Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As mentioned a few posts below, somebody said they believe amphibians will become more popular in the coming years. I was just wondering, what everyones thoughts on this was. Do you think it will be a good thing? Or trouble based on the fact that more inexperienced people will want to "jump" into the hobby because it's the "cool" thing to do?

Well, I think that it's ok for people to own them, this will teach people to appreciate these animals as long as they take the time to take care of it properly by reading up. As for experience hobbyist, I think it's alright, too. I think we need to manage the wild population carefully so we exploit it by catching to many wild caughts at one time. We should establish the rules now not to collect the species that is thretened with extinction. Captive programs can also be established to reduced the impact on the wild population and possible release into the wild.

I think that there will be good things and bad things. Store employees will probably know more about them, like cats and dogs, but I feel maybe too many will be taken too. They may become more expensive, and more rare, so it depends.

Even thoug I'm new in the amphibian hobby (I used to be a reptile keeper) I also think (or hope) it probably will be a good thing.

Unless just as you said, that ppl will buy amphibians because it's cool, but I doubt that.
I think (and hope)that only true animal lovers who know what they're doin are going to step into the world of amphibans, because there not really a common pet as cats and dogs are.

"The more the merrier!"
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CokeOfMan

....the more people who are interested in amphibs, the more people who want to create 'rare' morphs/hybrids, and turn the hobby into a business (example: leopard geckos)..........so (IMO) , its ok for the popularity to grow, but only to keep the blood pure. just my.02
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azureus06 I keep: Eublepharis macularius, Phelsuma M. Grandis, Phelsuma Laticauda, Stenodactylus Petrii, Rhacodactylus Ciliatus, Anolis sp., Agalychnis Callidryas, Hyla Cinerea, Mantella Aurantiaca, Mantella madagascariensis, Dendrobates Azureus azureus06

They will never be too popular, though I bet their popularity increase is more substantial than it used to be. I believe that many people get in and out of the hobby every year...most get bored and end up getting rid of their frogs. Either that or the frogs die. Frogs are much harder to keep than reptiles all in all, so that deters many people or may make them leave the hobby all together. I believe though, as I said, it will undergo small, yet substantial, increases which will help even out the losses in the end. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

The good:

- More attention paid to amphibians in general and hopefully their status in the wild
- Harder to find products designed for amphibians becoming easier to find
- More species being bred in captivity
- New people to come up with new ideas and ways of caring for amphibians

The bad:

- An increase in demand for wild caught animals
- More people buying amphibians without knowing what they are getting into

I think overall it will be a good thing. The more people that learn about amphibians and the more people that care about them the better. Plus there are many species that very little attention has been paid to and that are only availible as wild caught animals. I really hope that more people get involved with captive breeding programs. If there is a larger demand for them hobbyists will hopefully start attempting to breed these wild caught only species making them more widely availible for everyone.
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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
3.2 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
1.1 Mantella crocea
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
0.1 Hyla chrysoscelis or versicolor
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.0.1 Chrysemys scripta
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

I really think this hobby is directly influenced by the availability of frogs in pet shops. If it is relatively low-priced and easily available at the pet store, more people will go for it. But what upsets me is that most pet shops do little or nothing to let the consumer know about proper care, or they give them simplified and incorrect care tips. This leads to the animal dying prematurely, and the customer becoming discouraged (the same applies for new quarium keepers who don't cycle their tanks, they just throw ten fish in, then they all die of ammonia poisoning.) The happy herp keeper will get the right knowledge, buy a herp from a reputable source, and then get addicted like me and buy more and more when financially able and knowledgible enuff to care for them. The idiot who does no research will go buy a bunch of different frogs, throw them in a ten gallon tank, and b*tch when they all die. The idiot could be redeemable if he goes out, educates himself, and tries again, though.
I think the amount of "hardcore", educated herp keepers is directly linked to the quality of education that they are given about their charges. Sure a few will impulsively buy a frog from the corner pet shop, but I think that the real serious keepers are the ones that learned about frogs beforehand and know what they're getting into, and don't lose interest.
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*~Ginevive~*

I'm the impulsive one you are referring to. LOL When I see something I want I go get it. That's how I ended up with half the pets I have. Among them are the Crab-Eating Frogs, Cane Toad, Green Treefrogs, African Clawed Frogs, African Dwarf Frogs, my baby Cranwells' Horned Frog, and Leopard Geckos. I do a lot of impulsive shopping. LOL but I do already know proper care for all these animals, and their enclosures are easy to set up.

Well, as long as you know what you are getting into, you're OK. I was talking about those people who have never picked up a good frog book, or who have done no research. Then they post a question on a frog forum like, "Can I keep my horned frog and FBT together?" =)
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*~Ginevive~*