Questions for the Aussie froggers!

[Aquarium]

Hello everyone,
I have been considering a pet frog for some time (actually since I was about 6 haha) and have already learnt a lot from this forum so thank you all

My background: My fiance and I have kept fish aquariums for quite a while. Its a huge passion & we're currently running 3 beautiful mature planted tanks (fresh water tropical, salt water tropic and gold fish). Recently I was reorganizing our equipment storage & it started me to thinking about what I could do next As I mentioned I have wanted a frog since I was a child. I have always been fascinated by their life cycles and pure character, plus they're beautiful!

I have a few empty aquariums lying around but I will get a taller one for the purpose of frog/s. I also have spare water heaters, pump systems, digital thermometers, pipes/tubing, reptile mesh, fake plants/rock caves (fiance used to keep bearded dragons) and bits and pieces to start with....the dilemma is how to obtain the frog?

I live in Queensland, Australia, about an hour from Brisbane. I have searched online and cant find any breeders other than a few Aussie based mail order companies (is that safe? Can someone give me feedback on mail ordering an animal? ). I believe that without a license it is legal to collect wild frogs off your own property as long as you return them to the same place if you decide to release it or you move houses. BUT, 1) Will this greatly stress an animal? One that has never known captivity to suddenly be put in an enclosure and 2) It is coming up to winter so even finding a wild frog might soon be a mission.

Sorry if a similar thread exists, I did a search but was unable to find the info.

Any help would be appreciated. And again, thank you for the lovely, awesome, informative site!!

[Mentat]

Welcome to FF ! Well, I'm not Aussie; but can give you a few tips. Ordering on line can be a gamble if you do not research seller reviews or have references from other hobbyists. If collecting from wild, need to prepare enclosure so it meets the specific frog requirements in terms of temperature, humidity, space. Also need to provide proper food items too. Yes, frog will be initially stressed by captivity; but above recommendations will help overcome that stage. Good luck !

[Aquarium]

Welcome to FF ! Well, I'm not Aussie; but can give you a few tips. Ordering on line can be a gamble if you do not research seller reviews or have references from other hobbyists. If collecting from wild, need to prepare enclosure so it meets the specific frog requirements in terms of temperature, humidity, space. Also need to provide proper food items too. Yes, frog will be initially stressed by captivity; but above recommendations will help overcome that stage. Good luck !

Thank you very much for your reply
If I was to collect from the wild I wouldn't just pounce on the first frog I see. I have learnt to have a lot of patients through my fish keeping adventures so I am prepared to spend many months researching and establishing the appropriate environment. In my local area I know Green Tree Frogs are abundant so I would build an enclosure tailored for their particulars and if a breeder doesn't become available I will seek out a healthy (to the best of my knowledge) specimen from my yard. I don't use any pesticides on my gardens and I know a lot of people in my local area are committed to doing the same so hopefully the frog wouldn't have had a great deal of chemical contact.

I also have experience breeding crickets and things as my parents where wild life carers when I was growing up and we raised the insects as food for injured birds, reptiles etc...and an established breeding set up or at least a reliable pet-store source will be in place before I seek out a frog

I am just blown away at how difficult it seems to be to actually purchase a frog in this country! I understand that systems are in place because we're taking measures to preserve native fauna...but I am surprised that more people don't appear to be drawn to them as lovely pets

Thanks again for your help

[Mentat]

...I am just blown away at how difficult it seems to be to actually purchase a frog in this country! I understand that systems are in place because we're taking measures to preserve native fauna...but I am surprised that more people don't appear to be drawn to them as lovely pets ...

Don't feel alone in that! There are many city, state, and federal laws being written, voted on, and passed these days in the US that will have an effect on the animals we keep as pets. Reptile keepers and breeders are putting up a fight; but it's costly and them laws are reproducing and spreading like weeds .

[Aquarium]

To be honest I have always been jealous of the animal variety that the US enjoys...things like iguanas, chameleons!? Wow! You're stretching it to even find them displayed in zoos around my part of the world! Haha

But in all seriousness, I am genuinely glad that Australia is so strict with animal regulations (there is only 1 state that permits rabbits as pets for example) but I can only imagine how devastating it would be to have a law revoked (or brought in) that crushes your hobby mid-song Sorry to hear about what a tight squeeze it's becoming for you guys.

And as for me...well, to go about this the right way, with all my study guns blaring and commit the time, money and nurturing into creating a kick-*** green tree frog habitat it seems I may have to simply plod along with the knowledge/construction phase and wait until the Universe just plonks a legal and reliable breeder in front of me haha!

On a side note...my lounge room is morphing into a zoo! All the fish aquariums plus now I want frogs...we discussed moving the animals all into their own room (would be great because that makes air contaminates and a few other things easier to control) but hot damn....I DO NOT WANT TO MOVE OVER 1000L OF TANKS haha!