I walked into a local Hallmark store today to find some Christmas decorations/gifts/etc., only to have something else catch my eye. On a small shelf near the checkout counter, tucked away behind a pillar of drywall and ridiculous display of Olaf stuffed animals, were five little so-called "aquariums." Each aquarium contained some pebbles, one larger rock, one plant, and two tiny frogs. The tanks were tiny 1/3-gallon plastic cubes that cost $25.00 each. At first I thought, "these can't be real, right?" I leaned a little closer and nudged one of the tanks and, lo and behold, a miniature frog darted away from me in terror. My immediate reaction was absolute horror. These frogs were obviously being kept and cared for inadequately. As far as I could tell, the tanks were sealed shut somehow and I couldn't see any sort of food inside.

After doing some research I've discovered that these little innocent creatures are African Dwarf Frogs and that Hallmark has been carrying these particular aquariums, called "EcoAquariums," for almost four years. According to the instructions that come with the aquarium:

1. The frogs, the aquarium plant, and the gravel "work in harmony to create a completely filter-free ecosystem habitat."
2. "Your 'EcoAquarium' will clean and condition itself with very little additonal care."
3. Feed "2 pellets per frog, 2 times per week" with the pellets that came with them.
4. "Change the aquarium water every 3 months with room temperature spring water."
5. "Keep water at room temperature, 68-84F/20-29C."
6. The life of the frog is "guaranteed for one year."

There are so many issues with this. First of all:

1. There is no such thing as a "filter-free aquarium." These tanks need filters to keep them clean, no matter how big or small they are.
2. Each Dwarf Frog needs a MINIMUM of one gallon of space. Since there are two frogs, the tanks should contain two gallons of water. Instead, they contain 1/3 of a gallon.
3. They should be fed AT LEAST three times a week, not two, with a diverse diet. The "frog pellets" alone are not enough to keep them healthy.
4. Water changes should be WEEKLY, not every three months!
5. These frogs are tropical creatures. They need a heater; room temperature water is not warm enough for them.
6. They are small, shy creatures that need places to hide away. Being forced to be out in the open constantly will cause them stress.
7. And, last but not least, the average life expectancy of African Dwarf Frogs in the wild is 15 YEARS. Average life expectancy in captivity is 5 years. These aquariums only guarantee a lifespan of 1 year. 

This needs to be stopped!! Not only this, but the creator of this product is called "Wild Creations" and this is not the only product of its nature that they have created. We need to save these helpless creatures! Please help me ask Hallmark to withdraw this product, and any other products they sell by Wild Creations.