Frogs sold at Hallmark store in plastic box?

[jrmasm]

DD15 saw these the other day and decided she must have one. So I'm thinking that those plastic boxes are not an ideal environment but I'm not sure what kind of frogs they were so that makes research difficult.

Anyone know anything about these little frogs?

 

[sandramaac]

I am going to assume they are what we had when my kids were little--they were called aqua babies. Tiny little froggies or fishies, in a small clear plastic aquarium type box. Let me tell you, our frogs lived about 4 years.

http://www.aquababies.com/about_aquababies.htm

 

[LuvOrlando]

Had to go look on You Tube, how very odd.

BTW, the kids doing the video taping are just too cute!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_ixow1reXw&NR=1

 

[Magpie]

Had to go look on You Tube, how very odd.

BTW, the kids doing the video taping are just too cute!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_ixow1reXw&NR=1

Those kids sound just like my son and his friends from last year! Before all their voices started to change... "Goodbye, froggy!"

 

[jrmasm]

I am going to assume they are what we had when my kids were little--they were called aqua babies. Tiny little froggies or fishies, in a small clear plastic aquarium type box. Let me tell you, our frogs lived about 4 years.

http://www.aquababies.com/about_aquababies.htm

I think that's what she saw. Thanks!

 

[need2cruise]

My friend has 2 and they live in those little plastic things just fine! they are 3 years old I believe and swim all over the place!

 

[ladyhawk14624]

My daughter bought herself one before she left for college. You feed them a few pellets twice a week. One frog died after only a couple of weeks but the other one is still going strong. He's probably doubled in size since she got him, he's still quite tiny though. They come with instructions on taking care of them and how to change out the water.

 

[3boymthr]

Just be aware, that frogs in captivity can live for 27 years.... (those that get fed regularly anyway )

 

[mackeysmom]

Not sure if it is the same thing, but I bought my niece 2 frogs in a plastic tank for her birthday. The tank came with special gravel, a piece of bamboo and a small pin-hole in the lid. The idea is that you are creating a perfect ecosphere.

Once a week you feed them through the pin-hole. Their excreted waste falls into the gravel. The natural light does something to the bamboo (photosynthesis, maybe? Been a long time since Science Class!) which creates oxygen. The oxygen does something to the water, which does something to the waste in the bottom of the tank, etc.

She's had it for almost 2 years and they frogs seem to be thriving. Very low maintenance - and a learning experience, too

 

[jrmasm]

Just be aware, that frogs in captivity can live for 27 years.... (those that get fed regularly anyway )

Now I hope I can find an article that declares this practice inhumane. I'm not thrilled about the idea of a frog for 27 days!!

 

[KadysMom]

They actually have a great little setup. The tank comes with a rock or two, and a long piece of bamboo (i think that is what it is) The bamboo provides the oxygen the frogs need, and their roots provide filtration. You feed them through little holes in the top of the tank, and change the water twice a year. My daughter had them and they lived a long time!

 

[Kathi OD]

OK, now I want one of these for my classroom. I teach in a youth detention center and my students would love this! What are they called? How big is the tank? Other than Hallmark, where can I get one?

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I may have to get my kids one of these.

We had bad luck with sea monkeys and our tadpole through the mail died once he became a frog. This sounds easier to keep alive.

 

[disneygals]

We had these frogs and they were so cute. Since my cat also thought so, we had to find safe places so we didn't get to watch them as much.

When we were in WDW, my neighbor was watching our pets and my cat knocked them on the floor and carried one down to the basement. My poor neighbor found the one upstairs, put it in water in a plastic bowl, was leaving and happened to see the other one on the basement floor. When I came home I re-ordered another tank. They lived years! after that.

 

[3boymthr]

Now I hope I can find an article that declares this practice inhumane. I'm not thrilled about the idea of a frog for 27 days!!

It does vary by breed of course but still. We had actually just looked this up last week for a co-worker whose son was given a frog as a present for Christmas.

Just be glad it's not a turtle. We went to a birthday party where they had a reptile/amphibian guy showing off his pets. He was telling parents whatever you do don't get a turtle/tortoise for a pet because they can live to be 80, 100 or more. Just think though you could pass it down to your great grandchildren in your will.....

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I'm going to be the unpopular opinion here, but I think Frog-o-Spheres are cruel and disgusting. To thrive in captivity, African Dwarf Frogs need a heater, lighting, and plants to hide in, as well as at least 1 gallon of water per frog. Furthermore, the stores selling these "gifts" do not have the proper facilities or training to take care of live animals. In particular, Brookstone (which also carries the "tanks") came under fire a few years ago for the huge attrition rate on frogs before they ever left the store.

This is the same as the people who defend gold fish bowls by stating that their goldfish lived to be 2 years old, so it must be fine. That's the equivalent of stating that your human child lived to be 10, so she must have been healthy.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of animals in captivity either, unless they are kept as closely as possible to their natural habitat.

Not to mention, we are overrun with wild frogs at home already - why on earth would I want to pay money for more!

 

[jrmasm]

I'm going to be the unpopular opinion here, but I think Frog-o-Spheres are cruel and disgusting. To thrive in captivity, African Dwarf Frogs need a heater, lighting, and plants to hide in, as well as at least 1 gallon of water per frog. Furthermore, the stores selling these "gifts" do not have the proper facilities or training to take care of live animals. In particular, Brookstone (which also carries the "tanks") came under fire a few years ago for the huge attrition rate on frogs before they ever left the store.

This is the same as the people who defend gold fish bowls by stating that their goldfish lived to be 2 years old, so it must be fine. That's the equivalent of stating that your human child lived to be 10, so she must have been healthy.

The reason I started this thread was so that I could find out what kind of frogs they are so that I could research what kind of environment they need.

 

[npmommie]

I'm going to be the unpopular opinion here, but I think Frog-o-Spheres are cruel and disgusting. To thrive in captivity, African Dwarf Frogs need a heater, lighting, and plants to hide in, as well as at least 1 gallon of water per frog. Furthermore, the stores selling these "gifts" do not have the proper facilities or training to take care of live animals. In particular, Brookstone (which also carries the "tanks") came under fire a few years ago for the huge attrition rate on frogs before they ever left the store.

This is the same as the people who defend gold fish bowls by stating that their goldfish lived to be 2 years old, so it must be fine. That's the equivalent of stating that your human child lived to be 10, so she must have been healthy.

Yep I agree with this.

and we have our own frog population here, the kids see the whole life cycle start every spring, they catch them in the yard all summer, and let them go of course, and they see them grow from tiny babies to large adults.
pretty cool when in nature.

 

[MomofKatie]

We had 2 frogs we got at the mall- they were sold in the small plastic box setup. DH, who keeps fish, bought a 5 gallon tank for them. He added gravel, filtration, tank lighting on a timer, and live plants. He cleaned the tank and did partial water changes weekly.

The frogs lived about 4 years- they died within a week of each other this month. We enjoyed them, but won't get them again. We will probably get a betta for the tank.