Frog’s Legs Anyone?
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Meet the two newest additions to our household… Ribbit and Rogget. Two little African Dwarf Frogs… also known as Aquatic Dwarf Frogs. They came as part of a Wild Creations EcoAquarium. Believe it or not, I found this at our local Hallmark Store in West Roxbury for $29.95. For that price you get the EcoAquarium, 2 frogs, 1 snail (named Jim) and a small bamboo plant.
According to the literature that came with these guys, the EcoAquarium “will clean and condition itself with very little additional care.” The aquarium contains “specially conditioned Wild Creations Living Gravel”, which acts as a natural biological filter converting excess food and waste to soluble form that is then used by the aquarium plant. The plant in turn provides essential oxygen for the animals. The snail works as a janitor and cleans excess food and algae.”
Supposedly, the only maintenance you have to do is feed the frogs (two pellets each) two times a week and then change out half the water every 5 or 6 months! You may need to replace all the water and clean the tank contents every so often… but not more than once a year.
These little frogs are so fricken cute! It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but they are only about as long as the diameter of a quarter. According to their website:
As the name suggests, these dwarf frogs are quite small, just around 1.5 inches in length. The females, as is often the case with frogs, can grow a bit larger, almost by half an inch. Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, the African Dwarf Frog (Hymenochiru) also goes by the name of Aquatic Dwarf Frog. And that’s because they live almost entirely underwater, though they are air breathers as well and do emerge from the water from time to time.
The coolest thing about the African Dwarf is their weird floating habit when in the water called the “Zen position.” With arms and legs outstretched and one foot balancing, it’s as if these frogs are meditating on some sublime aspect of amphibious life. Or just reminiscing their previous life as a prince. Technically, this habit is called “burbling.” Whatever that means, Dwarf Frogs make for interesting addition to your amphibious pet collection at home. They spice up the variety of species one can put in any tank aquarium. As social creatures they can be tank mates to some marine animals.
The literature also suggests that they can live to be 2 to 4 years in age if taken care of properly. And just look how tiny there little toe nails are!
You can actually buy this little guys online at the website I provided earlier. The company is located in Myrtle Beach, NC and was started by two friends — now it’s 30 people large. They have links for teachers and for illustrating their “green values”.
They sell other Eco-environments as well (snails, beta fish, lizards, etc.). Here is a blurb from their website about how and why the aquarium works:
The holy grail of any aquarium is an Eco-system in balance. Nothing is ever perfect, but Wild Creations™ gets it as close as possible. Here’s how…
Living elements inside an Eco-aquarium contribute to the the needs of each other. Our Frogs & Snails inhale oxygen & exhale carbon monoxide. The living plants & algae take in carbon monoxide and expel oxygen through photosynthesis, and the natural bacteria in the living gravel convert ammonia from animal waste into nitrites providing food for the living plants. Each element relying on the other. The balance is maintained through careful matching of plants, bacteria, & animals in each Eco-Aquarium. Given ideal lighting, and an even, warm environment, a balanced Eco-system can be sustained with very little outside maintenance.
They are committed to the animals and you can read more here about the special care they take to ensure each animal is properly cared for.
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Thinking about getting one…..what does the family think about it, and where do you put it?
They LOVE them! Hey, I walked past Hallmark this morning on my way to Starbucks and there were only 4 frogs left! They might be getting more, but if you want one sooner rather than later I would go today. I think they just got them this weekend, so they are flying off the shelves.
The 4-yo loves them and is very interested in taking care of them. Let me know if you get one!
I’m sorry but this is a cruel set-up marketed as something that is self-sustaining. It simply is not. As a moderator/administrator on a fish and aquatic frog internet forum… we see all too often sick little frogs coming from similar situations. They are extremely sensitive to poor water quality (which is inevitable in this set-up… no matter what the package claims it does) and they need the room to swim, even though they are tiny. Bettas kept in these types of set-ups (or the dreaded “peace-lily vases”) are equally as bad. Even though they are tiny and can’t speak… they still suffer. These should not be marketed at all… they are simply torture chambers for these poor little creatures. I know this is not your fault… but I implore you to do some research on their actual requirements… you’ll be very surprised at what they need. Hallmark needs to stop selling them.
Hi Michele,
Thank you for posting your comment. Hmmm… now I feel terribly guilty.
Especially because we have had beta fish for like 7 years! (one of which who lived to be 5 years old) I always put them in a MUCH larger container than what they come in.
I’ll look up the frogs. I definitely don’t want to torture them in any way or make them miserable. If we have to move them to a larger tank we will.
Thanks for the useful info,
Tammy
As a owner of a major Dwarf African Frog group (DwarfAfricanFrogs@yahoogroups.com) and Aquarium Web site. I can not agree that keeping an amphibian in such a tiny space for a potential 10 years it could live for is good for them.
Read http://theaquariumwiki.com/DAF
on how they should be cared.
Are they seriously trying to tell us that that Bamboo plant can absorb the nitrate build-up there will be over time?
I’ve seen bamboo roots in vases. They eventually grow everywhere and there will be very little room for the frog to move about.
Lastly what about the slow decay in KH levels there will be leading to an eventual lethal KH crash?
Real aquarists will not touch these with a 10 foot pole!
Sorry.
Hi Stuart,
Thank you for your comment. Well, since we already have the frogs… I will look at your site to figure out our plan for them long-term. We are an animal-loving family and would be more than happy to “upgrade them” into a larger tank when necessary.
I agree that they will eventually need a bigger space… as they are active little buggers!
Tammy
i work at a hallmark store and we just got these in today!!! we sell them for $24.99 though. did you also get the free net and water cleaner thing??? they gave free food too. my boyfriend is buying me one right now!!! im soo excited!!!
Jess, Which Hallmark Store do you work at? That’s a great price. . . I might have to drive there to get one for my son.
This is a horribly cruel setup dedicated to nothing more than impulse buyers. The sellers aren’t “dedicated” to these animals, & they obviously know absolutely nothing about them. The only thing they’re “dedicated” to are their own wallets.
Shame on anyone who contributes to what is clearly nothing but a torturous existence to a living creature.
I’ve contacted Hallmark corporate about this, but unfortunately recieved nothing back but a form letter advising that Hallmark’s hands are tied because store stock is completely at the franchise-owners’ discretion. Criminal. In this day & age – absolutely criminal.
Ugh. I have to go look at the company website/literature, but this looks exactly like those stupid “aquababy” setups that I used to see at Target.
They are *NOT* proper environments for the animals inside them. Get your frogs a little ten gallon tank, they will be much happier!
If you must keep them in their tiny little thing, I would replace at least half the water with clean, conditioned (dechlorinated) water probably twice a week.
Additionally, a “complete” cleaning of the little tank would probably knock out any nitrifying bacteria in the gravel- which would knock whatever balance there is completely out of whack.
Products like this sell and do well because they’re cute, and most people “lose” interest after a while, and when the whole system crashes after months, instead of the promised years, people just sort of shrug their shoulders because they were over it anyway.
Which is a shame, because we’re talking about living creatures here, no matter how small.
OK, looked at the website… these things look about the same size as the old “grow a frog” kits. Which is how I got my first DAF, who was upgraded to a five gallon tank right quick. It’s just too small.
Go to http://www.wildcreations.com this is the company that actually sells these to Hallmark. They recommend replacing the water with spring water at certain intervals, pruning the bamboo, etc. This is not the cruel act some of you are making it out to be. the frogs are smaller than beta fish and less active. You can put them into a larger environment but they will do anything to hide most of the time that they know you are around. You can buy a larger tank from them with the appropriate rocks etc. as well. Also, those commenting on the cruelty should read more about these particular frogs on the wildcreations website.
i am buying a pair of these froggys! our halmark store has tons and sell them for 20, im namin them Barnes and Noble lol
After seeing a sign in the Hallmark window last night, I jokingly asked about the live frogs; thinking they were some type of mechanical jumping device. I was shocked to see these tiny creatures living in a plastic box with a bamboo shoot sticking up. This is not humane, no matter how small their brains are. I don’t remember what I said, but apologized to the clerks, who both said they felt the same way.
Come on, get a pet you can enjoy. I have dogs, cats and horses; all of which interact with me. Do these little frogs enjoy your tapping on the Plexiglas?
Ive had two of these frogs since my daughter brought em home from in elem school and she is now in middle school.
I heard alot of the other kids frogs died the first week or two and I want to
post that i have never feed mine anything else but fish flakes, yep tetra color tropical fish flakes and just in case they could possibly be sleeping, i touch the top of the water before so they can be on the look out- they love you to drop a couple and they act like its live bait if they see if drop. I also move my fingers like im waving at em. I feed em the same time every day and i have skipped a day several times accidently. They are 5 year old!
i had some of these frogs and i didn’t like them and gave them away to my neighbor because they smelled.
WHy would Hallmark sell frogs, LIVE FROGS for that matter, what is there purpose??!! Is it the rich geting richer? No one should be buying these. They are advertising that our eco-system is breaking down becuase of a decline in Frog population and here they are selling them…
How is THAT HELPING?
I just email their custmer survey this…
My wife recently visited your store and came home really upset.
I do hope this is forwarded to top management.
Why is Hallmark selling live Dwarf-Frogs [aquatic]and for that matter how is selling them going to save our-eco system? You advertised that the decline in the frog population is an indicator that of our planets eco-system break-down; so how is letting them live in homes going to solve this problem? Why aren’t you releasing them or advertising there release into the wild?
Check this web-site out…
http://www.bostonfoodandwhine.com/2009/03/29/frogs-legs-anyone/comment-page-1/
When my wife looked into these so-called little eco-system all she seen was these dwarf frogs trying to escape.
Please just stick with selling cards and gifts, selling frogs isn’t your forte.
Chill out, people. These are just frogs. I think they are cute and I am going to go buy a set for me and another half dozen as gifts for friends. Worry about something that really is a big deal instead of some dumb thing like the size of a stinking frog tank. You need to get REAL LIVES, losers.
Hello. It’s says this was posted in March, so I’m not sure if you’ll reply, but I was just wondering if the frogs are still alive. If not, did they live long? Just wondering because I would like to get a pair.
Thanks for all the posts about the frogs
and thanks to all you so called eco-dorks, I’m going to buy 2 sets of these little dudes! One set to keeps as pets and one set to feed to my other fish. It’ll be really cool to watch them swim for their lives…..
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. I would never thought to do that except for all of the whining that was on these posts! HA!
“Wildlife has it’s place…..right next to carrots and potatos” MMMMMMMM!
I’m sure that many who buy these frogs will ignore directions and use their human emotions to kill these frogs. A little knowledge goes a long way.
I’m sorry, but this is so wrong. Those frogs are treated TERRIBLY before they are put in the store. Their tanks are sooo small and I honestly do believe that their tanks should be cleaned out more frequently. I saw all those frogs at the hallmark stores and it was devastating. How would you like tolive like that?
I saw these at the store, and thought they were very cute and interesting. But also, i thought it was cruel to keep them in such a tiny space like that. How would you like it if you were put in the smallest space to live for your whole life, not being able to go around and explore the world. They really need to reconsider this and atleast put them in a bigger space.
that living gravel is a crock.. any aquarium gravel of good quality is going to do the same job… please put these poor suckers in a LARGER tank! 1 gallon for each frog.
and please exchange water more frequently and clean the tanks every 2 months..
man, what a crock! living gravel, in freaking deed!
oh and these suckers can live up to 20 yrs. sorry, 2 to 4 years? of course in a tiny enviroment with.. “living gravel” i’d wanna live only 2 to 4 days.
ignorance is bliss… and pets suffer.. blah, screw these companies.
BFD! you people are such complainers. it’s no different than getting your child their first fish. it died, oh well. a lesson in life for under $30. do you know how many million eggs these things produce, that typically never make it to a physical being? there are many more important things in life to actually spend your VALUABLE time typing about…
i hope they do ignore the directions and go online and research studying the directions of care for the ADF via those with experience, instead.
wild creations is a rip off.. the frogs are poorly fed, with hard crap food and tell people, these morons to feed the frogs just once or twice a week and only 1 to 2 pellets?
and the ratio of death is high? wow, duh, i wonder why.
and i love the claims on the gravel.. people, it’s just GRAVEL!
and please, at all costs… soon as you can, find a more applicable tank for these frogs… the vessel they come in is TOO SMALL!
and change the water often! or get a filter with a protective cap on the intake!
don’t be stupid, learn something and stop preaching a gospel you’re clueless about.
i’ve kept adfs for a LONG TIME and do you know their POTENTIAL LIFE SPAN? these humpers can live up to 18 yrs.
18 years!
what wild creations tells you is 3 to 5.. OH COME ON!
gee, is that because of THEIR illy thought out and poorly constructed DIRECTIONS?
and just don’t feed these poor frogs pellets.. dig? learn something about these frogs and then YOU can ‘TELL’ US ALL ABOUT HOW TO KEEP THESE CREATURES….
(raise your hands those who kept their ADFs alive for 18 years…)
anyone?
P.S. tammy, you’re a moron.
Um… Mayan Thom — Why am ~I~ a moron??? All I did was post information I found about these little guys. Once I found out what they REALLY needed, I moved them to a larger, filtered tank. Also, this post is from March 2009. I have no control over what other people post as comments on my posts. I was innocent in this, and remedied the situation as soon as I got more information… SO FUCK YOU. I can appreciate everyone has a right to an opinion… but don’t come on MY blog and start calling me names when you don’t even know me. ASSHOLE.
I used to have a frog just like this and in this type of tank, maybe smaller. Beleive it or not, it lived for 17 years! But here is some advice, don’t put a snail in with them, my snail ate the frogs insides after it got a little tear in his stomach…
Hallmark should be ashamed, I sent a letter to peta and to corporate, I have stopped buying Hallmark ANYTHING until they stop participating in animal cruelty and the torture of living things. Hallmark your a discrace for torturing little living creatures.
The place where your froggies come from is a cruel breeding place for frogs. Here is a video from the exact factory where your frogs came from.
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3264
At the end of the video, you can see where a frog was shipped back and it had died and was covered in fungus. Those containers are NOT big enough and do you really believe that they only need to eat that much a week and their little box hardly EVER needs to be cleaned out? I don’t blame you for buying them, but I certainly wouldn’t support it again and I would send the factory an email (you can do that through the link I gave you) and ask them to stop treating the froggies so terribly. Since your froggies are alive, please do some research and see how you can put them in a healthier environment. Thanks
Minimum tank size is 10 gallons..why the hell would it be ok to keep ANY living creature in a cup of water? Please do not support any company that profits from the suffering of ANY animal, regardless of its size or species. This fad is similar to the betta in the vase craze…millions of bettas died in urine and fecal soiled water, neglected on people’s office desks and children’s dressers, with no heater and no filtration. Now we have the dwarf frogs come along…so ridiculous! Stop using animals as decorations. If you are going to get one, do a regular aquarium tank set up and do it right!
mine have lived 15 years BOOYAKASHA!
Over here in Canada, these are being sold for around $40 with the food and a cleaning kit costing another $30. You could easily go to Petsmart/ Walmart and get a 3 gallon aquarim kit, heater, gravel, food, adding up to the same price of the frog kits.
You’re STILL teaching them the responsibility of cleaning the tank and feeding the frogs. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY you’re leading an example to your children that EVERY living creature should be treated properly and with respect no matter how big or small.
I agree that this can be used to teach children life lessons BUT it is important to teach them these lessons responsibly. With this, you’re just showing kids that it’s ok for frogs to live in such a space because they are JUST frogs. They are living. So are we.
I bought my frog June 2009. He’s still doing well January 2012. I change the water about twice a year and feed him fish food since I ran of pellets.
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