Raise Tadpoles into Frogs With a Grow-A-Frog Kit
Tadpoles Grow into African Clawed Frogs, Banned in Some States
Mail-order pets have increased in popularity in recent years. Retailers like The Discovery Channel Store mail out ants for its ant farm kits and caterpillars for its butterfly metamorphosis kits, which make an interesting and easy-to-care-for pet for a child.
For animal lovers who are looking for a longer commitment there's the Grow-a-Frog kit, an educational pet that will live for an average of 6 to 8 years.
What is a Grow-a-Frog Kit?
The Grow-a-Frog Kit is sold exclusively on GrowAFrog.com, which has been selling these frogs by mail order since 1979. These frog kits are easy to assemble and they make an easy-to-care-for pet for a youngster who is learning about pet care and responsibility. There's also an educational component to these Grow-a-Frog kits, as children can view first-hand the process of African Clawed Frog metamorphosis from a tadpole into a froglet.
The TADVentures Grow-a-Frog Kit ($29.95) includes three tadpoles, a habitat suitable for tadpoles and froglets, habitat decorations, a fact booklet, habitat soil and food. When the tadpoles evolve into froglets, frog owners can move their froglets into a 5-gallon fish tank (covered) or they can purchase a Grow-a-Frog Tube Town habitat, which includes two square tanks, connected by a swim-through tube.
Grow-a-Frog enthusiasts can also purchase a Stage Two Grow-a-Frog habitat ($12.95), which includes a froglet, habitat decorations, a fact booklet, habitat soil and food.
Frog and tadpole food and "froglet friends" - a companion froglet for a frog owner's current froglet - are available from the Grow-a-Frog website. The tadpoles and froglets do carry a health guarantee.
Is a Grow-a-Frog Kit Right for You?
There are several considerations that a potential frog owner must consider before adopting a frog.
African Clawed Frogs are a hearty species that live an average of 5 to 8 years. But a few of these frogs have been known to live as long as 20 years, so this multi-year commitment must be taken into consideration when adopting a frog.
African Clawed Frogs will also grow; they will not remain a froglet forever. These frogs will begin to approach their adult size around 12 months of age. A male frog of this species will grow to a size of three inches in length, while females grow even larger - about five inches in length.
Clearly, a baseball-sized frog cannot be kept in the small Grow-a-Frog tanks designed for froglets; they must be transferred into an adult frog habitat at about 12 months of age.
An adult African Clawed Frog will require, at minimum, a 10-gallon fish tank with hood and tank filter, an assembly that will cost between $50 and $75 to purchase. This future cost should be taken into consideration when adopting a froglet or tadpole.
Parents who are considering a Grow-a-Frog kit for their child should also remember the cardinal rule of purchasing a pet for a child: Never get a pet for the child if you (the parent) are not willing to take over all of the pet's care. Children can and do lose interest in a pet and they may not care for the pet properly, so parents must step in to ensure that the animal receives care. Fortunately, the frog's care requirements are minimal, but it's a point to consider nevertheless.
Grow-a-Frog Kit Limitations
Notably, African Clawed Frogs are banned as pets in some states, so not everyone will be able to purchase a Grow-a-Frog kit.
For example, in December 2008, Grow-a-Frog customers in Montana were asked to euthanize their pet frogs or send them back to the supplier. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks issued the request to Grow-a-Frog kit customers on the grounds that African Clawed Frogs are not native to the area, and the extremely hearty frog species could potentially damage the environment if released into the wild.
"Personally, I disagree with the state agency's request to euthanize these animals. In the care of a responsible pet owner, there is essentially zero chance that one of these frogs will escape into the natural environment, so I believe that these frog owners should be grandfathered and allowed to keep their frogs," explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM. "I am a strong advocate of education. I believe the more ethical move would be to educate frog owners about the dangers of releasing these animals into the wild. Educate frog owners about the humane alternatives - like how to re-home a frog - in the event that they can no longer care for the pet."
According to the Associated Press, the Florida-based Grow-a-Frog kit company "says it only recently learned of the ban and has stopped selling the kits to Montana customers."
Before purchasing a Grow-a-Frog kit, it's a good idea to verify that African Clawed Frogs are permitted in a particular state or province.
Children who enjoy a Grow-a-Frog kit may also enjoy other educational "pets" like an illuminated ant farm or butterfly pavilion. Check out Gift Ideas for an 8-year-old Boy or Girl or Gift Ideas for a 9-year-old Boy or Girl for more information on ant farm and butterfly pavilion kits.
An Albino African Clawed Frog
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