🚀 go-pugleaf

Xenopus, for starters, are illegal in most every state in the Union,
unless you are doing research on them.  The problem is that they are
extremely hardy, and can survive in almost any condition, except Alaska
and a few of the north-central states.  The penalty for owning them is
(min) 6 mos in jail, and a $5000 fine.  Pretty bad for a slimy, stupid
frog.  However, I've worked with them for six years now in research, and
they are an exceptionally easy animal to keep and breed, if you have
either a strict light cycle (they respond hormonally to increased light
cycles) or access to gonadatrophic hormones.  They will eat anything- I
have seen them eat fish, siblings, their children, and occasionally their
own legs, not to mention syrofoam, fingers, gravel, paper, and the like. 
The recommended diet, however, is purina frog chow (trout chow works,
too).  Males are smaller than females, they will grow according to the
size of their tank (up to 3kg for females in a 500 gallon tank) and
density, and are extremely hardy to infection (but if they get one, they
are almost always good as dead).  You only have to worry about parasites-
i.e. worms, flukes, and the like).  Do be careful of the slime coat,
though- their slime is really nasty; it contains a strong neurodepressant
(yes, it -will- affect humans) that is toxic to many animals, a long list
of antigen/histamine inducing agents (want to see your hand swell up like
a baloon?) and long-chain polymerized mucopolysaccrides that make super
glue seem like spit.  This is their primary defense mechanism- they are a
design that evolved 40+ million years ago and hasn't changed since.  I
guess it's reasonably successful.  One other problem- the babies have a
real hard time surviving the first six months- they have a survival rate
of about 5%, under optimal conditions.  One of the reasons is that they
don't know how to eat after metamorphosis, so they often starve to death. 
They have a lot of genetic problems, which is why they lay so many eggs at
a time (2-500).  Incidently, they are expensive to purchase.  At a
discount, going price runs about $25 per animal.  If you need any more
info- please e-mail to rabbits@carson.u.washington.edu

Good luck-
	Rabbits.