Frog & Toad

A frog or toad is a good companion for:

Children under 5

Seniors

Apartments/Condos

Children ages 5–11

Busy People

Rural Homes

Life Span

It is important to clarify that toads are simply a different species of frog. Frogs and toads that live in the wild are facing extinction at an alarming rate. If you are interested in a frog or a toad as a pet, please be sure to purchase one that has been captive-bred and not removed from the wild. Unfortunately, the greater the demand for frogs and toads as pets, the more that will be pulled from their natural habitat to fulfill the need. In captivity frogs and toads can live between four and 15 years, depending on the species. In the wild, some frogs and toads live as long as 40 years.

Typical Behavior

Some people may perceive frogs and toads as boring. The larger frogs and toads tend to be sedentary, which means they are not very active. Smaller frogs and toads can be more active and entertaining to watch. You should not poke at a frog or toad to make it move. Frogs and toads do well living alone. If you decide to have more than one frog or toad, they should be of the same species and the same size. Larger frogs and toads may eat smaller frogs and toads.

Care Requirements

Frogs and toads prefer not to be held. Since there will be times when they need to be picked up, it is necessary for you to wash your hands before holding a frog or toad as the salt on your skin can be irritating to theirs. Handle the frog or toad very carefully and make sure it cannot jump out of your hands. It is important always to wash your hands after handling a frog or toad to prevent the spread of disease. Frogs and toads do not need to eat every day. Once you live with pet for a while, you will have a better understanding of its feeding schedule. Offer your frog or toad food when you first bring it home, and then adjust the schedule based on how much it eats. During the winter months frogs and toads tend to eat less.

Proper Habitat and Habitat Maintenance Requirements

An aquarium makes a good home for a frog or toad. Don’t forget to put a screened cover over the top so it can’t escape. A screen also will keep your pet safe from predators. The more space frogs and toads have, the happier they will be. When setting up the habitat, it is important to provide clean, dechlorinated, fluoride-free water, light, a resting area out of the water and a heat source when the weather is cold. A frog and toad generally require about one to two inches of water to lay in. Frogs and toads drink through their skin, so use the water not only to bathe, but to drink. The addition of rocks will help your pet get completely out of the water. A flat ceramic bowl that will not tip over is a good water container; pet stores sell a variety of different kinds and sizes. Sterile potting soil and moss can be added to the floor of the aquarium. Provide toads and frogs with hiding places; frogs also will appreciate having vegetation to climb. Don’t place gravel or rocks small enough for a frog or toad to swallow on the bottom of the tank. The tank should be kept at a temperature around 75 degrees. UV light over the top of the aquarium should be sufficient to provide the light source they need, as well as some heat. In colder weather you can put a heating pad set on low under one end of the tank. Pet supply stores sell all these types of supplies.

Dietary Requirements

The primary diet is live crickets and live worms, which can be purchased at a pet supply store. Do not feed crickets that you may catch as they may have come in contact with pesticides and be deadly to a frog or toad. Some larger species of frogs and toads should be given “pinkies,” which are baby mice.

Financial Considerations for a frog or toad:

Veterinary

There are not many veterinarians experienced in treating frogs and toads. When a frog or toad is sick, they usually go downhill quickly. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to their normal habits, especially eating, and be familiar with their overall appearance. If something seems out of the norm, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. Maintaining a healthy environment is key to keeping a healthy frog or toad. This involves changing the water regularly and cleaning the inside of the aquarium. It is also important to dust the crickets you feed a frog or toad with calcium powder (with vitamin D3 added) once a week and no more than twice a week. This helps a frog or toad maintain strong bones and reduces the chances of bone disease.

Grooming

Frogs and toads do not require grooming. They do need clean, non-chlorinated, fluoride-free water to remain clean and healthy.

Animal Sitter

A professional pet sitter, a friend or neighbor can be used to care for your frog or toad in your absence.

Food

The cost to feed a frog or toad will depend on the cost for live crickets, worms or frozen pinkies in your area.

Other Supplies:

Generally a frog or toad requires a tank; UV light and fixture; a heating pad when necessary in cold weather; sterile potting soil and/or moss; vegetation; hideouts; flat water container in which the frog or toad can fit; food; powdered calcium with vitamin D3 added.

Interesting Facts about frogs and toads:

• The earliest known frog lived over 190 million years ago.
• Frogs can jump 20 times their body length by using their strong back legs to launch themselves.
• Frogs breathe and drink through their skin and not their mouth.
• A frog's eyes are round bumps that flatten against the top of their head when they swallow their prey.
• Some frogs have stripes down their back that create an illusion for their prey to think there are two frogs and not just one.