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Maud Island Frogs are Making a Comeback

A piece of good news in the International Year of the Frog: a rare and threatened species of frog in New Zealand is making a comeback. New Zealand is home to four native frog species. The rarest — Hamilton’s frog — numbers less than three hundred total. The Maud Island frogs — numbering around forty thousand — are breeding for the first time in recorded history, giving hope for other frog species. You read that right — Maud Island frogs have NEVER been found breeding before. A few facts about Maud Island frogs: They are normally found on only two … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Jun 18-24

Another week has passed, summer arrived, and there was no Moose, Lally, Murphy, Kitty or Tabby chaos to report. (Phew!) Which means it was a quiet, yet productive, week here in the Pets Blog. Here’s what Aimee and I covered on: Monday, June 18 Were you curious how Murphy, Tabby, and Kitty did for Father’s Day? If so, you’ll be happy to know all went well. Tuesday, June 19 Did you know the Queen of England is a royal dog lover? I didn’t, but of all the things to learn about her after watching the movie “The Queen” that was … Continue reading →

Dwarf Clawed Frogs

A great frog for beginners is the dwarf clawed frog. The most common species found in pet stores is Hymenchirus boettgeri. Size: Between one and two inches long when adult. Color: Most often light brown/grey with darker spots. Sometimes light in color. Feet: Front feet are webbed. (Larger clawed frogs do not have webbed front feet.) Life span: Average life span is five years. You don’t need a huge tank to keep dwarf clawed frogs. Figure on about a gallon of water/space for each frog. Dwarf clawed frogs can live in groups and/or with community fish that are approximately the … Continue reading →

Frogs As Pets

Interested in an amphibian for a pet? Don’t cross frogs off your list just yet. A frog can be a long-lived and interesting pet for your family! Things to consider: Lifespan. With proper care a pet frog can live anywhere from four to fifteen years — and some have lived even longer! You may be taking care of your pet frog for a long time to come; this is not a commitment to take lightly. Habitats. Different types of frog need different types of habitat. Many frogs need semi-aquatic tanks (half land and half water) that are difficult to set … Continue reading →

Why Are Amphibians in Trouble (and What Can You Do?)

Starting on Leap Day, people around the world are celebrating the International Year of the Frog. Experts fear that approximately two thousand species of frog, toad, and salamander are in danger of extinction — many within the next five years if we don’t take action. Why are amphibians in trouble? One main factor is a fungus that comes from South Africa. Here’s how the chytrid fungus became a problem: In the 1930s, scientists discovered that the African clawed frog could be used as a human pregnancy test. Inject the frog with female urine. Within a day, if the frog produced … Continue reading →

International Year of the Frog

Just in time for Leap Year! (Har har.) 2008 has been declared the International Year of the Frog. The idea is to address the problem of amphibian extinction — including frogs, toads, and salamanders. Zoos, aquarium, government agencies, and volunteers are making 2008 a year of a major public education effort. The bad news for frogs, toads, and salamanders: Nearly one third of all known species of amphibian are in serious decline. There are approximately six thousand known species — that means about two thousand species are in trouble. Within the next five years, we could lose nearly five hundred … Continue reading →

Tank Care For Newts and Salamanders

Salamanders and newts have very porous skin — it makes them very sensitive to changes in environment (just like frogs and other amphibians). If you aren’t careful in your tank care, your pets can become seriously ill or injured. First things first — all tanks need water. Even terrestrial tanks have water trapped in the mossy substrate and/or in shallow pools. Don’t use distilled water to fill your tanks. You can use tap water or rainwater — but either one may need to be treated or left standing to allow chemicals to dissipate. Tap water should be treated with dechlorinating … Continue reading →