The Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) make good pets for beginners. They are semi-aquatic, have a life span from 5-8 years, and grow to approximately 3 inches (7-8 cm).

So you are thinking about acquiring a frog as a pet thinking it would be an easy animal to own and take care of. Before you go out and purchase one from the pet store, there are a few things to consider before bringing one of these creatures into your home.

There are several species of the Hymenchirus genus but the one most common as pets is the Hymenchirus boettgeri, or the Dwarf clawed frog. The Dwarf clawed frog is completely aquatic, has an average life span of 5 years and grows to 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 - 3.8 cm) as adults.

There are many species of frogs, each with their own individualized requirements of care, housing and food. For the beginner frog owner, there are some species that are highly recommended due to their ease of care, active personality and hardiness.

Having an outdoor pond specially made for frogs can be a fun experience. It is best to naturally attract wild, native frogs. Store-bought frogs will most likely not be native to the area and if the humidity and temperature are not right, then the non-native frogs will not survive. On the other hand, if the non-native species do survive, then they will populate the area and upset the natural equilibrium of the surrounding ecosystem which is not good.