Dwarf frogs have been kept as pets for many many years. They have become very common in the community aquarium or betta bowl. In the 1960's India began breeding large amounts of Hymenochirus for the pet trade.

 

Dwarf frogs were once native to the Congo regin of Africa. It is unknown if there are any wild Hymenochirus left in their native habitat. It is possible that they are even extinct in the wild. Although their wild numbers are unknown, their captive numbers are very high. In a rare twist, the pet industry has kept this creature from going extinct. Urban expansion into the Congo has drastically changed the ecosystem of that region. "Slash and Burn" techniques are used to clear the Congo of its forests due to the demand for logging. Political and civil unrest in the region has made it near impossible for biological studies to be done there presently. Any data on Hymenochirus remaining in the wild is inconclusive.