Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a pair of red eyed tree frogs on saturday at the Northern Virginia Reptile Expo.They're amazing! My sister wanted to buy one, but I talked her out of it because she does not have alot of experience with herps. Now all she wants to do is hold mine, but I told her no because they are more for display. I suggested to her that over the summer, she finds a grey tree frog(they're native to our area)and care for it for a few months, then see if she still wants one that badly.
Since she wants a frog that she can hold, what kind off frog would you suggest? does any type of frog enjoy or tolerate being held? what about a white's? I think that she would perfer a more colorful tree frog, if she decides that she wants one.

oh, and my sister is almost 13 years old.

Sorry to say this, but if your sister wants a frog she can handle regularily, she should get a plushy. There are just to many things on our hands that can make a frog sick and no offense, but children rarely wash their hands properly. If you really want something she can handle and care for, set her up with a bearded dragon or something. Otherwise, it may be best if she just look at yours.
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

White's tree frogs : 1:1
Mantella viridis : 1:2

I agree, the only one that is tolerant of occasional handling but it is not good for them.

Good luck with your red eyes! They are cool to watching monkey-climbing around. They can stress easily so watch your humidity and temps. They like alot of cover too. Pothos is a great no work plant that is the perfect size for them (the leaves).

Meant to say Whites with that first statement.

So about how much can a white's be held? I know that frogs can't be handled to often, or for too long, and my sister understands that too. She's pretty responsible, and would wash her hands befor holding a frog if I told her that that's what is best for the frog.
I had my sister help with setting up my red-eyed tree frogs' cage, and now she wants a frog even more.
Is it ok to handle a whites for about 5 min at a time? Maybe a few times a week?

I know she really wants a frog, but I think rags was trying to say that they are more tolerant, but still should not be handled. Only means that the frog will not try to escape as fast as possible when you hold it. I would say that maybe once a month.. if that. I don't recommend it. Like I mentioned before, go beardy! Show her pics and stuff. You can do alot more with them.
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

White's tree frogs : 1:1
Mantella viridis : 1:2

There's no way that she'd ever want a beardie. I have one and she takes care of it while i'm at camp. She dosn't think its worth keeping because they smell so bad.

Seriously, forget about frogs, they are not for handling. What she is not understanding is that it HURTS the frog to be held. They don't have skin like we do, theirs is like if you removed the outer skin on us, so that everything you touched was absorbed into your body.

Try a gecko, maybe a fat-tail, they are slow. Or a corn snake. Or any number of other animals that will like to be held, gerbil, hamster, parakeet.

ok, well thanks for your responses. Its a good thing that she didn't get a frog then.