amphibian

January 20th, 2009 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

amphibian

When Keeping Amphibians As Pets, It Is Important To Follow Recommendations

Many people choose to keep amphibians as pets, because of their exotic qualities and varied colors. When deciding to keep amphibians as pets, it is very important to first research the many types of amphibians before deciding which one will make the best pet for your home.

Amphibians are in the class of vertebrates called “Amphibia”, which includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. The characterization of amphibians (verses other vertebrates) is that amphibian eggs and larvae live primarily in Water and amphibian adults live primarily on land. (There are a few species of amphibians, however, that do not match this characterization because the species neither lives in water as young nor lays eggs.)

Amphibians have “naked” bodies without hair, scales, or feathers. Frogs are tailless amphibians that have moist and smooth skin, long hind legs and short front legs, and webbed feet. The name “toad” is a common name for frogs that have dry, rough skin and have shorter hind legs when compared to frogs. Salamanders have soft, wet skin, four legs of similar length, and tails that are longer than their main bodies. “Newt” is the common name for the smaller salamanders. Salamanders are often called “sallies” by people who raise them or keep them as pets.

Keeping a frog or toad as a pet is a serious commitment because they can live a long time, averaging 4-15 year life-spans depending on the species. Frogs and toads require clean enclosures because they can easily become ill from a dirty environment. Keeping frogs and toads also requires keeping insects for food. Many people enjoy keeping frogs and toads because of their varied colors and vocalizations, but frogs are usually not very energetic and can be considered by some to be a bore. The most popular frogs and toad to keep as pets for beginners are: White’s Tree Frogs, Dwarf Frogs, American Green Tree Frogs, Pacman Frogs, and Oriental Fire-Bellied Toads.

Much like frogs and toads, salamanders and newts should be kept clean and well-fed, but they must also be kept cool. Both salamanders and newts can become ill if their environments reach temperatures at or above 72 oF and keeping them cool can be the most expensive part of housing them. These amphibians are good to keep as pets as long as the keeper wishes to observe them rather than interact with them. Salamanders and newts do not keep well when frequently handled (because of stress) and are often poisonous. The most widely-available salamanders are Tiger Salamanders and Fire Salamanders. The most widely-available newts are the Chinese Firebelly Newts.

When keeping amphibians as pets, it is important to follow recommendations made by veterinarians, breeders or pet stores to keep your amphibian healthy and happy.

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