frog advice

[MysticKigh]

Hey all,

My son has decided that he would like to have a frog. He's looking for something that is at least a couple of inches when grown. We have a variety of other exotics, so special requirements are a standard in our house... and not something we are likely to shy away from. But... ideally this will be something that he can handle on occasion (not frequently... just not a 'no touch' species), preferably a tree frog of some sort, and something I will not have to spend the next 5 months trying to find a breeder of. The pac-man's seem to be ... well, no offense, but pretty 'pet-rocks'
He's seen a few frogs that have intrigued him... waxy monkey frogs, cuban trees, and a milkfrog. I am still looking into the availability of these guys... as well as the appropriateness...
SO... am I grasping at straws here... or is there a frog out there for him?
Any suggestion, as well as recommendations of dealers are HUGELY appreciated :worship: :worship:

 

[Beardo]

If you plan on handling it period, do not get a frog. Frogs are not a pet you handle. Its in their best interest to just admire them and not touch. I would suggest Green Tree Frogs, White's Tree Frogs, and Fire-Bellied Toads as good starter anurans.

 

[Shelob]

I agree (to a certain extent) with DavidBeard on this, while we enjoy handling the frog, they generally don't and they think we are a predator or just plain get stressed. If you don't know what you are doing it is very easy to have an accident and have the frog injured.

Now with the precautions out of the way, I will recommend the White's Tree Frog. They are fairly docile, colorful, easy to take care of and always appear to be smiling. I love these frogs (even though I do own a "pet-rock" as you put it...I think you owe my little Ned an apology! ) and they are pretty easy to obtain and not too pricey. Give them a look see!

 

[Beardo]

The main reason I do not advocate handling frogs and other amphibians is because of their skin. Amphibians execute cutaneous respiration, and therefore their skin is very porous and absorbant. The oils and salts on our skin can be poisonous to them in large amounts, and even in small amounts can make them ill. Also the salts can deplete their mucous membranes very rapidly, leaving them open to dehydration and possibly death.

 

[Washout]

Pac man frogs are great, but they are only interesting when feeding. They just sit there in the mud for most of the time. But they can eat things that are a 3rd of their own bodyweight. When full grown they can eat mice etc..

 

[MysticKigh]

Cuban Tree Frogs

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Just for the record, I am aware of the issues with handling frogs, but still appreciate the fact that is was mentioned
He is not looking to have something to take out and snuggle, we have plenty of those types of animals, including a litter of puppies that we are in the process of placing in new homes <hint hint>.

He has looked at the White's and it looks like that is the route we will go.
I do have another question though, we were initially looking at Cuban Tree frogs, and I ran across something that left me wondering :? , they are listed in a few places as being "aggressive''??

Anyway, thanks again!
Have a great day all!

 

[MysticKigh]

(even though I do own a "pet-rock" as you put it...I think you owe my little Ned an apology! ) and they are pretty easy to obtain and not too pricey. Give them a look see!

:8o Ahem, my humblest apologies dear Ned, I am sure you are a prince of a frog

 

[Ishkabibble]

We have a number of frogs including Gray Tree frogs, White's tree frogs, ACF's, Firebelly's, Green Tree frogs, and RETF's. To say it sounds like you're in a swamp when you're in the animals room with your eyes closed, can be an understatement. Although in the dead of winter, a croaking frog is sometimes a spirit lifter. I'd recommend White's tree frogs or Green tree frogs. We don't handle ours anymore than necessary, we do however hand feed them crickets to be sure they all get their share. And they do know when it's feeding time, and having them take food out of your hand, is pretty much as good as holding them. Better actually when you know you're not stressing them out AND they don't pee on you that way!

 

[Nick_schembri]

I would recommend the white's tree frog. They don't mind being handled occasionally and they also eat the worms out of my hands. However they are mainly nocturnal so you won't see much activity during the day unless its hungry. The sounds they make are also not too loud and it doesn't last long.
Good luck for chosing the right frog, this is just my opinion.

Nicky.

 

[Randolph XX()]

First of all, how old is your son
i'd say a Toad would be nice to handle, not those spiiters like Bufo Marinus or such, but some medium sized one

 

[Wade]

I do have another question though, we were initially looking at Cuban Tree frogs, and I ran across something that left me wondering :? , they are listed in a few places as being "aggressive''??

Anyway, thanks again!
Have a great day all!

I'm going to guess they mean the frogs are aggressively territorial with one annother. Although some of the horned frogs, African bullfrogs, and especially the Budgett's frog can give a significant bite, I doubt any treefrog could.

Wade

 

[CIRE]

Pac man frogs are great, but they are only interesting when feeding. They just sit there in the mud for most of the time. But they can eat things that are a 3rd of their own bodyweight. When full grown they can eat mice etc..

I was wondering, when pacmans eat, do they just bite their prey, or do they use their tongues as well?

 

[Washout]

I think they just swallow it whole, no tongue.

 

[Scorpendra]

I was wondering, when pacmans eat, do they just bite their prey, or do they use their tongues as well?

they wait until their prey comes close, then they grab it with their mouth and chew it before swallowing

and they are not pet rocks. they may be usually as mobile as one, but they require specific care and are not 5-year-old-level 1970 fads. i wonder how many other Ceratophrys owners will see this. also, pac-mans are so agressively territorial, they are cannabalistic, so one per tank.

 

[Beardo]

Cuban Tree Frogs get large and will eat smaller frogs if they are kept together. I have witnessed this myself when a pet store I used to work at got a shipment of green tree frogs in and put them in with our large male Cuban....we ended up with no Greens and one fat a$$ Cuban lol.

 

[MysticKigh]

First of all, how old is your son
i'd say a Toad would be nice to handle, not those spiiters like Bufo Marinus or such, but some medium sized one

We're not really looking for something that will get held often, I just prefer to have something that should we wish to make changes in the home or do a full tank cleaning, a minute or two out on clean hands won't be life-threatening (ie: extremely traumatic etc). From all I have read the White's are a species that tend to fall into that category (thanks again for all the input)
I refrained from mentioning the age of my son because he has been in a home with exotics and involved in rescue from the time he was about 3 years old, so he has a little different take on animal care than the average child of his age (10) Most recently he has been involved in the rehab of two extremely sick ball pythons. Prior to our addiction to herps and arachnids, we did 'vicious breed' dog rescue and parrot rescue which he was also a part of etc etc. OK, enough of the 'my son's awesome' speech Just didn't want it to sound as though I wasn't willing to get him a puppy and figured a frog was the easy way out

 

[Wade]

I think they just swallow it whole, no tongue.

Actually, they do use the tounge, although it doesn't come out far and it's hard to see since it happens so fast. I've felt it on my hand when one bit me, it's quite sticky! I think it's used mainly to sort of postion the prey so they can wrap the mouth around it.

Wade