Should I get a pet frog for my science classroom?

Question

I am an elementary science lab instructor, and I would like to have a pet that is reasonably easy to care for and WONT DIE. I have already had a chameleon, whcih kicked the bucket after about 2 weeks! I did not realize that our heat gets turned off at night and the poor guy got too cold! If I got a frog, which kind should I get? I am wanting to keep it in a 10 gallon terrarium. Do I need a heat light or rock (it gets down to about 65 degrees in here at night)? Should I get more than one? I guess, what I really need to know is if anyone has a type of frog they really like, or suggestions on what kind to get; I could get a book to learn the rest. Thanks for any suggestions!

Answer 1

A frog would be cool for a classroom (no pun intended). There are lots that you could choose from - I'd go with any of these:

1) Fire-bellied toad (small, bright orange-red and black bellies as warning coloration, can change color from brown to green, depending on the color of their substrate

2) pacman/pixie frog - "pixie" doesn't refer to size - these guys are large! But they are relatively inactive, so can be kept in a small tank. Best way to describe them is a mouth with legs attached.

3) African clawed frog - cheap, totally aquatic, will eat pelleted food

4) tree frog (green, White's [also called dumpy tree frog], or Cuban) - who can resist big eyes & suction-cup toes

If you get a species that need heat, you could provide this best with an overhead heat lamp or undertank heating pad (except for the African clawed frog - you shouldn't use an UHP in tanks filled with water - they'll crack - instead used a small, submersible fish tank heater). Don't use a heat rock - the animals have to be in contact with the rock to get warm, and for an amphibian, this would mean its skin drying out. Even with lights/UTH, make sure to mist and fill water bowls Friday afternoons so you don't come back to a "crispy critter" Monday morning! Here are links with photos & care info on these species:

http://www.frogdaze.com/
http://www.anapsid.org/mainamphibians.html
http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/amphibians/

Answer 2

The best Reptile I would suggest for a classroom that drops down to 65 degrees would be a New Caledonian Crested Gecko (Rhacodactylus ciliatus). They do not need a supplimental heat source or UVB/UVA light. They are usually nocturnal, but I see mine out in the day a lot, especially when I feed them in the daylight hours. They are exteremely easy to care for since they thrive at room temperature, eat crickets and a readily availible powdered food that is mixed with water and a humidity level that is easily maintained with a spray of water once or twice a day. They drink water by licking dew off of leaves and a Little Dripper handles this quite well when no one is around to spray. They have a very interesting history, in that they were considered extinct since the late 1800's, only to be rediscovered in 1994. Since then they have taken the reptile hooby by storm due to their ease of care and their readiness to breed in captivity. A healthy male and female kept together will produce clutches of 2 eggs like clockwork and incubating the eggs is just as easy. They have an average size of 5-6 inches from snout to vent and are quite friendly and easy to handle. if grabbed by the tail they will disarticulate their tail and it does not regrow it. This causes no harm to the gecko and most adults in the wild no longer have tails. They are an arboreal species and like a high enclosure, and my male lives in a 10 gal set up on its side when he is not in with the girls. Pet stores also sell screen enclosures that do very well too. Their lifespan is not fully certain yet (they've not been in the hobby long enough to prove out) but with proper care are thought to live 20-25 years (I've had mine for 4 years). I honsetly think a crested would be most suitable for a class room rather than a frog, as they are the most simple reptile to care for and will not require a heat rock or special lighting as will all other reptiles, they are even very forgiving about the humidity requirements and are only required to be fed every other day, so if you feed them some Crested Gecko Diet (or fruit baby food, there are also some good diets you can order on the 'net that are much better than babyfood and more balanced) and throw in some crickets, they will be fine for the weekend. I can assure you if you follow their simple care, they are a very hardy species for an elementary science classroom. Good luck!

Answer 3

Wow your a nice class teacher! I'm only Young and we've nether had a class pet but I'm OK iv got loads of pets including frogs :)
The best frog for me is probably a bull frog. The only problem is if you let these baby's out they will eat anything smaller than it. Its a eating machine. However you can get a green tree frog and these can last a while and are very cheap to get. there about £20 tops. Or an easy er option might be to go down to the local pond nick a few frogs and then set there tank up. But they could be poisonous or poorly or even be about to die! lol thnx :)

Answer 4

Well first place you went wrong is getting a Chamelon they are the hardest reptile to care for. And nomatter what can of reptile you get you are going to need some heat. But good luck I think it's great for kids to have animals in the classroom. If a reptile doesn't work out for you my teachers took us to the pet store and let us pick out our own fish to put in the class, that was fun.

Answer 5

get a aquatic turtle it teaches kids about cold blooded animals and it teaches responsibility because u have to clean out the tank but it does need 2 lights EVERYDAY

Answer 6

I had a teacher that had a corn snake back in elementary. Everyone in the class loved him and at recess they would hold him. Snakes are very interesting animals.

Answer 7

i would get a trap door box turtle. i got one and it eats bananas and it has never bit me plus it would be nice cuz it wont get hurt easily.