Amphibians in zoos play critical conservation roles but have complex welfare needs. The unique physiological challenges of this class require specialized care approaches.
Amphibian welfare in captivity presents unique challenges because the species are physiologically and behaviorally very different from mammals and birds, and welfare science has traditionally focused on vertebrate groups with more obvious behavioral indicators of wellbeing. For amphibians, water quality, temperature, humidity, and skin health are primary welfare determinants — inadequate parameters in any of these cause physiological stress even when behavioral indicators are absent. Stress hormone measurement from skin secretions provides an emerging non-invasive welfare assessment tool specific to amphibians. The behavioral repertoire of many amphibian species is limited compared to mammals, making enrichment design more challenging — but appropriate hiding opportunities, varied substrate, live prey provision, and species-appropriate social conditions all contribute to welfare. The conservation context adds urgency: maintaining healthy breeding populations of critically endangered species requires optimal welfare conditions.