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Amazon milk frog

How Long Do Frogs Live?

Frogs are capable of living long lives. How long they live depends on a few factors. Wild frogs deal with the environment while captive frogs are at the mercy of their keepers. Every species is different, too.

But you already know that. The reason you’re here is to get real numbers and that’s precisely what I’ll give you. In the section below, I listed 17 species of frogs and how long they live.

The lifespan of wild frogs varies, depending on their environment. Frogs in captivity have greater lifespans, between 10 to 20 years or more. Some species have been recorded living for over 30 years.

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The Lifespan of 17 Frog Species

The average lifespan of the 17 species listed below is 16.05 years. Keep in mind that these numbers vary from source to source. They’re credible sources but don’t assume they’re 100% accurate.

SpeciesLifespan
African Dwarf Frog30 years
Amazon Milk Frog10 years
American Green Tree Frog06 years
Blue Poison-dart Frog20 years
Bullfrog16 years
Cane Toad24 years
Fire-bellied Toad20 years
Gray Tree Frog15 years
Leopard Frog09 years
Pacman Frog15 years
Pixie Frog25 years
Red-Eyed Tree Frog12 years
Spring Peeper03 years
Tomato Frog10 years
Vietnamese Mossy Frog15 years
White’s Tree Frog40 years
Wood Frog03 years
The lifespan of 17 species of frogs.

I feel like I should emphasize that these numbers aren’t set in stone. What you’re seeing are mixed numbers of captive and wild frogs. 

For example, the average lifespan of a Red-eyed Tree Frog is roughly 5 years in the wild. That same frog could live 12+ years in captivity if cared for properly.

Lifespan: Captive vs Wild

Whether you’re for or against keeping animals in captivity, pets tend to live longer lives. At least that’s the case when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. 

The reason for this is simple. In the wild, frogs have predators and they’re subject to the elements. Food can be scarce at times. In captivity, life is great and food is plentiful.

Under proper care of a knowledgeable keeper, there is little to no risk of life and the pet has an unending supply of food. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why frogs live longer in captivity.

40 Year Old Tree Frog

Chris Humphrey is the proud parent of a White’s Tree Frog which he says is 40 years old (in 2017). This means his elderly hopper is roughly 43 years old at the time of writing this (if he’s still alive).

“Fred” was rescued from a toilet block in Coffs Harbour sometime during 1977 and he’s been well taken care of ever since. 

Now, Fred may not be the oldest frog in the world but he’s exceptional by most standards. I mention this particular frog because it’s well documented.

I’ve seen claims of 30 to 40-year-old frogs across the internet and I believe some of them. Speaking of, we received a comment a few weeks ago from a kind lady named Jennifer who has a 32-year-old African clawed frog.

It was very insightful. Jennifer explained how the novelty of keeping an aquatic frog has worn off and that an aspiring owner should consider the length of life before getting one as a pet. I couldn’t agree more.

Anyway, back to Fred. As far as I know, he is still alive. I wasn’t able to confirm this because all the articles I found were about his 40th birthday.

Frog Lifespan FAQs

This section is meant to answer some of the most common questions regarding the lifespan of frogs.

How long do most frogs live?

Most frogs live a few years in the wild. Predators, loss of habitat, and natural causes keep most frogs and toads from living for more than five years. Captive frogs live longer than their wild counterparts.

Can frogs live for 100 years?

There are no known species of frogs that live 100 years or more. Olms (Proteus anguinus), a type of amphibian, are thought to be capable of living around 100 years.

How old is the oldest pet frog?

The 43-year-old white’s tree frog described in the story above is the oldest frog in captivity that I know of. The second closest in age is a 36-year-old common toad (bufo bufo).

How long do frogs live as pets?

The answer to this question depends on the species you’re keeping. Some live longer than others. However, most captive frogs live longer than their wild counterparts. Between 5 and 10 years is a common lifespan for frogs in captivity.

Conclusion

The maximum age of a frog (or toad) is hard to measure. We know some species can live up to 40 years but this isn’t common.

The life of a frog in the wild is shorter. That’s because natural aspects like predators, droughts, and loss of habitat keep them from reaching their true potential.

Wondering how old a certain type of frog can live? I recommend researching that species. Each of them is different. Also, expect a frog to live longer in captivity than in the wild.

I hope this article was helpful! Feel free to leave a comment in the section below with questions or concerns.

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