How Long Do Frogs Live? Amphibian Facts For Kids

How long does a frog's life usually last?

Frogs can make great pets, and there are many frog species to choose from! The amount of care needed for your pet frog usually depends on its species.

Keep reading on to know how to care for these amazing animals! If you enjoyed this article, do check out our pages on animals with big eyes and pond animals.

Different Types Of Frogs

There are many different types of frogs, with this amphibian family being one of the most diverse in terms of species. Frogs may be aquatic, semi-aquatic, or completely terrestrial, depending from species to species. There are currently over 5,000 species of frogs in the world, ranging from the common toad to more exotic species such as the strawberry poison dart frog and the Brazilian gold frog!

For example, many tree frog species generally spend their entire adult lives above ground, in and around trees.

Frogs tend to survive longer in captivity than in the wild due to a number of circumstances, such as being hunted by predators, succumbing to various diseases brought on by bacteria or viruses or not being able to survive in extreme weather conditions. On average, wild frogs live for between 3-6 years, while captive frogs can live for between 4-15 years, with some frogs like the goliath frog even surpassing 20 years of age!

When frog eggs are laid, they hatch into tadpoles around two to four weeks later and start feeding in order to accelerate their growth. They start growing back legs at 14 weeks, with the rest of their features coming through rapidly after that, after which they leave the water.

What You Need To Know About Pet Frogs

Frogs have a short lifespan in the wild because of natural circumstances, such as being hunted by larger predators, starvation due to lack of food in the environment, or succumbing to disease or extreme weather changes. So, the same frog species will have a much longer lifespan in captivity than it will in the wild. They usually live for between 4-15 years.

When choosing a frog, don't be fooled by the species name, and remember to do proper research on the species you're planning to adopt. Many of the smaller frogs you see at the pet store are young frogs, and continue to grow throughout their lives - such as African bullfrogs, which grow quite large, but are sold as small 'pixie frogs'.

Smaller frogs are also much more active than larger ones and can be observed darting around the cage. Make sure to have adequate space for your frogs to get in some exercise.

When bringing home your pet frog, make sure you have all the necessary equipment set up. As frogs are amphibians and have smooth, permeable skin, they require humid surroundings to ensure that their skin doesn't dry out and crack. Some frogs need moisture to secrete poison, which they cover their skin with as a natural defense. They are also quite sensitive to waste material, which needs to be filtered out regularly in order to keep them safe.

A common frog enclosure would typically require proper lighting, both land, and water-based environment, temperature, and moisture regulators set according to the needs of their species. Some frogs are fully terrestrial, like many tree frog species, and have tiny pads on their feet which they use to stick onto surfaces instead. Make sure to have plenty of branches and climbing equipment in the enclosure of these frogs.

As many adult frogs hibernate during the winter, it is quite common for them to eat more during autumn in order to prepare themselves for extended slumber. During this time feed your frog protein-rich food such as crickets, mealworms, cockroaches, fruit flies, and earthworms. They can be gut loaded with nutritious greens or dusted with multivitamin supplements prior to feeding them to your pet to add extra benefits.

What do frogs eat?

The diet of frogs in the wild, as well as captivity, is similar. As most wild species of frogs can be kept as pets, their diet must be formulated on what they would usually eat in the wild, with some added nutritional supplements.

In the wild, frogs usually follow an omnivorous lifestyle, with their diet varying slightly depending on which stage of life they are at.

Tadpoles usually eat the remains of the eggs they hatch from, algae, and small pieces of the leaves and roots of aquatic plants. As they are still developing digestive features and mouths, it is not feasible for them to catch and feed on prey like insects. Once they grow into fully formed adults, their diet becomes more meat-based, and they catch insects like flies, caterpillars, dragonflies, moths, slugs, and snails. They perch of logs, rocks, or branches and use their long, sticky tongues to quickly catch these creatures and bring them to their mouths. The exact insects' wild frogs eat tend to depend on those found in their environment.

Caring For Pet Frogs

Caring for pet frogs can generally be daunting for beginners due to their various humidity, temperature, and environmental needs. Make sure to do proper research on how your preferred species of pet will live, as well as its requirements based on recreating its natural habitat in its enclosure.

Some of the best frog species to keep in captivity for beginners are American green tree frogs, Oriental fire-bellied toad, Dwarf clawed frogs, Red-eyed tree frogs, and horned frogs. They require less care and specialized needs than other species, which makes them easier to care for.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do frogs live? then why not take a look at how long do corn snakes live? Or this nocturnal animals list.