Captive breeding programs for amphibians facing extinction from chytrid fungus and habitat loss are now critical conservation lifeboats, with welfare science improving outcomes.
Captive amphibians experience welfare challenges primarily from incorrect husbandry: inappropriate temperature, humidity, UV provision, and social grouping. Unlike charismatic mammals, amphibian stress signs are subtle - lethargy, reduced feeding, and abnormal posture. Individual welfare of captive amphibians matters both intrinsically and because stressed animals have lower reproductive success and shorter lifespans, compromising conservation goals. Best practice combines precise environmental matching, appropriate social grouping by species, and enriched enclosures with naturalistic structure.