Guy Tweets Adorable Story Of How He Ended Up Adopting A Tiny Tree Frog He Discovered In His Lettuce Box
What would you do if you found a frog in your lettuce container? Like, not just “oh, it might have slipped in after I had opened it for lunch”, no, it’s more like “how did you manage to get sucked into all of the harvesting machinery, get packaged, distributed to possibly a whole different state and end up in my house without anyone noticing what’s up?” No joke, it actually happened.
Simon Curtis found a tiny tree frog in his Romaine lettuce recently, and wrote a whole Twitter thread about it chock-full of feel-good vibes and adorableness.
More Info: Twitter
What do you do if you end up finding a frog in your lettuce package?
Image credits: simoncurtis
So, a few days before Christmas, musician, actor, and author Simon Curtis posted a picture of what he found in his plastic-packaged Romaine lettuce—a teeny-tiny tree frog.
Turns out, they can sometimes get scooped up in the farm before packaging, and it’s not just them, but pretty much any tiny animal that decides to find itself in the plantation, but I digress.
Musician Simon Curtis recently found a frog in his salad box that started a beautiful relationship
Image credits: simoncurtis
So, here we are, Curtis is trying to figure out what to do with the little guy, deciding to keep him for a few days as it’s currently freezing outside—just 27°F (-3°C). In the meantime, he tries to figure out how to go about taking care of him.
Now, I say him because Curtis ends up calling the frog Tony. No official information on its sex, but who cares, Tony is an amazing name for an amazing frog.
At first, Simon was just trying to figure what to do with the tiny critter, so first thing’s first, his name is now Tony
Image credits: simoncurtis
And Tony loves to escape his enclosure. Yes, we too wonder how did he get up there
Image credits: simoncurtis
Image credits: simoncurtis
Anywho, over the following days, the internet keeps getting updates on Tony in tweet form. In said tweets, he explains how he has turned his container of residence into a home by plopping down a mason jar lid and filling it with drinking water, spraying the sides of the container so it’s nice and moist inside, and putting in some more flora (a.k.a lettuce).
Tony also manages to escape on multiple occasions, getting himself in places you wouldn’t expect, like atop a door frame. Of course, he was eventually found and returned to his plastic house. And Tony didn’t seem to mind being carried around either, allowing everyone to get a feel for just how tiny he is.
The Twitter thread was a story that extended over a span of several days with frequent updates
Image credits: simoncurtis
Image credits: simoncurtis
Simon ended up getting him some wax worms and also got in touch with Mark Howery, Senior Wildlife Diversity Biologist at Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, to figure out how to take care of Tony and to figure out if Tony can be released back into the wild. Howery also identified Tony as a tree frog.
Throughout the days, Tony was upgraded to new accommodations, i.e. a container that’s more fitting for a frog with tiny pebbles, more lettuce, and even a tiny hollow log where he apparently loves to chill.
The thread was an instant success on Twitter, garnering over 68k likes
Image credits: simoncurtis
Image credits: simoncurtis
The thread reached its peak when Simon remembered something from ages ago—back when he was just 10 years old, he was fighting leukemia, and he had a favorite stuffed support animal, which was actually a tree frog. Some things never change!
Just as well, after consulting with explorer and biologist Dr. Jonathan Kolby, he found out that it would be best to keep Tony as a pet, as releasing him into the wild might mean introducing an invasive species.
Once Simon figured it all out, Tony got a new home, some wax worms, and then came the hard part–finding out when to release him into the wild
Image credits: simoncurtis
Image credits: simoncurtis
This adorably wholesome Twitter thread soon went viral, garnering over 67,900 likes and nearly 10,000 retweets ever since its posting. People online had a lot to say. Besides just falling in love with Tony—just look at his adorable face—there were a lot of people quite surprised that frogs in lettuce packages are a thing, and even Petco got in touch and gave Tony a $500 gift card to get settled in his new home.
Image credits: simoncurtis
Image credits: simoncurtis
Image credits: simoncurtis
Turns out, Simon was fighting leukemia when he was a kid, and his fav plushie? Yes, it’s a frog!
Image credits: simoncurtis
And then a miracle happened–after consulting with an expert, Simon decided to keep Tony as he might become an invasive species if he is to be let go
Image credits: simoncurtis
You can check out the full Twitter thread here, but before you run off, tell us what’s the best thing you’ve found in your lettuce package in the comment section below!
Thank you for not releasing him. Besides the potential for invasive species, introduced disease, etc., who knows what would have happened to the little soul. You sound like you'll give him a good life. Bless you.
You're so sweet on your little pet - it's great to hear about. Tree frogs have little suction cup feet, so they can go pretty much anywhere. Hang in there guys!
I absolutely love this! I don't know who this guy is but his Twitter is the most wholesome thing I've read in a long while. Merry Christmas Tony 🎄🐸
My daughter used to talk to this little tree frog in our yard. She'd imitate the frogs sound and it would "talk" back. We have it on video. At night it would attach itself to her bedroom window screen and they would have a conversation lol this went on for a whole summer when she was 11.
Aww what a nice story! I'm sure Tony will have a great life with Simon. You found each other ❤️
I worked at a health food store, finding a snail in some romaine lettuce, who I nicknamed Escargot. He became a pet living in a terrarium like Tony's, but eventually escaped my dorm room and sadly, never was found. I still miss him.
At a pub where I worked, there was a salamander in the kale. Scared the daylights out of the kitchen manager! She wasn't expecting the kale to move, and she certainly wasn't expecting a little creature to crawl out of it!
This story was the best ending to a day that I've had in 2 years. Thank you.
He would have died outside - they are tropical. Get him a 10 gallon fish tank so he has room. They are cheap. Put a lid on it! with clamps!
Yes he needs a bigger cage with stuff to climb. It said PetSmart gave him 500$ he should buy Toni a dope setup
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Now that he’s been adopted, did no one notice that the frog’s name is now Tony CURTIS
My mother used to work in a greenhouse, and she rescued a few little critters that were unwittingly transported to a very unsuitable environment. A colour-changing frog, an anole, and a small snake. The little ribbon snake was especially at risk, being a snake (some critters got stomped on by other employees, tragically). To catch it, my mother slowly took off her sweater so that she could drop it on the snake and she swore she could tell it was thinking; "It's shedding its skin!!" It was transfixed, haha. We made really nice terrariums for them and fed them well. They lived long lives! Seeing this little green tree frog makes me miss the cute tree frogs we used to get back when we had a backyard pond. They were adorable. Gotta love froggies, and I'm glad to see this one got a good home.
This is a cute story, but something bugged me. Your assumption that a machine harvests this lettuce. Lettuce is almost exclusively harvested by hand, by migrant workers with no wage protections and often no citizenship. They are exploited so you can have cheap lettuce with cute tree frogs in it. This disconnect from where our food comes from, exemplified by fantasies that machines, not exploited human beings, bring us our food, is a problem. Cute ass frog, though.
I don’t see how that pertains to the story whatsoever it’s good that you want to spread awareness and you feel bad about migrant workers again both commendable but has nothing to do with his story whatsoever I know that the frog was found that way but again it has nothing to do with the story whatsoever
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I love Tony! We have so many like him in OBX, NC! They are frequently on my outside walls and plants.
That's like the best prize in an adult happy meal! I just love frogs and I want to go buy a ton of romaine lettuce to see if I can find one and save it!
I never found creatures in my lettuce, but like Simon I had a choice to make when an injured Katydid with only two legs appeared in my home. I was born a rescuer so at least get her out of harms way which evolved into 3 mos of various housing & food upgrades, naming her Mrs. Vindman & finally the honor of witnessing her laying eggs. Fork tailed bush Katydids lay eggs strategically inside the epidermis of a leaf. Long story short, I now have two large terrariums,(vivariums) with Romaine, Kale & rotating fruits for the more than one hundred offspring. They were born too early and remain juveniles which means they r close to their first Bday. Many factors prevented release.(Katydids in Oregon normally live no more than 7months). A year later I continue their salad bars and hand feed them specially bred fruit flies.Why do this? Being privy to tiny miracles, learning daily, & seeing cute creatures thrive may be what Simon feels about Tony as well.Opportunities show up if you recognize them💁🏻♀️
This is such a cute wholesome story what a way 2 start the new year I have rescued a tiger salamander & kept him as a pet as it would’ve been too cold to release him back into the wild I still have him it’s been two years now my daughter named him syd After Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd he has gotten really big he is about a foot from nose to tail he’s a little fat guy he loves all of his crickets animals have a soul it doesn’t matter if it’s a fly they all have consciousness they all have a soul all animals deserve our respect they are living creatures just like us and they should be treated like you want to be treated just like other people they deserve a life too we kept syd because it was cold outside it was late October starting to get our first frost if I would’ve let him out he would’ve died from the cold I couldn’t let that happen and especially because my cat was sick & dying at the time I wanted another pet salamanders are cool it’s awesome how They can regrow their limbs
I LOVE ❤ Tree Frogs but here in NorCal they've almost vanished due to Drought. Here in the mountains I bring my plants in for the winter & love it when Tony the Tree Frogs relations hitchhike in on them & there's a froggie chorus in the kitchen at night.🐸
The best thing I ever found in my lettuce was lettuce with no bugs, no wilted leave, and no animals.
This is such a cute wholesome story what away to start out the new year we have rescued a tiger salamander it was October when we found him he would’ve froze in the cold my daughter named him syd after Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd He’s about a foot long from the tip of his nose to his tail he loves his crickets animals have a conscience and a soul and they deserve our respect much love to this guy For taking care of this frog God bless everyone reading this have a great new year much peace love unity and respect
Jeez, could his habitat be any smaller? I think not. Get him the right size doofus! I mean you went through all this trouble and then get him the world's tiniest cage, what's up with that? Nice thing you did though my friend! ✌️
He did say that the little habitat was a temporary home. I'm sure he will get little Tony a good sized terrarium. These little guys love to climb. He needs more tree branches to crawl on. ❤
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I actually had a little tree frog as a pet when I was very young. I had medical problems and had a trache at the time. No furry babies back then. I named him corky and while he did seem to..well..croak eventually (on Nov 11th...I'm freaking 50 now, not sure the exact date my mom died but I recall Oct 11.) Frogs and toads are great pets. I'm glad this guy did his homework about our little green escape artist.
What a heart-warming cuuuuuuuuuuuute story of sweeeeeet Tony baby and u. This is called the magic of kindness that always soothes our hearts in this cruel world. Thanks so much for keeping him with u. Lots of love and prayers for both of u ❤️
When my son was small we raised a tadpole until he became a full sized frog. We decided to turn him lose in a nearby creek. As my son released him in the water, a big fish swam up and ate him. So it's safer to keep Tony in your home.
This often happens when people try to save an animal they catch in their home because they let them loose wrong because of what they see done on TV and in movies (ie. not your fault). The directors set it up for viewing by people, out in the open with hoopla. Normal people need to release critters by putting them under bushes or setting the crate/box somewhere secluded and letting them leave in their own good time. Releasing NATIVE species is the best outcome when done correctly.
Load More Replies...
I had a tree frog “pet” in my hanging plant pot! Everyday he would leave at dark to hunt I assume! …Then would return in the morning! One day around dusk, he jumped on my leg from the table….he must have been bidding me farewell because I never saw him again! A couple of times he even brought a guest frog home! Lol! I MISS HIM!
We had a large toad (Kermit) for over 5 years! My younger grandson was crazy about frogs/toads. When properly cared for they make GREAT pets!!!
Finally, a nice, feel good story. I hand fed an injured baby bird until I could get him to a proper place to get him fixed up. They couldn't do anything and had to put him down, but it was a learning experience and positive for as long as it lasted. The world needs more decent people like this guy.
I also tried to rescue a bird it didn’t work out well unfortunately
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They can jump 10 feet, stick to any surface, even upside down, that's how he gets up there. A house plant will keep him happy , especially a hanging pot. They like to hide between pot and hanger or in the dip tray underneath. Put the plant outside in the spring.
Putting it outside in the spring would only work if they had either an enclosed porch or an enclosure outside, otherwise the frog would just scoot off eventually. Unless you meant put the plant minus th frog outside.
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He said that it was temporary, most people don't have one just sitting around waiting for a frog to show up in their food. He'll have gotten one with the $500.
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Best story ever 🥲 The world needs a helluva lot more Simon's in it, that's all I'm sayin' ... i never find ANYthing cool in my food >bummer< Not too many frogs near Metro Detroit either 🙄
This is absolutely the best thing I've heard about in days. What a cool guy you are.
I loved this touching story and hope I find a tree frog someday. It was so interesting to learn not to release Tony as he could become an invasive species. He probably wouldn't have found happiness nor friends either so good thing Simon kept him.
Tony could be from Mexico or CA or FL and not suited to your climate at all. He is tropical
That's beautiful. If you have the ability Tony would probably like a bigger setup though. He loves to explore.
The frog was definitely a sign/present from when he was sick ...i love it!!!🙏🙌🤗🐸
This is beautiful. If you're able to Tony might really like a bigger enclosure since he loves to explore.
It is literally on his twitter, if you don't believe him, ask him.
Load More Replies... Thank you for not releasing him. Besides the potential for invasive species, introduced disease, etc., who knows what would have happened to the little soul. You sound like you'll give him a good life. Bless you.
You're so sweet on your little pet - it's great to hear about. Tree frogs have little suction cup feet, so they can go pretty much anywhere. Hang in there guys!
I absolutely love this! I don't know who this guy is but his Twitter is the most wholesome thing I've read in a long while. Merry Christmas Tony 🎄🐸
My daughter used to talk to this little tree frog in our yard. She'd imitate the frogs sound and it would "talk" back. We have it on video. At night it would attach itself to her bedroom window screen and they would have a conversation lol this went on for a whole summer when she was 11.
Aww what a nice story! I'm sure Tony will have a great life with Simon. You found each other ❤️
I worked at a health food store, finding a snail in some romaine lettuce, who I nicknamed Escargot. He became a pet living in a terrarium like Tony's, but eventually escaped my dorm room and sadly, never was found. I still miss him.
At a pub where I worked, there was a salamander in the kale. Scared the daylights out of the kitchen manager! She wasn't expecting the kale to move, and she certainly wasn't expecting a little creature to crawl out of it!
This story was the best ending to a day that I've had in 2 years. Thank you.
He would have died outside - they are tropical. Get him a 10 gallon fish tank so he has room. They are cheap. Put a lid on it! with clamps!
Yes he needs a bigger cage with stuff to climb. It said PetSmart gave him 500$ he should buy Toni a dope setup
Load More Replies... Now that he’s been adopted, did no one notice that the frog’s name is now Tony CURTIS
My mother used to work in a greenhouse, and she rescued a few little critters that were unwittingly transported to a very unsuitable environment. A colour-changing frog, an anole, and a small snake. The little ribbon snake was especially at risk, being a snake (some critters got stomped on by other employees, tragically). To catch it, my mother slowly took off her sweater so that she could drop it on the snake and she swore she could tell it was thinking; "It's shedding its skin!!" It was transfixed, haha. We made really nice terrariums for them and fed them well. They lived long lives! Seeing this little green tree frog makes me miss the cute tree frogs we used to get back when we had a backyard pond. They were adorable. Gotta love froggies, and I'm glad to see this one got a good home.
This is a cute story, but something bugged me. Your assumption that a machine harvests this lettuce. Lettuce is almost exclusively harvested by hand, by migrant workers with no wage protections and often no citizenship. They are exploited so you can have cheap lettuce with cute tree frogs in it. This disconnect from where our food comes from, exemplified by fantasies that machines, not exploited human beings, bring us our food, is a problem. Cute ass frog, though.
I don’t see how that pertains to the story whatsoever it’s good that you want to spread awareness and you feel bad about migrant workers again both commendable but has nothing to do with his story whatsoever I know that the frog was found that way but again it has nothing to do with the story whatsoever
Load More Replies... I love Tony! We have so many like him in OBX, NC! They are frequently on my outside walls and plants.
That's like the best prize in an adult happy meal! I just love frogs and I want to go buy a ton of romaine lettuce to see if I can find one and save it!
I never found creatures in my lettuce, but like Simon I had a choice to make when an injured Katydid with only two legs appeared in my home. I was born a rescuer so at least get her out of harms way which evolved into 3 mos of various housing & food upgrades, naming her Mrs. Vindman & finally the honor of witnessing her laying eggs. Fork tailed bush Katydids lay eggs strategically inside the epidermis of a leaf. Long story short, I now have two large terrariums,(vivariums) with Romaine, Kale & rotating fruits for the more than one hundred offspring. They were born too early and remain juveniles which means they r close to their first Bday. Many factors prevented release.(Katydids in Oregon normally live no more than 7months). A year later I continue their salad bars and hand feed them specially bred fruit flies.Why do this? Being privy to tiny miracles, learning daily, & seeing cute creatures thrive may be what Simon feels about Tony as well.Opportunities show up if you recognize them💁🏻♀️
This is such a cute wholesome story what a way 2 start the new year I have rescued a tiger salamander & kept him as a pet as it would’ve been too cold to release him back into the wild I still have him it’s been two years now my daughter named him syd After Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd he has gotten really big he is about a foot from nose to tail he’s a little fat guy he loves all of his crickets animals have a soul it doesn’t matter if it’s a fly they all have consciousness they all have a soul all animals deserve our respect they are living creatures just like us and they should be treated like you want to be treated just like other people they deserve a life too we kept syd because it was cold outside it was late October starting to get our first frost if I would’ve let him out he would’ve died from the cold I couldn’t let that happen and especially because my cat was sick & dying at the time I wanted another pet salamanders are cool it’s awesome how They can regrow their limbs
I LOVE ❤ Tree Frogs but here in NorCal they've almost vanished due to Drought. Here in the mountains I bring my plants in for the winter & love it when Tony the Tree Frogs relations hitchhike in on them & there's a froggie chorus in the kitchen at night.🐸
The best thing I ever found in my lettuce was lettuce with no bugs, no wilted leave, and no animals.
This is such a cute wholesome story what away to start out the new year we have rescued a tiger salamander it was October when we found him he would’ve froze in the cold my daughter named him syd after Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd He’s about a foot long from the tip of his nose to his tail he loves his crickets animals have a conscience and a soul and they deserve our respect much love to this guy For taking care of this frog God bless everyone reading this have a great new year much peace love unity and respect
Jeez, could his habitat be any smaller? I think not. Get him the right size doofus! I mean you went through all this trouble and then get him the world's tiniest cage, what's up with that? Nice thing you did though my friend! ✌️
He did say that the little habitat was a temporary home. I'm sure he will get little Tony a good sized terrarium. These little guys love to climb. He needs more tree branches to crawl on. ❤
Load More Replies... I actually had a little tree frog as a pet when I was very young. I had medical problems and had a trache at the time. No furry babies back then. I named him corky and while he did seem to..well..croak eventually (on Nov 11th...I'm freaking 50 now, not sure the exact date my mom died but I recall Oct 11.) Frogs and toads are great pets. I'm glad this guy did his homework about our little green escape artist.
What a heart-warming cuuuuuuuuuuuute story of sweeeeeet Tony baby and u. This is called the magic of kindness that always soothes our hearts in this cruel world. Thanks so much for keeping him with u. Lots of love and prayers for both of u ❤️
When my son was small we raised a tadpole until he became a full sized frog. We decided to turn him lose in a nearby creek. As my son released him in the water, a big fish swam up and ate him. So it's safer to keep Tony in your home.
This often happens when people try to save an animal they catch in their home because they let them loose wrong because of what they see done on TV and in movies (ie. not your fault). The directors set it up for viewing by people, out in the open with hoopla. Normal people need to release critters by putting them under bushes or setting the crate/box somewhere secluded and letting them leave in their own good time. Releasing NATIVE species is the best outcome when done correctly.
Load More Replies... I had a tree frog “pet” in my hanging plant pot! Everyday he would leave at dark to hunt I assume! …Then would return in the morning! One day around dusk, he jumped on my leg from the table….he must have been bidding me farewell because I never saw him again! A couple of times he even brought a guest frog home! Lol! I MISS HIM!
We had a large toad (Kermit) for over 5 years! My younger grandson was crazy about frogs/toads. When properly cared for they make GREAT pets!!!
Finally, a nice, feel good story. I hand fed an injured baby bird until I could get him to a proper place to get him fixed up. They couldn't do anything and had to put him down, but it was a learning experience and positive for as long as it lasted. The world needs more decent people like this guy.
I also tried to rescue a bird it didn’t work out well unfortunately
Load More Replies... They can jump 10 feet, stick to any surface, even upside down, that's how he gets up there. A house plant will keep him happy , especially a hanging pot. They like to hide between pot and hanger or in the dip tray underneath. Put the plant outside in the spring.
Putting it outside in the spring would only work if they had either an enclosed porch or an enclosure outside, otherwise the frog would just scoot off eventually. Unless you meant put the plant minus th frog outside.
Load More Replies... He said that it was temporary, most people don't have one just sitting around waiting for a frog to show up in their food. He'll have gotten one with the $500.
Load More Replies... Best story ever 🥲 The world needs a helluva lot more Simon's in it, that's all I'm sayin' ... i never find ANYthing cool in my food >bummer< Not too many frogs near Metro Detroit either 🙄
This is absolutely the best thing I've heard about in days. What a cool guy you are.
I loved this touching story and hope I find a tree frog someday. It was so interesting to learn not to release Tony as he could become an invasive species. He probably wouldn't have found happiness nor friends either so good thing Simon kept him.
Tony could be from Mexico or CA or FL and not suited to your climate at all. He is tropical
That's beautiful. If you have the ability Tony would probably like a bigger setup though. He loves to explore.
The frog was definitely a sign/present from when he was sick ...i love it!!!🙏🙌🤗🐸
This is beautiful. If you're able to Tony might really like a bigger enclosure since he loves to explore.
It is literally on his twitter, if you don't believe him, ask him.
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