Reptiles & Amphibians Frogs & Toads

What You Need to Know About Pet Frogs

Housing, Diet, and Care Tips

Pet frog
seth0s / Pixabay / CC By 0

Pet frogs are great for the right person, but frogs in the wild are facing population declines and extinction largely as a result of human activities. Unfortunately, the pet trade is likely contributing to the amphibian extinction crisis and the spread of a devastating infection by Chytrid fungus. For this reason, you should only buy frogs that you are sure are captive-bred locally and tested to be free of disease whenever possible. Avoid capturing wild frogs and keeping them as pets.

Here’s everything to know about caring for pet frogs, including housing, diet, and which frog species are best for beginners. 

Breed Overview

Scientific Name: Anura

Common Name: Frog

Adult Size: 2 to 5-1/2 inches

Life Expectancy: 4-15 years

Caring for Pet Frogs

Frogs in captivity are quite long-lived (with proper care) so be prepared for a long-term commitment. Average life spans are typically 4 to 15 years, although some frogs have been known to live longer.

Some of the smallest frogs you might see in a pet store grow into giants. Their names often add to the confused expectations. For example, "pixie" frogs, which sound like they should be small, are actually African bullfrogs, which grow to be 8 to 9 inches long and very fat. They get their cute name from their Latin name, Pyxicephalus adspersus.

Although pet frogs might seem to be boring, some of the smaller frogs are actually quite active. However, many of the larger frogs are sedentary and don't move around much. Frogs are not a pet that should be handled regularly due to their special, sensitive skin.

Although frogs don’t express themselves like humans and other animals, it’s possible to form a bond with them. By caring for your frog properly and giving them the attention they need daily, they can feel at ease around you and see you as the source of their food and comfort.

If you travel often and tend to leave town for more than a couple of days at a time, keep in mind that it may be difficult to find someone to care for your frogs.

Everything You Need to Know About Pet Frogs

Housing Frogs

Setting up a tank with everything your frog needs before bringing them home should be done to ensure a proper environment with appropriate water, humidity, and heat requirements. Some frogs hibernate and you will have to provide certain conditions to ensure your frog does so safely.

Make sure you know the right kind of tank your frog will need (i.e., aquatic, terrestrial, arboreal, or semi-aquatic). A half land and half water environment is probably the trickiest to set up but is also one of the most common types of tank needed for frogs.

In terms of tank size, that will depend on the frog species and the number of frogs you plan to keep in the enclosure. Generally, a frog will need at least a 10-gallon tank, but frogs like the White’s tree frog require a minimum of 20 gallons. Also, some frogs, such as tree frogs, require tanks that are tall so they can climb. Research the requirements of the species that you’re interested in to determine the appropriate tank size and shape. 

Keeping a frog enclosure clean can be a lot of work. Many frogs have fairly simple light, temperature, and humidity requirements but they are very sensitive to contaminants and waste in their environment.

Different species have different requirements for their tank or aquarium. For example, some tropical frogs need higher humidity levels above 70%, and some frogs need the temperature maintained at 75 to 85 F during the day and at or above 68 F at night. To mimic their natural environment, you’ll also need to provide lighting during the day. Include branches, plants, and hide boxes for your frog to use, too. And for the substrate, you could use coconut husks, sphagnum or peat moss, or soil, but don’t use any rocks or gravel that a frog might swallow.  

Food and Water

A frog's diet will vary based on species, but generally speaking, frogs are carnivores who eat live prey. Many frogs eat worms or insects, including crickets, caterpillars, moths, and grasshoppers. Some of the larger frogs will even eat pinky mice. You can purchase live prey at your local pet store. Do not give your frog any human foods; only feed your pet a species-appropriate diet.

Be sure that fresh and clean water is available to your frog at all times.

Common Health Issues

Frogs can become ill for various reasons, such as:

  • Bacterial infections
  • Fungal infections
  • Viruses
  • Parasites
  • Metabolic bone disease
  • Deficiencies
  • Trauma

Keeping their tank clean and giving them what they need to thrive is key. Observe your frog daily for changes in appearance and behavior. Signs of illness that warrant a trip to a veterinarian that treats amphibians include:

  • Difficulty moving, jumping, or catching prey
  • Changes in appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Changes in color, such as reddening of the legs
  • Changes in appearance, such a lumps or sores on the body
  • Signs of injury

Good Frog Species for Beginners

As with any other kind of pet, doing lots of research prior to deciding on the type of frog that best suits your needs is the best way to make sure you and your frog will be happy.

  • Dwarf Clawed Frogs: These are small, active, completely aquatic, and among the easiest of frogs to keep in captivity. They are very popular pet frogs.
  • Oriental Fire-Bellied Toads: These are semi-terrestrial frogs that are fairly active and relatively easy to keep as pets.
  • White's Tree Frog: These are terrestrial tree frogs that are docile and easy to keep but they do tend to be fairly inactive so some people find them boring as pets.
  • African Clawed Frogs: These are aquatic frogs that get quite large (be careful not to confuse young African clawed frogs with the much smaller dwarf clawed frogs) but their care is not that difficult.
  • American Green Tree Frogs: This tree frog is another species that is suitable for beginners.
  • Pacman Frogs: Mostly terrestrial, Pacman frogs are pretty easy to care for, but they get quite large and are mostly sedentary.
forgs as pets

The Spruce / Wenija Tang

FAQ
  • How much are pet frogs?

    Pet frogs cost anywhere from $10 to $300, depending on species.

  • What pet frogs can be handled?

    These popular frogs are all safe to handle: the African bullfrog, White’s tree frog, the African dwarf frog, the tomato frog, the red-eyed tree frog, and the American green tree frog.

  • Where can you buy pet frogs?

    Your local pet store is a good resource for pet frogs, but you can also buy them from a reputable source online. Always ask if the frog was captive-bred; never take a frog out of their wild habitat to keep as a pet.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Kolby, Jonathan E. Presence Of The Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis In Native Amphibians Exported From MadagascarPlos ONE, vol 9, no. 3, 2014, p. e89660. Public Library Of Science (Plos), doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089660