Ribbit. How to choose a frog to buy. (Reptiles & Amphibians in general)

Member Name:

Product:	Reptiles & Amphibians in general
Date:	09/04/01 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Keeps little sisters at bay !

Disadvantages: Not always easy to look after.

So, you want to get a pet frog .... you do ?

Before you run out to the nearest pet store or pond there are several things you should consider.

Getting a frog shouldn't be considered all that different from getting a cat or dog. It can be a lot of work, and you need to think about what you're going to do when you skip town for a week, and so forth.

You may need a special license to keep frogs in some countries. In Australia it is actually very difficult to obtain an amphibian license, and people who keep frogs without such a license can get fined heavily for it. You should definitely check to see if there are any special laws pertaining to keeping frogs in your area before you get one as a pet.

Here are things to consider when making your choice:

[1]
Frogs Can Be a Lot of Work:

Frogs need to be fed on a regular basis. Keep in mind where your food source is going to be. Generally speaking, this isn't going to be as easy as picking up a package at your local grocery store. In addition, if you get a frog that eats live bugs, expect to have a few stray bugs running around the house now and then. Larger frogs can be even more work. Many of the larger species feed on mice and this can be a less than fun experience if you aren't prepared for it. Frog tanks need to be well cleaned to prevent illness

[2]
Active Frogs:
Probably one of the biggest mistakes I hear about is people who go out and buy a "cool-looking" frog which then proceeds to eat, sleep, and generally sit like a lump of clay. The reality is, a lot of frogs don't really do much, and they aren't exactly something you can snuggle up with either, so you need to keep that in mind when choosing an appropriate pet. Frogs may be cute or grotesque, but you can't teach them tricks, take them for walks, or make them speak on command. Frogs which aren't particularly active will quickly become a boring pet. T
he novelty will wear off and you'll be left with a blob that eats a lot. When looking for a pet frog, particularly for the beginner, I strongly urge you to choose ACTIVE breeds. This means, search for a species that doesn't just sit around all day. Aquatic frogs, certain treefrogs, and the less "fat" frogs are better choices.

[3]
Never get a Frog You Don't Know:
There are many many species of frogs, and many have very individualized pet care needs. Some frogs need to hibernate during the winter, others do not. The pet care needs will change everything from what you need as far as tank set-up to what you have to feed them. In addition, many frogs look really really cute in the stores, and then you bring them home and in a few months they've grown in monstrous proportions and it isn't nearly as nice as you thought it was going to be.

[4]
Frog Sitters:
Your frog, if well cared for, should live for a very long time. That means you're going to run into the same problem everyone with pets runs into whenever they go out of town for the holidays. "Who's gonna look after my pet while I'm away ?" Unlike feeding a few flakes to a goldfish, the idea of live bugs isn't very appealing to most people. So, if you plan on getting a frog, plan ahead as to how vacations will be handled.

[5]
A Recommended Frog for Beginners:
For the first frog encounter, I strongly recommend the African Dwarf Frog. These guys are small, active, cute, and about as difficult to maintain as a tank of goldfish. You also don't have to deal with live bugs and they can be kept in the same conditions as goldfish for extended periods of time. Dwarf frogs are very easy to take care of once they've become used to their new home. As with fish, expect the first couple of weeks for adaptation time (many times pet stores will sell frogs that are already sick, or that are very very small and which may be
a bit fragile in the first couple of weeks.) The best recommendation here is to get them at a decent size. Avoid really skinny ones or ones that are very. In addition, if the frog doesn't give the pet shop owner a really hard time when the net goes into the tank, it may indicate some initial signs of being in less than perfect condition.

[6]
Frogs NOT Recommended for the Beginner:
Poison Frogs are absolutely NOT a beginners frog. Even though these frogs lose their toxicity in captivity, their care is very complicated and these fragile beings have very specific requirements for healthy captivity.

Expensive frogs in general should not be a frog considered by the beginner because a frog that costs over 50 bucks is a high investment to make when you are still learning about frog care. You ought to start with an easier breed before taking on the more expensive breeds.

Frogs captured in the wild should be a frog that you recognize, otherwise you take the risk of not knowing the proper conditions in which to care for it.

Frogs that get fat, can get to be pretty boring as pets for the beginner. Some of them even bite when their fully grown. This doesn't mean you shouln't get some of the more difficult to care for frogs, but think carefully about how long you're going to retain interest in this hobby.

I can picture everbody running out to buy frogs right now.

Summary: