Amphibians kept as pets have highly specialized environmental requirements that when unmet cause chronic stress and shortened lifespans.
Amphibian welfare in captivity involves some of the most demanding husbandry requirements of any pet species. Amphibians' permeable skin makes them acutely sensitive to water quality, temperature, humidity, and contaminants - conditions that seem acceptable to humans can be causing chronic stress and tissue damage to amphibians. Wild-caught amphibians, which dominate the pet trade, have the additional welfare burden of capture stress and the fundamental challenge of adapting to captive conditions after a wild life. The global chytridiomycosis crisis means wild-caught amphibians may carry the fungal pathogen that has caused catastrophic declines in wild populations. Metabolic bone disease from inadequate UV-B is extremely common in captive frogs and salamanders. The appeal of amphibians as display animals for terrariums does not negate the welfare requirements of the animals involved.