Like most kids, my three children have always wanted a pet. All of my kids were born with less than 2 years between them so when they were little, I really had my hands full. I just couldn’t fathom trying to keep another living thing alive. A few years ago we decided we could handle an adult cat. She’s been even easier than we expected. My kids still wanted more.
They really want a dog and it makes me feel a little guilty so I gave in to another small pet. For our second pet we decided on a Water Garden with a Beta fish. My kids loved it but honestly, I feel like it was more work than the cat! When we moved to Arizona we had to give the fish away. They’ve been asking for a new one ever since.
Last week I surprised them with 2 African Dwarf Frogs from Froggy’s Lair. To say they were excited was an understatement. I was honestly surprised at their reaction and so far I am really happy with my decision to get frogs instead of a fish.
Froggy’s Lair ships the frogs and their habitat with overnight shipping right to your door. Set up was really simple and we were enjoying watching the frogs in their tank in less than 30 minutes.
We got the Octagon Biosphere. This one-gallon tank comes with a live bamboo stalk, bioactive sand, colored gravel, a LED light, decorative rocks, and a 1 year supply of frog food. The only thing you need to have on hand is a gallon of distilled water. We got this at the grocery store for less than $1.
This kit also comes with two live African Dwarf frogs that are approximately six months old. They come with a Frog Warranty. If your frog passes away within two weeks of arrival, a replacement frog will be shipped to your home. If the loss occurs after two weeks but before 30 days, a PetSmart gift certificate will be issued. African Dwarf frogs have a 6+ year lifespan when properly cared for.
I didn’t think it would be possible to find a pet that was easier to care for than our cat but these frogs are incredibly low maintenance. They only need to be fed twice per week and the water should be switched out every other month or so. You don’t have to remove the frogs, rocks, sand or plants — just 50% of the water!
The Octagon Biosphere acts as its own ecosystem which is why it is practically self-sustaining. As I mentioned, set up was super easy. Just put the bio sand in the bottom of your tank. If there is excess water you can drain it off. Next put in the colored gravel and decorative rocks. Then, using a disposable coffee cup lid upside down on top of the layer of rocks and sand, add the distilled water until it is a 3-4″ inches from the top of the tank. Pour the water slowly on top of the coffee cup lid. This helps to keep the bottom from being disturbed and clouding the water. If it’s still cloudy, don’t worry. It will settle and your tank will be clear within a day or two.
Next, add your bamboo stalk by using a twisting motion to “plant” it into the gravel and sand. Lastly, add your frogs including the water they arrived in. We just carefully poured them in.
The Octagon tank comes with a LED light which takes 3 AAA batteries. This light is just for your enjoyment. The frogs don’t need it. Our light can be switched from regular to blue and we love the way it looks with the light on so we can see the frogs better.
There are a few options at Froggy’s Lair. Our tank sells for $69.99. A smaller rectangular tank is also available for $39.95. There is a wide variety of colors to choose from for the colored gravel. We chose silver.
Froggy’s Lair was named both a 2020 National Parenting Products Awards Winner and a Holiday 2020 Seal of Approval by The National Parenting Center. I can also highly recommend it! It’s a great way for kids to learn about African Dwarf Frogs and their ecosystem. It also helps teach valuable life lessons like responsibility and compassion for wildlife.
My youngest daughter is responsible for feeding the frogs. We put up a sticky note reminder to feed them on Sundays and Wednesdays. The other kids know that they are not allowed to feed Alfredo and Fernando unless they ask Parker. This way they will not get overfed.
If you are looking for an extremely low maintenance pet and a great holiday gift idea African Dwarf Frogs are an excellent choice! You can find out more and place your order (including your selected delivery date!) at www.froggyslair.com.