By: All About Frogs

So, you want to get a pet frog....
Before you run out to the nearest pet store or pond there are several things you should consider.
Getting a frog shouldn't be considered all that different from getting a cat or dog. It can be a lot of work, and you need to think about what you're going to do when you skip town for a week, and so forth.
Also, frogs aren't like goldfish in that they can live for a very very long time!
You may need a special license to keep frogs in some countries. I hear that in Australia it is actually very difficult to obtain an amphibian license, and people who keep frogs without such a license can get fined heavily for it. You should definitely check to see if there are any special laws pertaining to keeping frogs in your area before you get one as a pet!

Here's a few things to consider when making choices:

Frogs Can Be a Lot of Work
Frogs need to be fed on a regular basis. Keep in mind where your food source is going to be. Generally speaking, this isn't going to be as easy as picking up a package at your local grocery store! In addition, if you get a frog that eats live bugs, expect to have a few stray bugs running around the house now and then! The larger frogs can be even more work...Many of the larger species feed on mice and this can be a less than fun experience if you aren't prepared for it! Frog tanks need to be well cleaned to prevent illness. Also, keep in mind that each pet has special needs for Housing.

Active Frogs
Probably one of the biggest mistakes I hear about is people who go out and buy a "cool-looking" frog which then proceeds to eat, sleep, and generally sit like a lump of clay. The reality is, a lot of frogs don't really do much, and they aren't exactly something you can snuggle up with either, so you need to keep that in mind when choosing an appropriate pet. Frogs may be cute or grotesque, but you can't teach them tricks, take them for walks, or make them speak on command. Frogs which aren't particularly active will quickly become a boring pet. The novelty will wear off and you'll be left with a blob that eats a lot. When looking for a pet frog, particularly for the beginner, I strongly urge you to choose ACTIVE breeds. This means, search for a species that doesn't just sit around all day. Aquatic frogs, certain treefrogs, and the less "fat" frogs are better choices.

Never get a Frog You Don't Know
There are many many species of frogs, and many have very individualized pet care needs. Some frogs need to hibernate during the winter, others do not. The pet care needs will change everything from what you need as far as tank set-up to what you have to feed them. In addition, many frogs look really really cute in the stores, and then you bring them home and in a few months they've grown in monstrous proportions and it isn't nearly as nice as you thought it was going to be.

Frog Sitters
Your frog, if well cared for, should live for a very long time! That means you're going to run into the same problem everyone with pets runs into whenever they go out of town for vacations..."Who's gonna care for my pet while I'm away??"
Unlike feeding a few flakes to a goldfish, the idea of live bugs isn't very appealing to most people who haven't been as enlightened about frogs as you have! In some cases, you can convince a "frog sitter" to care for your frogs if they don't actually have to touch the bugs. So, if you plan on getting a frog, plan ahead as to how vacations will be handled.