Frogs are a popular choice for pet owners looking for a relatively easy-to-care-for exotic pet. With the right care and conditions, frogs can live for up to 25 years, which is amazing for those looking for long-term companions.
Whether you’re just starting out as a frog owner or checking in to make sure you’re taking proper care, here are seven tips to help your pet frog thrive.
1. Pick the Right Tank
The first thing you can do to make sure your frog is comfortable is pick the right size tank. To do this, you’ll want to consider the size of your frog when it is fully grown. For example, if you get a bullfrog, you’ll need at least a 75-gallon tank to provide them with the space they need to be safe and comfortable.
Some frogs prefer taller enclosures to jump in rather than wider tanks to explore. As you pick a tank, consider your frog’s behavior and set it up appropriately. You can also consult with a professional to help provide guidance.
Failure to provide an adequately sized tank can cause your frog to be both unhappy and unhealthy, so make sure you make the right choice in frog and tank size from the start.
2. Create the Right Habitat
Once you have the right size tank, you need to make sure you have the right habitat in place for your frog. Tree frogs need a lot of branches and plants to climb around, while ground-dwelling frogs prefer to hide and burrow in the ground.
These resources can be real or artificial as long as you take proper care of them. Avoid gravel and rocks because some frogs can eat them and cause harm.
Frogs will benefit from some UV exposure to help with their overall health and well-being; however, heat lamps are not necessary. They often do not require lighting as they are nocturnal.
3. Feed Them the Proper Diet
Most frogs eat bugs like flies, crickets, roaches, and moths. They can also eat different types of worms, snails, and slugs. They prefer live food that they can catch with their long, sticky tongues, and you can dust them with calcium and multivitamin powders to maximize their nutritional potential.
There are also food pellets available for frogs, though it make take some time for your frog to adjust to eating these. If you don’t like bugs, frogs may not be the ideal pet for you.
Additionally, some larger frogs require a more substantial diet, including mice, guppies, or goldfish. These can be more expensive than other types of food, so make sure you have the budget and available pet stores that can provide food for them.
Feed your young frogs every 2-3 days. Adult frogs only need to be fed 2-3 times a week. While you want to make sure not to overfeed your frogs, offer them food until they are no longer hungry. Remove any remaining food items, especially if they are alive.
4. Provide Access to Water
Frogs need regular access to water. They drink it – but not how you may think. Fogs actually absorb water through their skin!
First and foremost, you should provide a moist environment for your frog to help promote absorption. It should never be just wet to prevent harmful mold from growing. You can mist regularly with non-chlorinated water to provide the right conditions.
Depending on the size of the tank, you can also provide a water bowl, waterfall, or other features to provide access to moisture. Just make sure to maintain the proper temperature and humidity in the enclosure.
Change out your frog’s water daily. They use it both to stay hydrated and bathe, so it can quickly get dirty.
5. Keep the Tank Clean
You’ll want to clean out the tank every few days to remove any waste. Depending on how dirty the tank is, you may want to relocate your frog to temporary housing to make it easier to clean.
Wipe down the inside of the tank, checking for any mold growth. Use a brush to remove any mold or algae. Because of the moist environment, mold and algae can grow quickly, but you want to avoid using any artificial cleaners as these can be harmful for your frog.
Change out the substrate and any other decorative material to ensure it’s clean. If it is artificial, you can clean it with hot water and return it back to the tank. Add back any fresh water to your tank and return the frog to its tank.
6. Leave the Frog Alone
While it can be tempting to want to handle your frog, resist the urge! Most frogs should not be regularly handled. Touching it too frequently can cause damage to its delicate skin and the layer of slime on its body.
This slime layer is critical to their overall health. It helps them stay moist, which allows them to breathe. It also serves as a protective barrier, standing between them and germs. If you need to handle your frog, make sure you wet your hands before not to dry your frog’s skin out.
Afterwards, you’ll want to make sure to wash and sanitize your hands. Frogs skin can carry salmonella, which can cause humans to get sick.
7. Pay Attention to Their Health
While you want to leave your frog alone, that doesn’t mean you need to stop paying attention to them! On the contrary, frogs can get sick, and their health issues are often difficult to take care of, so it’s important that you provide good care from the start.
Ensure they are eating enough. If they are starting to look malnourished, make sure you are providing a variety of food options. Red leg is a parasite that can impact pet frogs, making their underside red and impacting their ability to move. If you suspect your frog has red leg, sanitize their tank and give them sulfamethazine baths daily for two weeks.
Veterinarians can also treat many common infections your frog may suffer from, but it can be costly.
So, Are Frogs Good Pets?
Frogs make great pets as long as you take care of them. While they do not require daily care in most cases, you still need to make sure they have the right tank, food, and living conditions. Failure to do so can cause your frog to get sick and, in some cases, die.
However, if you are up for the task, they make great pets that can be by your side for up to 25 years!
