Amphibians are increasingly kept in zoos for conservation purposes but have specialized welfare needs including precise humidity, temperature, and substrate management.
Amphibian welfare in captivity requires precise environmental management that reflects their highly specialized physiology. Amphibians regulate water and gas exchange through their skin, making humidity, temperature, and substrate quality direct welfare determinants. Incorrect humidity causes desiccation or excessive skin moisture depending on species; inappropriate substrates cause chemical burns or abrasion; inadequate temperature gradients prevent normal thermoregulation. Conservation breeding programs for chytrid-threatened species require managing amphibians in facilities that may house hundreds of individuals of dozens of species simultaneously, each with different requirements. The welfare of these small, quiet animals is easily overlooked by institutions focused on the charismatic megafauna that drive visitor attendance and fundraising.