Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's happened before...thankfully not again....

FYI: The professional standard for amphibian handling is to not handle amphibians unless it is necessary, and when you do you should use moistened latex gloves. This standard is promoted by the vast majority of zoos, aquariums and museums across the country, and is further supported by the American Zoological Association (which is responsible for the highest level of accreditation possible) and their Taxonomic Advisory Group. (Check out http://www.aza.org/AboutAZA/CodeEthics/)

As you probably guessed what I'm getting at, I do not think it is a good idea to promote the handling of amphibians that can and most likely will cause undo harm to them.

According to one of Dr. Frye's book, even the ridges and whirls of your fingerprints is enough to disrupt the skin of amphibians. What is well advertised is that the oils, lotions, perfumes, and most of the many other toxic chemicals we put ourselves in direct contact with can be passed along to amphibians through their permeable skin. I cannot imagine that the shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, or even colorants are healthy for an amphibian to come into contact with either.

I bring this up mostly because these points are not emphasized enough on this forum, and when someone posts a picture that violates the "treat it like a fish, only look do not touch "rule I am obligated to speak up. The effects of handling are not always apparent to the novice herpetoloculturist, but with the multitude of unexplained deaths that are posted here on a weekly basis, I suspect that unnecessary handling probably has an influence on some of these enigmas. And to reiterate points that are often made on these forums, if you want an animal that you can hold and play with, amphibians are definitely not the pets for you.

I am sure that you care very much about your animals and try your best to give them a good home. You can easily improve things for them by taking what has been said above into consideration.
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

I didn't realize that they were that sensitive. I mean, I handle them occasionally, and they don't seem to mind it.
I actually was a bit concerned about putting that picture up, because of my hair and the possibility of them getting tangled. Just so you know, I only did that twice, and the first time I got pooped on!! That was just a pic for my brothers to see the size of the frogs (i guess I coulda just put them on my hand!) Well, thanks for the info dude, i'll definitely read up more on that!
Tanzee

Cute picture. I agree with not touching the frogs without a reason to. But ne wayz nice pictuer.

Most everytime I happen to pick up my waxy tree frog, he poops A LOT.

Yeah, must be their sick way of showing their love for you! Mine just pee mostly when I pick them up, but holy, that pee shoots across the room! I've seen them projectile pee up to 10 feet!! It was nuts!!