Safety Tips - How to Handle an Amphibian.

Animal and student welfare is a top priority within our Animal Care unit at "MKC"; so before students are allowed to touch any animals a signed tetanus form from parents/carers is required.

Our technicians and staff also like to ensure that students are shown how to handle our animals correctly and safely for both the animal and the students safety. All students are expected to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E) and any long hair should be worn up and hands should be washed before and after handling the animal.

Hands are washed to prevent any cross-contamination between different species and to ensure strict hygiene is followed at all times.

As I have featured the Aquatics rooms this week I thought it would be good to explain how to handle an amphibian. Amphibians like moist environments so at MKC the technicians have set up a series of terrariums perfect for our amphibians to live in.


Millipede The Horned Frog -  " Good - You have gloves on"

To ensure safety we make sure that all our Amphibians like Horned Frogs (see picture) are handled only by people wearing gloves and that these gloves are kept moist. Gloves are expected as the acid on a humans skin can affect the amphibian and cause a number of health issues. Therefore we have strict guidelines at MKC that all staff and students should wear gloves when handling amphibians.

As Amphibians like moisture it is important to keep your gloves moist and keep the amphibian near a container that has either moist tissue or small amounts of water in.

Frogs and toads like to jump so care should be taken to cup your hands over them or hold them in the middle firmly enough without squeezing them. Full training is given to students to help them with their confidence  in handling and to ensure correct techniques are used.

Remember that P.P.E is just as important for the animals safety as well as humans.


"Take care to hold firmly but not to squeeze."