Amphibians face an extinction crisis driven by chytrid fungus, habitat loss, and climate change. Captive breeding programs and appropriate companion amphibian care are both important welfare and conservation responses.
Amphibian welfare spans the companion animal and conservation domains. In captivity, amphibians require highly specific environmental parameters — temperature gradients, humidity, UV lighting, appropriate substrate — that are frequently misunderstood by new keepers. The welfare consequences of incorrect care accumulate rapidly: chytrid infections in stressed animals, metabolic bone disease from UV deficiency, and dehydration from inadequate humidity. The conservation dimension adds urgency: disease spread from poorly managed collections threatens wild populations. Responsible amphibian keeping requires thorough research, captive-bred sourcing, and strict biosecurity between collections.