
Before you even think about getting a frog as a pet, there are a number of different things that you are going to need to consider first. Some of the things that you will need to figure out include where you are planning on keeping the frog, how you are planning to feed the frog, and are you going to be ok with all of the croaking noises that your new pet frog is going to make? All of these are great questions that you should know the answer to before you take the leap and purchase a pet frog. On top of that, you must be aware that most of the frogs and toads that you will be able to buy are not going to be accepting of any type of regular handling. It is not only harmful for them but if you have dirty hands when you try to pick them up, it can actually become harmful for them as well.
What this ultimately means, is that you are going to need to do a little homework and learn all about the particular type of frog that you are going to get, but before you actually get it. While there are many different species of frogs available to you at your local poet store or frog breeder, this just means that attaining a pet frog is not very difficult at all. Since frogs are one of the easier pets to get, not many people ever wonder where the frog is actually coming from. Think about it for a second, the last time you were at your local pet store and saw some frogs in their aquarium, was the first thing that popped into your head, ‘I wonder where these frogs came from?’
While it may not seem like that big a deal, it actually is. You see, where the frog comes from is actually one of the most important details you will need to know about it, as you are going to need to get familiar with that exact same type of environment in order for them to thrive and be healthy. Now keep in mind that some frogs are going to live in areas that a arid and have mild temperatures, while other frogs are going to live in areas that are essentially a tropical jungle and require a very high amount of humidity. What all of this means, is that you should do your homework on the type of frog that you are going to get, before you actually get that type of frog. Care sheets are a great tool when it comes to learning about the type of habitat that your new pet frog is going to require.
Are Frogs the Pet for You?
When it comes to frogs, you must keep in mind that they are very delicate amphibians. They have semi-permeable skin, which means that they are going to absorb any and everything that they come in to contact with. Which, this is actually how frogs are kind of able to breath underwater. The oxygen that the water contains will be absorbed through the frog’s skin, which allows them to remain underwater for longer amounts of time. However, this also means that they are going to absorb any type of toxins that are in the water, as well as anything that may be lingering on your hands if you handle them.
With that being said, it is usually best to not handle your pet frogs and leave them alone. So essentially, pet frogs are more of a display pet, meaning that they are great to look at, but not so good if you want to handle and play with them. If your ultimate plan for a pet is to get something that you are able to hold and play with, you should probably start looking for a different pet.
Learn About Your Frog
Before you go out and get a pet frog, the absolute best thing that you can do is to actually do a little bit of homework and learn everything that you can about the particular breed of frog that you actually want. Frogs come from all types of different weather and climate conditions. This means that the enclosure that you plan on keeping them in is going to need to match whatever their natural habitat is. This can include getting a special UVB light that can cycle between day and night or making sure that you have the correct type of substrate so that your frog is able to burrow. No matter what it is, it is all actually very important.
Luckily, there have been many people who have kept frogs as pets for many years now, which means that the amount of information available to you on any particular breed of pet frog is going to be overwhelming. However, once you have done your research and narrowed down your search to just 2 or 3 potential pets, you will be able to take a look at their care sheets and figure out which breed of frog will be the best fit for you and your lifestyle. When you do this, you will know exactly what you should expect, exactly how you should set up their living environment, what you will need to feed them, and everything else about that particular breed of frog.
The next step you are going to need to take, is to simply plan accordingly. If you do not have enough time in the day to spend a few minutes misting your pet frog’s living enclosure, it is probably better to find a frog that will not require so much attention, or even installing some type of automated misting system.
Pros and Cons of Having a Pet Frog
If you are interested in getting a pet frog, which you more than likely are as you are reading this page, there are a few things that you are going to need to know in advance. Now keep in mind that having a pet frog is not going to be for everyone. In fact, there are a lot of people who get a frog as a pet thinking that it will be all rainbows and cotton candy, but quickly realize that is not the case at all. In fact, frogs can actually be a lot of work, which means you will need to know exactly what you are getting yourself into before you actually get yourself into it. With that being said, here are some of the biggest pros and cons of keeping a pet frog.
Pros of Having a Pet Frog
- They are one of the best display pets available
- Depending upon the species, their croaks sound very beautiful
- They are a relatively low maintenance pet
- Once you have them all setup, their maintenance is for inexpensive
Cons of Having a Pet Frog
- They can potentially become expensive
- They are not necessarily the best pet if you want to handle them
- They are not a great pet for kids
- Any wild-caught frogs can potentially be very dangerous
- They have the potential to be very loud, as does their food
While they are a relatively affordable pet to have, frogs actually have the ability to become very expensive. While this is going to mainly rely on the species of frog that you decide to get and the habitat that you are planning on setting up for them, it can all add up very quickly. For example, if you decide to get a bumblebee toad, getting a large faunarium that includes everything you will need to setup their habitat can be purchased for roughly $100, maybe even less.
This actually is not very expensive and very do-able. However, if you are more into getting a bio-active vivarium that comes with 3 Vietnamese mossy frogs, you are now looking at spending more than $500 to get all the equipment that you will require for their setup. While the frogs alone are going to run you about $100 each, the 24” x 18” x 18” terrarium is also going to run you around $125. On top of that, there is also the need for all of the other equipment that is going to be required.
Now that you know how expensive a frog can be, you have decided that you are going to simply go out later today and catch a wild frog, done and done. While that sounds like a great idea when you say it out loud, frogs that are caught in the wild can actually be very dangerous. For example, the poison dart frog is one of the deadliest frogs in all the lands. This is because they have something called bufotoxins that are in their parotoid glands, and on top of that, all breeds of frogs are able to carry salmonella, which can be spread through their frog droppings.
This means that when you see a frog or toad in the wild, your best move is to not try and make it your new pet. Plus, wild caught frogs and toads do not adapt well to living in captivity and can become extremely dangerous. If you do want a pet frog, the best thing that you can do is to find a local breeder or visit your local pet store. The frogs that they sell are used to living in captivity and will be a much lower risk for spreading any diseases and they will also already be adapted to living in captivity.
What Keeping a Pet Frog Requires
When it comes to frog enclosures, there is actually an endless supply of products that you can choose from. While the necessary equipment is going to depend 100% on the breed of frog that you are going to keep, there is a basic requirement that you will need to provide for your pet frog, no matter what their breed may be. At the same time, you should always research your specific breed of frog in order to make sure that they are going to live a happy, healthy life.
Your Frog’s Enclosure
There is no hiding from the fact that your frog is going to need to live in some type of enclosure. With this, you have the option to go as cheap as you would like, or as expensive as you can afford. This means that your frog’s home can be an aquarium or even a terrarium, but just know that there are many different brands out there that are all competing with each other, which means that you have all the power and can easily find a high quality product at a very good price. These containers will range in size and can even cater to amphibians in general. On top of that, there are also terrarium starter kits that will contain all of the things that you will need in order to get your new pet’s enclosure all set up.
When it comes to your frog’s potential enclosure, there are going to be three that you will need to get familiar with. These include an Arboreal, terrestrial, and an aquatic. Here is a little more on each one of these particular enclosures.
- Arboreal Enclosure
This particular type of cage is great for tree frogs. The typical Arboreal species of frogs is going to spend most of their time in trees. This means that they are going to prefer excess vertical space that allows them to jump around and climb. When you are looking for an enclosure for tree frogs, you will be best suited to get a terrarium. Terrariums are going to be very similar to aquariums with the exception that they allow for airflow to pass through vents that are near the bottom of the tank. On top of that, there are also doors placed on the front of the cage, meaning you will have access to whatever is inside.
- Terrestrial Enclosure
The terrestrial enclosure is going to be an enclosure that is more focused on a wider amount of space, as opposed to a taller amount. These types of enclosures are better suited to house toads and other types of burrowing frogs, which are not able to climb and are not necessarily very good jumpers. With these types of frogs, a terrarium or even an aquarium is the perfect solution for their housing situation. If you do decide to use an aquarium, however, be sure that you remember to fit the top of it with some type of screen lid to help prevent your frog from escaping.
- Aquatic Enclosure
Whether you are aware or not, there are actually some breeds of frogs which are totally aquatic. In fact, these types of frogs are actually extremely popular. If you do decide to get a pet frog that is fully aquatic, the best choice for their enclosure is obviously going to be an aquarium. While the size of the tank is going to be 100% dependent upon how many of these aquatic frogs you plan on keeping, almost any type of 10-gallon aquarium will get the job done. One of the general guidelines when it comes to aquatic frogs, is the 10-gallon for each frog rule. For some other types of aquatic frogs, such as the African Dwarf Frog or the African Clawed Frog, the size of their aquarium can be as large as you would like, but it should not be higher than 12”.
When it comes to keeping a pet frog, there can be many different obstacles that you will need to face. While this is solely dependent upon the breed of frog that you decide to get, frogs are not as hands-off as you may think. With that being said, you will also need to be sure and find a local veterinarian that is familiar with frogs, as your frog may fall ill or become injured.
Just be sure that when you do get a pet frog, you treat them like you would any other type of pet. They are going to need time to adapt and adjust to their new home, meaning that the first few days or even weeks can be very tough for them. Just keep in mind that they will eventually adapt to their new environment and when they do, it will be one of the most rewarding experience that you will ever experience in your entire life.