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Fire-Bellied Toad

Do Frogs Make Good Pets?

On this page, I’ll do my best to answer the question “Do frogs make good pets”. The short answer is “yes” but frogs aren’t for everyone. There are some important details you should consider before getting a frog. I’ll go over the pros and cons on this page and by the end, I hope to send you on your way feeling confident whether or not frogs are a good choice for you.

Amphibians are great pets to display. Watching them jump around a naturalistic setup is enjoyable. However, they’re not great pets for handling. Some species will tolerate occasional holding but, for the most part, frogs (and toads) should be left alone. So, for those of you looking for a pet to hold, you’d be better off getting a reptile. Anyway, keep reading to learn more.

Page Contents

This is why you might not want frogs as pets

There are a few reasons someone might not want frogs for pets. These are the things I’ll be covering in this section.

They’re (mostly) not for handling…

I briefly mentioned this in the opening paragraphs but frogs shouldn’t be held very often (or at all). There are a few of species that will tolerate occasional handling. Even for them, I don’t necessarily recommend doing this because its stressful for the frog and chemicals on your hand could potentially harm your pet.

White's Tree Frog

Amphibians have semi-permeable skin which allows chemicals to pass through. Whatever is on your hands can end up in your pet. So, for those rare species of amphibians that tolerate the occasional handling, you need to clean your hands before picking them up. Or wear a pair of non-powered vinyl gloves.

Nocturnal frogs can be boring during the day

This doesn’t pertain to all species of frogs; only the nocturnal ones. Being nocturnal means they sleep during the day and they’re awake at night. If you’ve got your heart set on a particular type of amphibian, do some research first. Find out whether or not its a nocturnal species.

I have two red-eyed tree frogs in my office but because they’re nocturnal, I rarely see them moving around. I know they’re awake and moving at night but I’m not there to see it. I’m asleep. Sure, you can watch them during the day but they’re not incredibly fascinating while they’re asleep.

Neutral Arguments – “they’re noisy!” Vs “That sound is relaxing”

Originally I was going to put this section in the reasons why you might not want a frog. After giving it some thought, it occurred to me; some people like the sound of frogs croaking. Others, not so much. Which type of person are you?

Also, this topic is largely affected by the type of frog in question. Dumpy tree frogs are loud. Is that something you want to deal with? Not all frogs are noisy, though.

Frogs typically croak during the spring time when its mating season. Since frogs in captivity don’t experience much change in temperate or weather, they might not make a sound. I can’t recall ever hearing my red-eyed tree frogs croaking and I’m positive that one of them is male (male frogs are generally the ones that croak or “call”).

Anyway, this is definitely a topic to research if you think the sound of croaking frogs would bother you. Find out whether or not the species you want is loud.

Reasons frogs make great pets

Now let’s talk about the reasons frogs make great pets. For most, it’s just an enjoyable hobby – regardless of the fact that you can’t hold your beloved amphibians very often.

Fun to observe an exotic species

Perhaps the number one reason people keep frogs as pets is that they’re fun to watch. Especially brightly colored species like poison-dart frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, and reed frogs. There are lots of cool species. Check my post about the world’s weirdest frogs and toads to see what I mean.

Asian Horned Toad

Unfortunately, not all frogs can your pet! Endangered species can’t be kept. Despite that, there are plenty of cool frogs to choose from.

Easy upkeep

Aside from the initial setup, upkeep is simple and easy. All that’s required for most frogs is spot cleaning every other day, misting the enclosure, and feeding. I probably spend less than 20 minutes a week providing upkeep for my tree frogs.

Some circumstances might require changing the substrate in your frog’s terrarium once every two or three months but that all depends on the setup.

Vivarium setups (mini bioactive enclosures) are mostly self-sustaining. Not only that but you can automate misting systems, foggers, and heaters. Misting systems, foggers, and lights can be set on timers and heaters can be attached to a thermostat.

It all depends on what you want to do with your setup and more importantly, what the requirements are for the type of frog you want. Do your research first and plan accordingly!

Frogs + Plants = Pretty Neat

Watching exotic frogs is fun but tropical plants are cool too. They’re a great combination in my opinion. Search for some nice looking, exotic plants that don’t pose a threat to your frog and plant them in your terrarium; I think you’ll find that tropic plants are almost as fun to watch as exotic amphibians.

Tree Frog

You’ll need a few things to make this work, however. Most plants require UVB light and a strict temperature range in order to grow. Fortunately, you can go with plant species that survive and thrive in the type of environment you pet frogs live in.

Conclusion

I’ll wrap things up by saying that frogs make great pets for certain people. They’re great for display and require very little upkeep. Once the initial setup is finished, feeding and spot cleaning their terrarium a few times a week is all that’s required for most frogs.

They eat a variety of foods but live crickets are generally preferred. Crickets are cheap and widely available in pet stores. Also, crickets are fairly easy to raise if you decide.

Frogs aren’t for everyone, though. If you want something to handle frequently, I don’t recommend getting an amphibian. Also, some frogs can be loud at night and that be a downside for certain people.

I truly hope this guide has helped you determine whether or not frogs are a good fit for you. This was a short, simple guide and I didn’t cover everything. Please use the comment section below if you have any questions concerning keeping frogs as pets.

Check out my beginner’s guide to keeping frogs as pets for more related information.

11 Comments

  • I have two Whites tree frogs in a small terrarium (12x12x18)
    One is an Australian Blue and the other is a Snowflake. They both started very tiny and now are bigger. The problem I have is that the Snowflake one is a “Pig” and eats every thing I feed them. The other is now much smaller and I am worried is not getting enough to eat.
    Is there a solution to this problem besides physically separating them??
    Thanks. Jack

    Reply
    • Hey that’s great! White’s tree frogs are so amazing! Yes, there is a solution. Monitor them while you feed them. Separate them if needed. I know this is easier said than done but it will ensure they’re both getting enough food.

      Also, it could be that the snowflake is a female and the Australian blue is a male. Females are naturally bigger than males.

      Reply
  • A friend and I were walking along a trail which is popular with 4-wheelers. The ruts from their tires had filled with rain water, and in several of the larger puddles we found clusters of eggs and small, black tadpoles. Because of the ATV traffic, we’re worried about the eggs and t-poles getting crushed. Should we collect them and let them hatch/mature in a tub? I have a large creek in my backyard in which they could be released.

    Reply
    • Hey Jonathan! This type of thing happens often. Frogs lay eggs in just about any puddle they can find during the spring time. The good news is that there are hundreds or thousands of eggs in each clutch (depending on the species). As for moving them, I suppose it’s up to you. If the eggs don’t stand a chance due to ATV traffic and you’ve got a good, safe means of transporting them it may be worth a shot. Just know that there are likely thousands of eggs in other bodies of water which will make it into tadpoles and eventually frogs.

      Reply
  • Uh, I’m writing this(Jingqing’s son, Neil) Ihappen to know my moms email. But this is very useful. I think frogs would be perfect for me and your other pages tell me that I should get a Pacman frog and please post a page on budgett’s frogs (my favorite species of frog unless you already have one.

    Reply
    • Hey thanks, Neil! I haven’t kept a Budgett’s frog myself but I’ll consider looking into them and possibly posting some information in the future.

      Reply
  • Hi! Your website is super informative – thank you! My 8yo son would like a frog for his bday. He is constantly catching frogs and toads, but we always tell him that those frogs prefer nature. Now I’m hoping to get him a terrarium. He loves red eye tree frogs – but I was curious about your opinion in what type of frog is the best starter frog. And where do you purchase your frogs?

    Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Hey there! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 I’m glad you find this website helpful. I recently made list of the best and worst frogs for beginners – you may be interested in reading that.

      Red-Eyed Tree Frogs are amazing. For an 8 year old, however, I don’t recommend. They sleep all day and they’re delicate (shouldn’t be held much). On top of this, they require a bit more attention than some other frogs. A good tree frog for a beginner and possibly a youngster is a dumpy tree frog (aka White’s Tree Frog). They’re large and tolerate handling a bit better.

      One of the most popular options is the Pacman Frog. They’re beginner friendly!

      As for where to purchase them – I recommend looking on Facebook for local breeders. They’re also a great source of information regarding how to care for the frog(s) you get. Another option is to check out a reptile convention! Good luck. Let us know if you have any more questions.

      Reply
  • Interesting information on frogs. I have a pond near my house and after a rain they go nuts croaking.

    Reply

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