Looking to form new relationships? Seeking a special companion to come home to? Desperate for an amphibious addition to your life? You’ve come to the right place. Below are the top five frogs to own as pets, and why.

1. White Tree Frog

Despite the name, the White Tree Frogs are a light green color rather than white. They’re known for being docile and rather stationary. They will be most active at night, and will be easy to handle. If you want a frog that’s like an extremely domesticated, perfectly complacent dog breed, then this little guy is your companion. 

2. Vietnamese Mossy Frog

This frog’s name is less misleading, as it is in fact indigenous to Vietnam. They’re semiaquatic and make their homes in humid and wet places, like certain caves, streams, and floating plants. Their bumpy, dark green and brown appearance helps them blend into such environments, even if it doesn’t win them a beauty competition. The Vietnamese government protects them, but they’re still in danger due to human development and construction going on in their natural habitats. They’re very interestingly colored frogs and could make a good looking companion. 

3. Tomato Frog

These little guys tend to be 2.5-3.5 inches but make up for their size in their striking red/orange color. They’re found in Madagascar and require slow or stagnant freshwater for their eggs and living arrangements. They’re active during the night and are known for their very interesting croaks. They like it hot and humid, so make sure to keep this in mind when creating their tanks and living arrangements. Every frog requires the perfect living arrangements in temperature, flora, and tank size, so make sure to keep this in mind and stray from harmful and cheap tanks and tank decorations. 

4. Amazon Milk Frog

These poisonous but beautifully patterned amphibians spend their lives in the trees of South America. Their name comes from the white poison they secrete to defend themselves. They have several different titles as it has many striking features: The mission golden-eyed tree frog for their golden eyes, and the blue milk frog for it’s blue coloring. Handling them isn’t a good idea due to both their poison and that their skin can absorb chemicals on human hands. You shouldn’t have to, and aren’t advised to handle these frogs often, but with moistened and clean hands you should be able to occasionally handle an adult. They rarely secrete poison in captivity. 

5. Pixie Frog

The pixie frogs, also called the African bull frog, while considered culinary delicacies by many also make great pets. Like their alternative name suggests, they hail from South Africa. Mind their size, as these guys are huge, at an average of 9.5 for male bullfrogs and 4.5 for females. They’ll spend most of their lives underground, and come out during the rainy season. These big guys are considered low maintenance but entertaining to watch. They will obviously require large enclosures for their safety and comfort.

Frogs come in all shapes, sizes and personalities. They come from everywhere all over the world, and have been our companions on the earth for a long, long time. However, frogs are quickly disappearing. In the words of The New York Times Style Magazine article “Frogs are Disappearing, What Does That Mean”, “One study estimates that since the 1970s, around 200 frog species have disappeared, with a projected loss of hundreds more in the next century.” There are plenty of endangered frog species out there that need help. If one of these frogs doesn’t catch your eye, then maybe you should look into working towards the general good of frog kind.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.