Choosing frogs and salamanders as pets can be fun and rewarding. Be sure you are prepared for the special care needs of these pets. Doing your research before choosing frogs and salamanders will help ensure a happy and healthy relationship with your pet.

Frog species number in the thousands. Some of these are suitable for pets, others are not. When choosing frogs as pets, carefully consider what type of environment (aquatic or terrestrial) the frogs will need, what size the frogs may grow to, and what specific care needs the frogs will have. Good frog species for beginners are African Dwarf Frogs, Oriental Fire-Bellied Toads, and White’s Tree Frogs.

Choosing frogs requires knowledge about their habitats. The environment you need for your pet frog depends on the breed. Some frogs live entirely in the water (aquatic); others need land areas as well (terrestrial). Be sure you have a secure cover that allows air to flow freely, such as a screen. Pet frogs can be very sensitive to containments, including their own waste, in their tanks so it is important to keep their environment clean.

Most frogs eat crickets and mealworms. Some large frogs eat mice. Frogs generally prefer live food. Frogs do not generally eat a wide variety of foods; the same diet day after day is usually fine. No bowls are needed for your pet frog; you can simply drop live crickets or mealworms into the tank. It is important for the frog to watch its prey move before it eats.

Salamanders are amphibians and are related to other amphibians like frogs and toads. Salamanders and their close relatives, newts, are a family of around 350 different species, and are found in North and South America, and the temperate zones of Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. Salamanders are often either fully terrestrial (land-dwelling) or fully aquatic (water-dwelling). Newts, on the other hand, often live in the water beginning in the spring, when they breed, moving to land by late summer through winter.

When choosing salamanders, consider their home. The type of environment needed for your salamander depends on the type it is. Terrestrial salamanders do well in terrariums. As in the case of most lizards, a bigger tank is better, allowing your salamander more space to move. Aquatic salamanders need the largest aquarium you can manage, to help reduce the build up of ammonia from their waste. All types of salamanders should be kept in tanks with tight-fitting ventilated lids. Some salamanders are very accomplished climbers, and can even use bodily secretions to enhance their suction as they climb.

Salamanders require water for drinking and a diet of worms, slugs, and crickets. Both terrestrial and aquatic salamanders respond to movement in their prey, so live food is a necessity. A mix of beetles, pillbugs, earth worms, meal worms, and small moths or other night-flying bus (for terrestrial salamanders) or small aquatic crustaceans (for aquatic or semi-aquatic salamanders) will provide a good diet.

When choosing frogs and salamanders, look for visibly healthy animals. Choose frogs and salamanders with plump bodies and firm legs, with clear eyes. You should not be able to see the rib bones of the salamander, but he should not appear bloated either. When choosing frogs and salamanders, the reptiles skin should feel smooth and look clear, with no discolored patches or visible cuts.

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