Frogs and other amphibians are popular in the pet trade but face catastrophic welfare and conservation threats from chytrid fungal disease and overexploitation.
Frogs captured for the pet trade suffer stress during capture, transport, and captive conditions. Many die within weeks due to inadequate husbandry. The Asian bullfrog, widely sold as a pet, is extremely sensitive to temperature changes and requires specialist care. Frogs used in the food trade are often processed alive under conditions of extreme stress. Amphibian chytrid fungus, spread globally through trade in African clawed frogs used as pregnancy test animals in the mid-20th century, has devastated wild populations. Biosecurity measures are critically important to prevent disease spread. Many rescued or surplus pet frogs cannot be released into wild populations.