These tree frogs are dumpy, and that’s not meant as an insult; it’s simply what these types of amphibians are called.
“Jon had frogs when he was a kid, and we both grew up in Northwest Ohio, where there are always plenty of toads and frogs around! We never would have thought we’d be frog owners before we saw that Craigslist ad!,” Fry told PEOPLE.
In August, Fry and Milliken welcomed one more frog into the fold, Nanners. They quickly discovered that each of the hoppers had their own, unique personality.
dumpythicc/Instagram
“Jacques is the sweetheart of the bunch, he’s the green Indonesian. He sleeps most of the time and loves food more than anything. He’s so lazy he often eats in his sleep, if we hold food in front of him when he’s sleeping he’ll eat it without even opening his eyes,” she added. “We call him the mushroom king because he is obsessed with a little mushroom house we bought them from a craft store.”
“Nanners is the yellow wild child. He’s the youngest in the tank with the big frogs and literally bounces off the walls. He definitely rules the roost, mostly because he bites everything in sight since he is always hungry,” Fry said, rounding out the three amphibian amigos.
Once they realized just how precious and peculiar their frog family was, Fry and Milliken knew that had to share their pets and the “the hilarious things the boys do” with the world. They decided to create anInstagram accountfor the animals, but had to find the right name for the account first.
The reaction to the account, which started in June, has been fantastic. The “boys,” as Fry calls them, have already amassed over 17,000 followers and have inspired plenty of fan art and fan mail.
“People message us all the time to let us know how much our frogs mean to them, and I wish the boys could understand the big impact they’re making,” the owner said.
And while Fry thinks that frogs aren’t the most trainable pets, she has found that the amphibians have picked up a few skills through their Instagram stardom.
“They’ve gotten really great at posing for pictures, especially Nanners, because they’ve come to associate picture time with food, which is the key to their hearts,” she said. “Nanners will actually ‘beg’ for food, he’ll stand up and wave his hands at us until he gets a snack.”
Fry and Milliken love their frog friends, but encourage anyone thinking of getting a frog for the first time to prepare for a few things. Frogs often aren’t active until late at night, according to Fry, so “be prepared to have a pet that you have to stay up late to watch be active!” Male frogs also have surprisingly loud croaks, so get ready for a little night music if you decide to adopt a male amphibian.
Before getting a frog, Fry suggests getting a “a 20 gallon tank with an additional 10 gallons per each additional frog.” These pets also need “things to climb around on, such as branches and vines, and places to hide.”
“They’re an extremely low maintenance pet, and if the correct research is done prior to purchasing, they are nothing but fun,” she added.
Fry and Milliken are obviously smitten. They brought home a fourth frog in December, named Meep, and are hoping to add a 5th froggy family member in 2020, so make sure to check in on this “dumpythicc” bunch often on Instagram at@dumpythicc.
source: people.com
