Interested in an amphibian for a pet? Don’t cross frogs off your list just yet. A frog can be a long-lived and interesting pet for your family!
Things to consider:
- Lifespan. With proper care a pet frog can live anywhere from four to fifteen years — and some have lived even longer! You may be taking care of your pet frog for a long time to come; this is not a commitment to take lightly.
- Habitats. Different types of frog need different types of habitat. Many frogs need semi-aquatic tanks (half land and half water) that are difficult to set up. Many frogs are sensitive to contaminants and waste in the environment. Keeping your frog’s home clean can be a lot of work.
- Feeding. Most frogs eat insects — are you prepared to handle them? It may be easier to keep crickets and other insects on hand, instead of always running to the pet store. That means you’re going to be raising frogs AND crickets.
- Lifestyle. Some frogs are sedentary and can be considered boring. Some smaller frogs are very active and interesting to watch.
- Hibernation? Some breeds do, some breeds don’t.
- Size. The tiny frogs you see in pet stores can grow into giants. Names can be confusing — pixie frogs grow to a length of eight or nine inches!
- Frog sitting. If you’re planning to travel at all in the next fifteen years, you’re going to need someone to frog-sit.
Not sure what kind of frog is right for you and your family? There are lots of good “beginner” frogs out there.
Want an active frog? Look at dwarf frogs and oriental fire bellied toads. Prefer a terrestrial (land) frog instead of an aquatic frog? You may like the White’s tree frog, American green tree frogs, and Pacman frogs. Want an aquatic frog instead? Dwarf frogs and African clawed frogs are relatively easy to keep as pets. Semi-terrestrial frogs (that like both land and water) include oriental fire bellied toads and northern leopard frogs.