Pet Frog Prices 2023: Purchase Cost by Type, Supplies, Food, and More!

Have you ever wanted an amphibian friend in your life, but were unsure what a pet frog costs? One of the first things you should look at before adopting an animal is the price you’ll have to pay to care for them.

Pet frog prices can range from as little as $130 or as much as $1500 or more to adopt and set up an enclosure for. Monthly costs range from $25-$100 or more.

Lifetime expenses for a pet frog may cost anywhere from $1500-7500+ depending on the species, how long they live, and how you care for them. Most pet frog species live 4-10 years, but some live as long as 20 years or more!

In this article, we’ll discuss how much pet frogs cost from adoption fees to lifelong costs.

How Much Does a Pet Frog Cost?

To purchase only your frog, you’ll likely pay somewhere between $20-$100. The rarer the species, the more your frog will cost–with some costing upwards of $500.

Please keep in mind that many frogs are social animals, so you shouldn’t buy just one. They need to live in groups, preferably of three to four or more.

There are exceptions to this rule, so carefully research your species before adoption. Remember to ensure you can meet all of their needs, including social needs–whether they’re social or solitary.

Where to Adopt

Most people adopt their pet frogs from pet stores, but this is a bad idea for several reasons. Firstly, large chain pet stores source their animals from breeding mills. These are like puppy mills but for other animals.

Many animals, sadly, don’t even make it to the stores alive. Conditions are poor, they may be allowed to breed indiscriminately, and you have a good chance of buying a frog with health problems.

Another problem that comes from buying from pet stores is that they often offer poor care advice. Many people will adopt an animal they know little about, not realizing that pet store staff are also untrained and know little about the animal. Pet stores may even lie about proper care in order to sell unsuitable products.

Instead of pet stores, opt to go straight to the source–a reputable breeder–or rescue a frog instead. The great thing about rescue, aside from saving a frog in need, is that it’s often cheaper. There’s a good chance your frog will come with supplies and at a much lower price than you would’ve paid to buy the frog and items from the store.

The good thing about reputable breeders is that they are knowledgeable about frogs and breeding. They can give you care advice, offer support for beginners, and will always take the frog back if necessary–even much later in their life. Reputable breeders won’t allow their animals to be abandoned in shelters and will have a contract stating such.

If you purchase from a reputable breeder, your frog is likely to be healthy and live a longer life. Just don’t confuse a backyard breeder–someone who doesn’t have enough knowledge or care to breed responsibly–with a reputable breeder. There’s a huge difference!

Common Pet Frog Species and Prices

Pet Frog Supply Costs

As with most pets, your initial costs will be the most expensive. Caring for frogs long-term is relatively cheap. You can expect to pay at least $80 to set up a proper enclosure, however, and many people spend hundreds of dollars or more.

The table below lists everything you’ll need for your pet frogs, and how much it’ll cost.

Please keep in mind that most of these expenses will increase based on the number of frogs you adopt and that these numbers are simply averages.

If you want an elaborate set-up or a big enclosure to give your frog’s the best life, it’s going to cost more. If you shop sales carefully and buy cheap items, you may pay a lot less.

Tank

You’ll want either an aquarium or terrarium for your frog, depending on whether they’re a land or water-dwelling species.

The enclosure size you’ll need will depend on the species of frog and how many you adopt. You may buy a tank as small as five gallons, or opt for 20+ gallons.

Please purchase as big of a tank as you can afford and have space for. Remember that minimum sizes you see online are just that–minimums. And no one wants to provide only the bare minimum for their beloved pet!

Substrate

Soil for your frog’s tank will cost around $20-$50 on initial set-up and anytime it needs to be changed.

We’ll talk more about ongoing costs below, but you may need to fully change substrate every two weeks or every two years–it all depends on how you keep your frogs!

Plants

Live plants are best for your frog, as fake plants will always come with risks. These include health issues due to eating the plants and injuries due to their sharp edges.

Fake plants won’t add humidity or help clean the tank, either. They also often look fake, if that matters to you (your frog won’t care!).

People have had success with both real and fake plants, however, so do your research to come to the best conclusion for your pet.

Heat Lamp

Not every frog will need a heat lamp, but they are cold-blooded, and it’s vital to keep their environment at the right temperature.

Research your frog’s needs, and purchase a heat lamp if your home gets colder than they can handle.

Heat lamps can cost anywhere from $10-$50, and the electricity to keep them running may cost around $20 each month.

Items and Decor

Your frog will need places to hide and climb in their enclosure, and decorations can get pretty expensive! Luckily, they usually only need to be bought once.

You’ll also want a water dish for your frog, and any other decorations you’d like to include. Remember to ensure everything you place in the tank is frog-safe!

Thermometer/Hygrometer

A thermometer will measure the temperature of your frog’s tank, helping you to ensure it stays at a good temperature.

Research your frog’s species to determine what temperatures they need in their tank. Many frogs are happy at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, but some require it warmer or cooler. Typically, daytime temperatures should be kept higher than at night.

Hygrometers measure the humidity in your frog’s tank, which is important to their survival. You’ll need to know the humidity level your frog needs and keep the tank within this range at all times.

Misting System

You can either purchase a misting system for your frog’s tank or mist it yourself using a spray bottle. Of course, spray bottles cost a lot less!

It’s vital that your frog’s tank stay humid enough for their species, as too dry an environment can suffocate your frog. They need the humidity in order to breathe.

Over-misting can also cause issues, however, which is why having a hygrometer in the tank is so essential.

Food and Ongoing Costs

Frogs are relatively cheap pets. The price of a pet frog may be less than $25 a month for their ongoing care. This will consist of buying insects–usually crickets–for them to eat, supplements for their diet, and replacement substrate.

The substrate may need to be replaced every two to four weeks if you don’t have a self-sustaining tank with plants and insects helping to keep the tank clean. If you do have a working clean-up crew, you may need to replace it fully only once every one to two years.

The more frogs you care for, the higher your feeding costs will be and the faster your tank will get messy.

Of course, larger frogs will also be more expensive as they’ll need more food and create more waste.

Lastly, you may need to replace items such as heat lamp bulbs and anything that breaks in your frog’s tank. If you ever want to update your frog’s enclosure, that’ll also cost money.

How Much Does it Cost to Feed a Pet Frog?

You can expect to pay around $50 to feed your pet frog in the first month because you’ll need to buy supplements as well as insects for that month. However, the following months’ costs will be lower as you only need to replace your supplements once every six months.

Of course, larger frogs will need even more food and can be more expensive to feed–while tiny frogs may cost less.

If you choose to breed your own insects, you’ll likely pay a lot less and may even get months or years of free frog food out of it. However, this process isn’t for everybody.

Do Pet Frogs Need Veterinary Care?

Frogs should receive veterinary care in the form of routine check-ups every six months to one year. Although this is sadly uncommon, it will help your frog live a longer, healthier life.

Your frog should also see an exotic pet veterinarian whenever they show signs of illness or behavioral changes. It can be easy to look past small changes in behavior, but they’re often the first sign that something’s wrong.

Frogs cannot see regular dog and cat veterinarians but instead must visit an exotic pet veterinarian. Make sure your vet regularly sees amphibians and is knowledgeable about their care and health. Veterinary care prices for pet frogs can be quite high as exotic pet vets need extra education in order to care for them properly.

You might also want to consider exotic pet insurance, which can help cover costs if your frog is sick or hurt and needs veterinary attention. Otherwise, you’ll need to set savings aside for emergencies.

Common health problems in frogs include infections, impaction, metabolic bone disease, and parasites.

Providing a Home for Wild Frogs

Some people capture and keep wild frogs as pets–this is seen by most people as inhumane, however, and it’s not what we’ll be discussing below!

Instead, consider setting up a place where wild frogs in your area can thrive. This can be cheaper than the price of keeping your own pet frogs, and it helps your local ecosystem while allowing you to observe frogs in their natural environment.

Typically, you’ll want to have a small pond for frogs to take residence, hatch tadpoles, and enjoy. This could, of course, be incredibly elaborate–or you could make a small, self-sustaining container pond that’s tiny enough to sit on your porch.

Thank you for reading! If you have feedback on this post, please contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/reptiles4all

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