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No, they do not. Like other frogs, African dwarf frogs are amphibians, but unlike most amphibians, they spend their entire lives in water. They do not have gills and must come to the surface to breathe but spend most of their time underwater.African clawed frogs mostly breathe via their sophisticated lungs. They rarely do so through cutaneous respiration, which involves breathing by way of the skin. When these frogs are in situations of minimal oxygen, they breathe by taking air in from the top of the water, courtesy of their lungs.You need to keep the unique needs of ADFs in mind when selecting a tank for their habitat. ADFs are very unusual animals. They spend their entire lives underwater, but as adults they have lungs and need to breathe air.
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In this African Clawed Frog Care Guide video, I tell you about the important things you need to know about caring for an African Clawed Frog. Find out what to feed African Clawed Frogs, the best tank mates for African Clawed Frogs, and general information about the African Clawed Frogs. Do not confuse the African Clawed Frog with the African Dwarf Frog either. I tell you difference between the two in this video as well.
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African Clawed Frog Care 101: Foolproof Guide For Beginners
Aeration: Do African Clawed Frogs Need An Air Pump? Usually, African clawed frogs breathe …
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Date Published: 8/16/2022
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Do african clawed frogs need an air pump? – FAQ Blog
Expert Answers: Frogs have lungs and breathe air from above the water, so they don’t absolutely need aeration in the tank.
Source: faq-blog.com
Date Published: 3/5/2021
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Air pumps/bubble walls: necessary? – FishLore
You don’t need to buy an air pump unless you want bubbles in the tank. They’re not necessary with African dwarf frogs.
Source: www.fishlore.com
Date Published: 5/28/2021
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Is An Air Pump And Air Stone Nesseary For A Aquarium With …
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Do African clawed frogs need an air pump? – Idairco.com
Do African clawed frogs need an air pump? Frogs have lungs and breathe air from above the water, so they don’t absolutely need aeration in the tank.
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A Guide to Caring for African Clawed Frogs as Pets
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How to Set Up an African Dwarf Frog Tank
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Thread: What should be an albino african clawed frog tank be??
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Do African clawed frogs need air?
African clawed frogs mostly breathe via their sophisticated lungs. They rarely do so through cutaneous respiration, which involves breathing by way of the skin. When these frogs are in situations of minimal oxygen, they breathe by taking air in from the top of the water, courtesy of their lungs.
Do African clawed frogs need a bubbler?
You need to keep the unique needs of ADFs in mind when selecting a tank for their habitat. ADFs are very unusual animals. They spend their entire lives underwater, but as adults they have lungs and need to breathe air.
Can African clawed frogs live without a filter?
While African clawed frogs survive in stagnant water in the wild, you should not let them swim in dirty water in captivity. It needs to be cleaned at least once a week or you can install an amphibian-friendly water filtration system to decrease the amount of cleaning required.
Do frogs need an air filter?
It’s important to do regular water changes to maintain clean water and a healthy environment for your frogs. Frogs are very sensitive to water parameters and need good filtration and tank maintenance. I hope that you’ve found all this information helpful. I wish you and your froggies the very best!
Do clawed frogs need heater?
Heat. A heat source usually isn’t required for African clawed frogs, as they do well at room temperature. Use an aquarium thermometer to make sure the tank stays at around 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 27 degrees Celsius).
Are African clawed frogs fully aquatic?
African clawed frogs are fully aquatic and will rarely leave the water except to migrate to new water bodies during droughts or other disturbances. Clawed frogs have powerful legs that help them move quickly both underwater and on land.
Do tanks need a bubbler?
If the water is not circulating or oxygen is low in your aquarium, a bubbler may be just what you need! In many fish tanks, the benefits of a bubbler can be easily realized with equipment already in the fish tank. For example, you can point the filter at the surface.
What do African dwarf frogs need in their tank?
Your African Dwarf Frogs need several things in their tank, including lighting, substrate, water, filter, décor and heating.
Do African dwarf frogs need a heater?
Standard equipment for normal tropical tanks can be used with African dwarf frogs. They require a heater that will keep the aquarium at a steady 78 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as a thermometer to read the temperature.
How long do African clawed frogs live in captivity?
African Clawed Frog Reproduction and Life Cycles
The African Clawed Frog is known to have a long lifespan for small aquatic animals, and can live to around 5 to 15 years in the wild. Some adult African Clawed Frogs have been recorded to live to nearly 30 years old in captivity.
How often should you feed an African clawed frog?
Nutrition/Feeding
African clawed frogs have no teeth and no tongue. However, they are carnivorous frogs with a healthy appetite. Feed appropriately sized food such as earthworms, wax worms, small guppies, bloodworms and small crickets 3–4 times per week. Frog brittle is an alternative to live prey.
What do frogs need in their tank?
Generally, they require at least a 10 to 15-gallon aquarium or container. The ideal temperature for these frogs is between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but can drop to 72 degrees Fahrenheit at night, with humidity maintained around 60 to 80 percent. They should have a large bowl of water they can soak in.
How big do African clawed frogs get?
African clawed frogs range from 2 to over 5 inches in body length. The tadpoles are fairly transparent, tend to swim “upside down,” and can be distinguished by the presence of long, catfish-like barbels (whiskers).
Can I hold my African dwarf frog?
Handling Your Frog: Don’t. African Dwarf Frogs are “look at me! (but don’t touch me)” pets. They can be injured during handling and do not tolerate being out of water.!
Do African clawed frogs need a heater?
African clawed frogs do best with water temps between 68-77°F. Usually this is room temperature, but if you need help keeping the water sufficiently warm, use an aquarium heater like the Zoo Med TurtleTherm. Use an aquarium thermometer to make sure the water doesn’t get too warm or cool.
Why do African clawed frogs bloat?
The reason why your frog is so bloated is due to all the fluid that has built up inside its little body. This fluid may even have seemed to appear overnight and makes your frog very uncomfortable.
How long do African clawed frogs live in captivity?
African Clawed Frog Reproduction and Life Cycles
The African Clawed Frog is known to have a long lifespan for small aquatic animals, and can live to around 5 to 15 years in the wild. Some adult African Clawed Frogs have been recorded to live to nearly 30 years old in captivity.
What can live with African clawed frogs?
- Nerite Snail. Appearance: rounded spiral shell in a variety of colors and patterns, some have small horn-like spikes that grow on their shells. …
- Mystery Snail. …
- Fancy Guppy. …
- Platy. …
- Endler. …
- Neon Tetra. …
- Rummy Nose Tetra. …
- Black Skirt Tetra.
African Dwarf Frog Care Sheet
African dwarf frogs originated in the rivers and streams of central Africa. These fully aquatic amphibians live their entire life in the water. African dwarf frogs can be kept with docile community fish. They should not be housed with aggressive fish whom they will not compete well with. Their colors can range from olive green to brownish-green.
Keep in an appropriately sized aquarium with a secure lid to prevent escape and plenty of hiding places such as logs, stone caves or other decorations made for aquariums.
It is best to provide the largest habitat possible for your pet. African dwarf frogs should have a habitat size of 10 gallons or larger .
African dwarf frogs can be purchased at your local Petco . Call ahead for availability.
FAQs
What do African dwarf frogs eat? African dwarf frogs should be provided sinking, carnivorous freshwater fish food pellets or pellets specifically formulated and sized for African dwarf frogs. They can also be target-fed thawed, frozen bloodworms, blackworms or brine shrimp as well as freeze-dried tubifex worms.
African dwarf frogs should be provided sinking, carnivorous freshwater fish food pellets or pellets specifically formulated and sized for African dwarf frogs. They can also be target-fed thawed, frozen bloodworms, blackworms or brine shrimp as well as freeze-dried tubifex worms. How do I feed an African dwarf frog? Feed your African dwarf frog once per day according to package instructions. If feeding frozen food, be sure to thaw and rinse food in freshwater before target feeding. Allow your frog to eat as much as possible within 1-2 minutes and remove any uneaten food.
Feed your African dwarf frog once per day according to package instructions. If feeding frozen food, be sure to thaw and rinse food in freshwater before target feeding. Allow your frog to eat as much as possible within 1-2 minutes and remove any uneaten food. How often should I feed African dwarf frogs? African dwarf frogs should be fed once per day and allowed to eat as much as they desire within 1-2 minutes.
African dwarf frogs should be fed once per day and allowed to eat as much as they desire within 1-2 minutes. How long do African dwarf frogs live? On average, African dwarf frogs live 2-5 years with proper care.
On average, African dwarf frogs live 2-5 years with proper care. Do African dwarf frogs need land? No, they do not. Like other frogs, African dwarf frogs are amphibians, but unlike most amphibians, they spend their entire lives in water. They do not have gills and must come to the surface to breathe but spend most of their time underwater.
No, they do not. Like other frogs, African dwarf frogs are amphibians, but unlike most amphibians, they spend their entire lives in water. They do not have gills and must come to the surface to breathe but spend most of their time underwater. How long can African dwarf frogs hold their breath? African dwarf frogs can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes underwater but then must come to the surface to take a breath before submerging themselves again.
African dwarf frogs can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes underwater but then must come to the surface to take a breath before submerging themselves again. How do I care for African dwarf frogs? African dwarf frogs spend their entire lives in water and require specific water quality and temperature. Review Petco’s African Dwarf Frog Care Sheet or contact a knowledgeable Petco Care Center employee for specifics.
African dwarf frogs spend their entire lives in water and require specific water quality and temperature. Review Petco’s African Dwarf Frog Care Sheet or contact a knowledgeable Petco Care Center employee for specifics. Where can I buy African dwarf frogs? African dwarf frogs can be purchased at your local Petco. Contact your local store to check availability.
Additional care sheets
Notes and sources
Ask a Pet Care Center employee about Petco’s selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.
Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as mycobacteria and salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life and/or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of diseases.
Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing and/or caring for aquatic life and should consider having a pet other than aquatic life.
Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.
Note: The information on this Care Sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, contact your veterinarian.
How Long Can African Clawed Frogs Stay Underwater?
African clawed frogs are usually totally submerged. However, they occasionally have to rise to the top of the water to breathe — usually several times a day. It’s not at all uncommon for them to remain submerged for hours at a time without coming up; in fact, spending a lot of time near the surface can be a sign of illness. African clawed frogs mostly breathe via their sophisticated lungs. They rarely do so through cutaneous respiration, which involves breathing by way of the skin. When these frogs are in situations of minimal oxygen, they breathe by taking air in from the top of the water, courtesy of their lungs.
How to Set Up an African Dwarf Frog Tank
How to Set Up an African Dwarf Frog Tank
African dwarf frogs are very easy and inexpensive animals to keep. Compared to other exotic pets, our frogs’ needs are few and simple.
The things that African Dwarf Frogs need, however, they really need. Their essentials may be few, but they’ll die without them.
I hope that most people who read this site will not have purchased their frogs yet. They’ll therefore have the luxury of being able to take their time properly preparing their new pets’ habitat before they bring their frogs home. That’s really the best way to go about getting a pet.
Because I’m a realist, though, I’m also going to assume that a few of you will already have purchased your frogs, and that you’ll need to set up a tank for them in a hurry. ADFs are notoriously popular impulse purchases. They’re cute, funny, and inexpensive exotic pets, so a lot of people buy them without having made the proper preparations.
With these two assumptions in mind, I’m going to divide this page into three sections. I’ll start with the absolute essentials, move on to items that are very important but not strictly necessary, and end with items that are nice to have, but not very important.
I. The Essentials
As mentioned, ADFs require very little, but some things are musts. Here are the items that should be considered absolute essentials if you want to get into the African dwarf frog hobby.
1. A tank that’s big enough, but not too big.
Setting up an African dwarf frog tank starts with the aquarium tank itself. Not just any tank will do. You need to keep the unique needs of ADFs in mind when selecting a tank for their habitat.
ADFs are very unusual animals. They spend their entire lives underwater, but as adults they have lungs and need to breathe air. (ADF tadpoles have external gills, but they lose them and develop lungs when they grow up.) African dwarf frogs also like to spend most of their time on the bottom of whatever body of water they live in (including their tank when in captivity), but they have to surface frequently to breathe.
Another thing to remember is that even though they spend their whole lives in the water, African dwarf frogs are not strong swimmers. Coming up to breathe from a depth of more than about 12 inches (roughly 30 centimeters) can be quite a challenge for them. So when selecting a tank, the height is critical. I wouldn’t use a tank much higher than about 11 or 12 inches (28 to 30 cm) for ADFs. The tank can be as wide as you like. It just can’t be too high. Your frogs will drown and die if they can’t surface to breathe.
As far as the tank’s water capacity is concerned, one gallon (3.8 liters) of water per frog is the minimum that you’ll need to keep your African dwarf frogs healthy and happy. If you overcrowd the tank, it will be much more difficult to maintain good water quality. Overcrowding will also increase the frogs’ stress level to the point that it becomes harmful to them.
Most beginners use 10-gallon (38-liter) tanks for ADFs. That’s not a bad choice. The tank in this site’s video feed is a 10-gallon. A 10-gallon tank is large enough to house a small community of frogs, low enough in height that they won’t have a hard time coming up for air, and small enough to fit in most homes. Ten-gallon tanks and accessories are also pretty inexpensive as aquarium supplies go. You’ll also need an aquarium stand, a sturdy table, or some other sturdy piece of furniture to set your tank on.
You can also use a 20-gallon or 20-long tank (but not a 20-High or 20 Extra-High), especially if you’re using a substrate on the bottom. It’s the distance from the substrate to the surface that matters, not the height of the tank itself. Using a larger tank will make it easier to maintain the water quality. The higher the water amount per-frog, the easier it will be to maintain water quality.
Other oddball tank sizes are also okay as long as the water-per-frog ratio is at least one gallon and the tank isn’t too high. But it will be harder to find accessories like lids and stands for non-standard tank sizes. If you’re setting up a new tank, sticking with standard sizes will make your life easier in the long run.
2. A tank cover with no openings.
An aquarium cover is a must for an African dwarf frog habitat because they are frogs, after all, and they do like to jump. In nature this isn’t a problem because if they jump out of the water, they just fall back back into the water. But if they jump out of your tank and land anywhere except the water, they will die. African dwarf frogs are fully aquatic, which means that they must live in water. If they’re out of the water for more than 15 or 20 minutes, they will dehydrate and die.
Many aquarium covers have opening for filters, air lines, and wires that are big enough for our frogs to jump right through. Some come with covers for unused holes, but others don’t. If the one you buy has openings, but no covers for them, then you’ll have to make covers yourself. The picture on the right shows the covers I made for the holes in the tank cover that I’m using for the frog tank in this site’s video feed. I made the covers out of polyethylene closed-cell foam that I always save when it’s used for padding in packages that I receive, and some scraps of light diffuser material that I had left over from an above-tanking basking platform that I made for one of my turtle habitats.
My homemade covers aren’t the prettiest things in the world; but they fit snugly, help reduce evaporation, and most importantly, keep the frogs in the tank. The closed-cell polyethylene is easy to cut to custom-fit any opening, and it doesn’t crumble like Styrofoam does. I use it for a lot of aquatic habitat projects.
If polyethylene foam and light diffuser scraps don’t quite complement your decor, then you do have some other options. The easiest one would be to simply buy an aquarium hood that comes with covers. They’re out there. You just have to look for them.
You also can buy a glass aquarium cover if you want something fancier. Most of them have some sort of plastic on the rear side that can be cut to allow tubing and such through into the tank, so the only holes in it will be the ones that you make. If you’re careful, you can cut the openings that you need so that there’s no extra space for the frogs to jump through. Combined with an LED aquarium light that fits over the top of the tank, glass tank covers can also be very attractive.
Another option is to use a screen-type tank cover like the ones we use to cover reptile tanks. The disadvantage (aside from their being kind of ugly) is that the water will evaporate more quickly. They also tend to rust over time.
3. Hiding places.
African dwarf frogs are prey animals, which means that in nature, they’ll get eaten if they’re not careful about hiding themselves. Knowing how to hide and having places to do it are matters of life and death for African dwarf frogs in the wild, and that need remains part of their behavior even when they live in a fish tank where there are no other animals looking to eat them.
If you don’t give your ADFs someplace to hide, they’ll be so stressed-out that they may actually die from anxiety. The need hiding places. It doesn’t matter if the hiding spaces are fancy or not. The frogs don’t care about that. They just need hiding places so they feel secure.
Many aquarium decorations make excellent hiding places for ADFs, but I just used an unpainted clay flowerpot for this habitat. It cost less than a dollar at my local hardware store. The frogs like it just fine. Just don’t use painted or glazed pottery. Some pottery finishes can leach out into the water and poison the creatures living in the tank. If you want something a bit fancier and more natural-looking, consider the LUFFY Natural Coco Hut. It’s a perfect size and design for an African dwarf frog hiding place.
Live plants or soft, silk artificial plants are also good hiding places for African dwarf frogs.
4. Light.
African dwarf frogs need regular periods of light and dark to maintain their circadian rhythms, but you don’t need expensive UVB or basking lights like the ones reptiles need. Pretty much any standard aquarium light will do.
I use LED aquarium lights because they they’re inexpensive, they last pretty much forever (I’ve never had to replace one), and they use almost no electricity.
You may want to use plant lights, however, if you have live plants in the tank. Most “beginner” aquarium plants do well enough on LED light that you don’t need special lighting, but some exotic (and expensive) aquarium plants do need special lights. If you consider the plants and aquascaping to be part of your hobby, then you’ll probably want to use plant lights.
In my case, the plants I use are very hardy and are in there mainly to help keep the water clean and to give the frogs hiding places, so I don’t bother with special plant lights. But if you want to make the plants part of your hobby, then you probably should.
5. An aquarium heater
An aquarium heater is almost always necessary. The exception would be if you always keep the room where the frog tank is located at a temperature of about 80 F (26.7 C) or higher. The frogs need a water temperature of no less than 75 F (23.9 C), and they prefer closer to 78 F (25.6 C). In order to maintain those water temperatures based on room temperature, you’d need to keep the room at about 80 F (26.7 C) or warmer, which almost no one does. Unless you’re one of those rare exceptions, you need an aquarium heater for your African dwarf frog habitat.
Most aquarium heaters are submersible, which means they’re installed inside the tank, in the water. These type of heaters must remain fully submerged in the water or else they will burn out. There are also in-line external heaters that attach to the outflow side of a canister filter or an aquarium pump, outside of the tank, and heat the water as it passes through. They’re good if you want to free up space inside the tank or if it’s heavily planted. Dense plantings reduce the efficiency of submersible heaters by interfering with water circulation inside the tank.
6. Aquarium water test supplies
Unless you plan on doing water changes every single day, you’ll need either a freshwater aquarium water test kit or aquarium water test strips.
Many of the toxins in aquarium water are not visible to the human eye nor smellable by the human nose until they have reached levels that are toxic to our frogs.
Without some way to test the water chemistry, you’ll have to do partial water changes every day. The water won’t necessarily need to be changed every day, but you’ll have no way of knowing whether or not it needs to be changed without a test kit or test strips.
Aquarium water test kits produce more accurate results and are less-expensive than test strips in the long run. Test strips, on the other hand, are easier to use and provide readings that are accurate enough for all practical purposes.
7. Aquarium water starter additives (sometimes)
If you already have your frogs and you need to get your tank set up today, then you’re going to need at least one, and maybe two startup additives to jump-start the cycling process and remove harmful chlorine and chloramine from the water if your tap water contains them.
If you’re using well water or spring water that you know for a fact has no chlorine or chloramines in it, then all you need for a rushed tank setup is a starter bacteria additive. My personal favorite for small aquatic habitats is Tetra SafeStart. API Quick Start is also very good.
If you also have to remove chlorine or chloramine, then you’ll also need to use a dechlorinator like Tetra AquaSafe PLUS Water Treatment, API Tap Water Conditioner, or Seachem Prime. Unless your water comes from your own well or spring, then it almost certainly contains chlorine and possibly contains chloramine. Chlorine will evaporate in about 48 hours if you do nothing to the tank other than let it sit, but chloramine will not. If in doubt, use a dechlorinator.
Please note that using any of these products to rush the cycling process doesn’t immediately make the water perfect. Very few (if any) startup additives contain the Nitrospira bacteria that do the heavy work or converting the nitrites to nitrates. Most startup additives do contain Nitrobacter bacteria, which also do that work, but not as efficiently as Nitrospira do.
Building a healthy colony of Nitrospira will still take time and can’t be rushed. Using a starter additive will, however, lessen the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate spikes while the tank and filter are cycling and the Nitrospira colony is growing. It’s important to test the water chemistry frequently during this process.
II. Important, but Not Strictly Necessary Equipment
These items are very desirable things to have when keeping African dwarf frogs, but they’re not absolutely necessary.
1. An aquarium filter
Aquarium filters don’t just filter particles out of the water. The filter in a properly-cycled aquatic habitat is where the friendly bacteria colonies live.
The bacteria in the filter tirelessly work to digest the waste the creatures in your tank produce and convert it to less-toxic compounds. This process is called biological filtration, and it’s the most important thing that the filter does.
If you don’t use a filter, then you will be doing water changes much more often because there will be little or no biological filtration happening, and the ammonia and nitrite levels will rise very quickly.
If you do use a filter, on the other hand, the need for water changes will be much less frequent once your tank has cycled. You’ll mainly need to do water changes when the nitrate levels get too high. The friendly bacteria in the filter take care of the ammonia and nitrites in a well-cycled tank.
I talk more about frog tank filtration here. But just in case you’re ready to run out to the pet store and buy a filter right now, I do want to mention that I’m a strong believer in external canister filters for African dwarf frog habitats. The reason is that ADFs sense vibrations and sounds through “lateral lines” on their bodies, and the vibrations produced by internal filters or hang-on-back filters can stress them out. They’re deafeningly loud inside the tank.
Whatever filter you choose, make sure that the inlet slots or holes are small enough that your frogs’ legs won’t get sucked into them and trap the frog at the filter inlet. If you’re at all in doubt, install an intake sponge over the intake. The sponge will also help biological filtration somewhat and will reduce the need for changing the canister filter media by trapping some of the bigger detritus.
You should also use some sort of noise-absorbing padding under your filter, and preferably place it someplace other than on the tank stand. The best vibration-deadening I’ve come up with is to place the filter on a base of Styrofoam wrapped in Reflectix, which is basically metallized bubble wrap. I just wrap the Styrofoam with Reflectix to form a pad, and set the filter on top of the pad. It works pretty well.
2. Aeration
Frogs have lungs and breathe air from above the water, so they don’t absolutely need aeration in the tank. A standard aquarium air pump and an air stone will help make your frogs healthier and happier, though. There are two reasons for this.
The first reason is that most of the “good” bacteria in an aquatic habitat are aerobic, which means that they thrive in an oxygen-rich environment. The “bad” bacteria, on the other hand, are mainly anaerobic, which means that they prefer an oxygen-poor environment. Aerating your tank helps encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria and discourage the growth of anaerobic bacteria.
The second reason I like aerating ADF tanks is because the frogs seem to enjoy playing in the bubbles. I guess it makes life less boring for them.
One thing that’s important to remember is that ADFs are very sensitive to noise and vibration. I know keepers who will not aerate their tanks for that reason: They think the sound of the bubbles will bother the frogs. What I’ve found, however, is that the bubbles don’t bother the frogs at all. It’s the hum of the air pump that bothers them. Isolating the air pump by hanging it from a nail in the wall so that no part of it touches the wall (or the tank) solves that problem.
Please note that if your tank also has fish, aquatic crustaceans like ghost shrimp or red cherry shrimp, or other animals who breathe through gills, then it must have aeration. Animals who breathe with gills will suffocate and die if the tank is not aerated.
3. Floating plants
Even if you don’t plan on using rooted plants, I suggest that you put a few hornwort plants in your tank. They don’t need to be rooted or anchored (although they can be). You can just leave them floating. They absorb ammonia and especially nitrates, which will help keep your tank water clean and reduce the need for water changes. Hornwort also grows without any special care and doesn’t need special lights. It’s basically a beneficial weed. I use it in all my freshwater aquatic habitats.
III. Nice to Have
1. A substrate
A substrate is just something to cover the glass on the bottom of the tank. The most common and least-expensive substrate is aquarium gravel. If you use a color like bright yellow or red that contrasts with the color of the frogs, it can be very visually attractive. If you plan on planting rooted plants in your habitat, however, then the only substrate I recommend is Flourite. In my opinion, it’s the absolute best substrate for rooted aquarium plants.
If you do choose to use Flourite, make sure to rinse it thoroughly before installing it in the tank. Just pour it in a big bucket and rinse it out with a garden hose, stirring it up and letting it run over until you’ve rinsed out as much of the dust as possible. Even then, it will still make your water look like mud if you’re not careful when you add the water. I usually lay a plastic trash bag over the Flourite before adding the water, and then remove it very slowly and carefully once the tank is filled. That helps quite a bit.
If you do use a substrate, it will mean you need to be careful to vacuum it so little bits of uneaten food and other detritus don’t start rotting in the substrate and fouling the tank water. An ordinary aquarium vacuum cleaner makes this an easy chore.
2. Rooted plants
I talk more about plants for your African dwarf frog tank here. For now, I just want to mention that having live, rooted plants in your habitat helps maintain the water quality and gives the frogs more places to hide so they feel secure. You can use pretty much any freshwater aquarium plants in a frog habitat, but one of my favorites for an ADF habitat is the Java fern. It’s inexpensive, easy to care for, and the frogs like to hide in it. You can also tie hornwort plants to a rock or a suction cup and anchor them on the bottom of the tank, with or without a substrate. They’re actually floating plants, so the stems will float up toward the top when they’re anchored.
3. An aquarium night light
This is really more for the keeper’s benefit than the frogs’. A night light will enable you to watch your frogs at night. I use a blue LED aquarium night light. Other keepers prefer red. The frogs don’t seem to care one way or the other.
4. Sound and vibration dampening.
Frogs are very sensitive to vibrations, so a layer of something between the tank and the stand to dampen vibrations from people walking in the room, the hum of electrical equipment, and so forth is a nice touch. I happen to use Reflectix, which is metallized bubble wrap. It works pretty well. Styrofoam, carpet padding, or carpet remnants also work.
African Clawed Frog Care Sheet & Pet Guide
Hobbyists have been keeping African Clawed Frogs for years. They’re one of the most popular frogs because they’re easy to care for. Moreover, they’re one of the few fully aquatic frog species.
A small to average-sized aquarium suits one or two ACFs (African Clawed Frogs) just fine. And, with a little help from this care sheet, you’ll be confident in knowing how to properly care for one yourself.
Before we jump into the meat and potatoes of the guide, I want to give you a warning. African clawed frogs can live up to 30 years or more. They are incredibly hardy. Please consider your level of investment before buying one at your local pet store.
African Clawed Frog Tank Setup
Because this species is aquatic, an aquarium is the best option for housing them. You can go as big as you like but a 10-gallon tank is considered the minimum for one African clawed frog.
As I mentioned above, they eat almost anything. They use their claws to shred organic matter such as dead fish and even tadpoles. They are currently the only amphibians known for doing this.
I recommend fitting the aquarium with a screen lid as well. This species, while still in the water, are known to propel themselves out of tanks without lids. Here is a quick overview of the items you will need for their enclosure:
10-gallon tank or bigger
Hiding places (using live or artificial decorations)
Screen lid
Medium gravel substrate
Filtration system *Optional
Place medium-sized gravel on the bottom of their tank and fill it with at least 12 inches of clean, dechlorinated water (see the water quality section below for more information), and decorate using live or artificial plants.
Providing a hiding place for your African-clawed frog is a must. They like the safety of hiding among plants, in hollowed-out logs and decorations, etc.
An example of how to set up a tank for an African clawed frog.
While African clawed frogs survive in stagnant water in the wild, you should not let them swim in dirty water in captivity. It needs to be cleaned at least once a week or you can install an amphibian-friendly water filtration system to decrease the amount of cleaning required.
Lighting
One of the best qualities in caring for this type of frog is you do not need special lighting. While some frog species require UVB and basking lamps, the African-clawed frog survives just fine without them.
Now, having said that, if you want to provide light for them, you can. Many keepers use a hood light above the tank in order to see them better. You would be wise to give them a normal light cycle though. Try to provide them with 12 hours of dark and 12 hours of light.
Temperature
This is yet another admirable quality for African clawed frogs; They do well at room temperature. So long as the heat stays between 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit, your little aquatic frog will be happy and healthy.
Substrate
A substrate of medium or large-sized gravel is generally what you see on the bottom of most African clawed frog’s tanks. Using small gravel or pebbles is frowned upon because this species can accidentally consume it while eating. Pebbles, once inside your frog, will remain in their stomach and will not be digested.
The build-up of rocks and pebbles inside your pet will result in serious injury and even death! Because of this, many keepers opt for using gravel that is too big for your frog to consume.
Water Quality
The most important part of your frog’s habitat is clean, dechlorinated water suitable for amphibians. You must remove chlorine & other harmful toxins from the water before placing your frog into it! Here are two methods for removing chlorine from normal tap water:
Use a dechlorination agent
Let the water sit for 24 hours
Among the items listed above, the fastest way is to use a dechlorination agent. These water conditioning agents are cheap and readily available online or at your local pet store. It’s probably the most utilized method because they remove both chlorine and chloramine.
Another option is to fill the aquarium with tap water and let it sit for 24 hours. The chlorine will evaporate out, leaving you with dechlorinated water. However, this option might not be safe depending on the water in your local area.
Some jurisdictions add chloramine to drinking water which is harmful to amphibians; letting the water sit for 24 hours will not remove chloramine. I suggest calling your city to find out what they add to their water supply.
Using bottled water* The final option is to buy bottled water. Salts and minerals are usually added after the water has been treated, making it a great option for frogs. This is generally considered a safe method and is common practice among amphibian keepers.
African Clawed Frog Diet
Feeding your African clawed frog is one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning one. Once tamed, they have been known to take food directly from their keeper’s hands! The occasional nibble on your finger is common practice but fear not, it won’t hurt because this species doesn’t have teeth (or a tongue, actually).
A picture of an albino African clawed frog eating from its owner’s hand.
You have plenty of options when feeding your pet. Aquatic frog & tadpole pellets are readily available at your local pet store. You can also feed them waxworms, minnows and other feeder fish, bloodworms, and earthworms.
They’ve even been known to eat dog and cat food as well. Nearly any kind of organic food material, dead or alive, floating near your African clawed frog will be consumed.
Aquatic frog pellets
Waxworms, bloodworms, and earthworms
Feeder Fish
Whatever you choose, remember that a balanced diet is best. Feed them a variety of food and they will remain healthy.
How much you feed them largely depends on their age and size. I suggest only feeding them what they will eat in roughly 30 minutes and feeding them daily. Overeating is less of a problem than undereating; When they are full, in most cases, they will simply stop eating.
Pay attention to your frog’s size, though, and feed them accordingly. If they’re a little overweight, try feeding them once every other day. If they’re skinny and don’t look healthy, you should feed them more often and consider giving them supplements.
Reproduction
In the wild African clawed frogs lay eggs during the rainy season; from late winter into the springtime. In captivity, however, they often reproduce spontaneously. This isn’t always the case. Should you decide to breed your frogs, I’ve compiled a few tips to help you get started.
Sexing
Before we dive into it, perhaps it’s best to start with “sexing”. Female African clawed frogs are bigger than males by roughly 20%. They are also described as being more “plump” with chubby legs.
A small bump can be seen between their legs where eggs are passed (this is called the “Cloaca”). Males are smaller, sporting slim legs and a nuptial pad on their forearms which is black in coloration after reaching maturity.
Breeding
Now that we’ve established the differences in males and females, I’ll list a few tips for breeding African clawed frogs. Simulating a spring-time rainstorm is a sure-fire way to help your frogs reproduce.
In order to simulate spring rain, most keepers will lower the temperature of the water to 65 – 68 degrees Fahrenheit and allow the water level to drop a few inches. These conditions are held for 30 – 45 days.
Meanwhile, clean their enclosure by doing partial water changes. After 4 – 6 weeks, increase the water temperature to 75 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit and increase the water level back to normal.
This will simulate a spring-time flood and should induce reproduction. I suggest doing this before nighttime. After you increase the temperature and water level, shut the lights off and leave them alone. Darkness gives them a sense of security which is always an added benefit.
Fertilized Eggs
Once the mood is right, so to speak, the male frog will call out to the female. The sound is best described as a cricket underwater. Sometimes this call is also accompanied by a dance. In return, the female will respond with a clicking noise. The male, using his arms, will grasp just above the female’s rear legs (this is known as “Inguinal Amplexus”) and essentially squeeze her.
The eggs will pass through the female’s cloaca and the male fertilizes them outside of the body. A female can lay hundreds of eggs and the entire process can last from two hours to two days.
Once mating is finished, you should remove the eggs from the frog’s tank. African clawed frogs, when hungry, have been known to eat their own eggs. Place them in a separate tank with clean water at a temperature of 80 – 82 degrees. These eggs will hatch in 48 – 96 hours.
Tadpoles
Raising ACF tadpoles is interesting. As with all larva, they’re especially vulnerable to their surroundings. Do your best to keep the water temperature between 80 – 82 degrees and clean.
Before metamorphosis, almost all tadpoles, regardless of species, feed primarily on plant matter. There are two reasons for this. One, that food source is the most abundant. Two, their gut is long and favors a plant-based diet.
Also, their bodies are in eating mode. The part of their brain that signals when to stop eating, doesn’t. They just keep eating. Researchers believe the reason for this is that a tadpole’s chance of survival depends on its ability to store enough energy to begin metamorphosis. Put simply, they want to reach metamorphosis as fast as possible.
So, until metamorphosis, feeding tadpoles a plant-based diet is recommended.
Boiled baby spinach
Algae wafers
Commerical tadpole pellets
Some hobbyists have reported positive feedback by adding bloodworms to their diet as well. I haven’t tried this yet.
I’ve had the most success using boiled baby spinach leaves mixed with tadpole pellets.
Feed them two to three times per day and perform partial water changes as needed. You should keep the water clean. One way to help the water clean is by removing left over food a few hours after each feeding.
Handling Your African Clawed Frog
You’ve probably guessed by now, seeing as these are aquatic frogs, that handling an African clawed frog is not something you should make a common practice of.
If you’ve decided not to use a water filtering system, you’ll need to clean their tank at least once a week, and transferring them to a safe location is okay. Be mindful not to stress them and avoid handling them as much as possible.
Once tamed, however, these frogs have been known to eat food from their keeper’s hands. This can be an enjoyable aspect instead of handling.
African Clawed Frogs In the Wild
African Dwarf Frog Care Guide & Tank Set Up For Beginners
African Dwarf Frogs (Hymenochirus boettgeri), are wicked cool little critters that’ll provide many hours of entertainment.
With no real natural defense, setting up your tank, and providing the care right for African Dwarf Frogs (ADF) is important.
In this guide, I’ll share with you how to set up your aquarium and provide the optimal conditions so your ADFs live a happy and healthy life.
But don’t worry, african dwarf frog care is not hard.
African Dwarf Frog Quick Stats
Min. Tank size : 5 gallons (19 liters)
: 5 gallons (19 liters) Temperature : 68°-82°F (20°-28°C)
: 68°-82°F (20°-28°C) Care level : medium
: medium Diet : carnivore
: carnivore Temperament : peaceful
: peaceful How many can be kept together : 1 per 5 gallons
: 1 per 5 gallons Size: 3 inches (7.5 centimeters)
Scientific Classifications:
Kingdom: Animalia
Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Chordata Class: Amphibia
Amphibia Order: Anura
Anura Family: Pipidae
Pipidae Genus: Hymenochirus, Boulenger, 1896
African Dwarf Frog Appearance
It’s important to pay attention to what an African dwarf frog looks like so that you don’t accidentally buy the wrong species.
Sometimes, African clawed frogs, which are a very different species, are sold under the name African dwarf frogs.
The problem is, African clawed frogs grow much, much larger than African dwarf frogs. If you put the two species in the same tank, eventually the clawed frogs will grow large enough to swallow the dwarf frogs whole.
So, double check that you’re bringing home the right species from the pet store.
Look for these features to make sure you’re getting an ADF:
Four webbed feet (clawed frogs don’t have webbing on their front feet)
Eyes on the sides of their heads (clawed frogs have eyes on top of their heads)
Pointed snout (clawed frogs have curved flat snouts)
Where Do African Dwarf Frogs Come From?
African dwarf frogs are native to equatorial Africa. They live in shallow streams, creeks and ponds during the dry season.
They spread out along the flooded forest floor when the rainy season comes.
ADF spend most of their time along the bottom of the waterway where their color acts as camouflage against the muddy and leaf strewn substrate.
This species eats worms, insect larvae and small invertebrates.
Pretty much, they’ll eat any other little creature they come across that’s small enough for them to gulp down whole. Not what you would call a discerning eater.
Tank Size For African Dwarf Frogs
Luckily, African dwarf frogs (ADF) don’t get very large, so you don’t have to make a huge investment or add on another wing to the house in order to keep them.
I would recommend that you use at least a 5 gallon (19 liter) tank if you plan to keep a single frog. And then add on another 5 gallons for each additional frog.
So you’d need 10 gallons (39 liters) for 2 frogs, 15 gallons (57 liters) for 3 frogs, and so on.
ADF are very social animals that love to hang out with their buddies. I would recommend going with a larger tank, at least a 15 gallon (57 liter), so that you can keep a group of three or four frogs.
Pro Tip: African dwarf frogs need to be able to swim to the surface of the water so they can take a breath. It’s generally recommended that their tank be no more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) deep to ensure they can easily breach the surface to breathe.
Water Parameters for African Dwarf Frogs
Luckily, ADF are tank raised and can adapt to a wide variety of water parameters. They prefer soft to moderately hard water. These frogs are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, so they will do best in an established and well cycled aquarium with a filter.
Temperature : 68°-82°F (20°-28°C)
: 68°-82°F (20°-28°C) Ammonia/Nitrite : 0
: 0 Nitrate : <20 ppm : <20 ppm pH : 6.5-7.5 : 6.5-7.5 GH : 5-20 : 5-20 KH: 4-15 How to Set Up Your African Dwarf Frog Tank When it comes to african dwarf frog care, getting your tank set up properly will make your life much easier in the long run. Pro Tip: ADF are completely aquatic and DO NOT need an “island” in their tank to crawl out of the water. Lighting ADF are most comfortable with dim lighting. So, no need to spend the big bucks on an ultra bright LED or anything. And ADF do not bask in sunlight like reptiles do. There’s no need to provide a UV bulb for this species. If your tank is already brightly lit, make sure to provide a few heavily shaded areas so the frogs have somewhere to retreat to if they feel shy. Filtration Filtration is a crucial part of any African dwarf frog aquarium. Filters don’t just move water around. Fish and frogs produce urine and feces that goes into the water of the aquarium. As this waste begins to rot, it puts off deadly ammonia (NH 3 ). Without a filter, that waste would just build and build until the water basically became toxic soup that killed any fish and/or frogs swimming in it. The Nitrogen Cycle Fortunately, adding a filter can keep your tank from becoming a death box where hapless aquatic animals go to die. Normally we think of bacteria as being a bad thing, but when it comes to aquarium filters, bacteria are your best friends. There are several species of beneficial bacteria that live in aquarium filters. One kind eats the ammonia produced when fish waste breaks down and turns it into something called nitrite (NO 2 -1). Nitrite is also really toxic, but luckily, there is another kind of bacteria that almost instantly eats the nitrite in the water and turns it into nitrate (NO 3 -). Nitrate is much less toxic and can be allowed to build up in the water column in between water changes. But you see, without a filter, there is not enough room for beneficial bacteria to set up shop and process fish waste for you. They need biomedia (special filter media designed specifically for beneficial bacteria to grow on) so that there is enough surface area for the millions and millions of bacteria you need to transform wastes. Pro Tip: The bacteria you need to process fish waste for you don’t show up instantly. Read more information about the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle. Water Flow African dwarf frogs are not the strongest swimmers. So they do best with a low flow filter. My number one recommendation would be to use a sponge filter. They provide excellent mechanical and biological filtration without the risk of frogs getting sucked into a power filter. If you are using something like a hang-on-the-back filter, you can baffle the flow meaning you can put something in the way to break up the flow. Heater African dwarf frogs come from a very warm climate. You absolutely should add a heater to their tank. Keeping your frogs at a warmer temperature will help make your frogs more active and lively. It’s best to provide consistent temperature between 68°-80°F (20°-27°C). Substrate There is a ton of debate about what kind of substrate you should keep in an ADF tank. Some people think that if you use sand, the frogs will accidentally swallow sand when they eat and then the sand will get impacted in their intestines, killing them. They argue that they keep ADF on gravel with no problems and that’s the best substrate to use. Then there are people who argue the exact opposite, that sand is better and that frogs will swallow pieces of gravel, get impacted and die. Frankly, I haven’t seen any actual evidence one way or the other when I looked into it. Lots of people keep ADF on gravel with no problem and there’s tons of people who keep them on sand as well. So go with whichever you prefer. I do recommend that you go with an inert substrate that won’t affect your water parameters. Related Post: Best Substrate For African Dwarf Frogs Reviewed Plants and Decor ADF are not the smartest or the most coordinated creatures in the world. It’s best to use plants and decor that they can’t hurt themselves on. Don’t use anything with sharp edges or rough surfaces. That way, when frogs clumsily swim past the decor, they don’t scrape their delicate skin. African dwarf frogs do get shy sometimes, so it’s a good idea to provide them with a few hiding places. Live and/or silk plants will be greatly appreciated. This kind of cover makes ADF feel safe from predators. Feeding African Dwarf Frogs How to Feed ADF Getting ADF to eat, especially when you first get them, can be a bit of a challenge. Let’s just be honest, African dwarf frogs are not the smartest of creatures, but we forgive them because they are so damn adorable. Is this shallow… maybe? But, we enjoy the frogs, so let’s just not ask too many questions about our priorities. Seriously though, it can be hard to get ADF to find their food at first. Definitely, the number one tip that’s given by experienced frog owners is to set up a feeding station. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a small dish or plate. If you place the food in the same place every day, the frogs will learn to go to that spot to find food. It’s also helpful to add food at the same time each day so the froggies can get used to the routine. I’ve also seen it recommended to tap on the glass a few times to provide a signal that the frogs will learn means it’s dinnertime. What to Food To Feed Your ADF In the wild, these frogs are tiny predators that mostly subsist on insects and their larvae. So it’s best to provide them with meaty foods: Frozen bloodworms Frozen brine shrimp Frozen mysis shrimp Frog and tadpole pellets It can be challenging to get ADF to accept pellets because they may not recognize them as food at first. Usually, they’ll adjust after repeated attempts, but if not, try offering them frozen foods like bloodworms and mysis shrimp. How Often and How Much to Feed ADF There’s some debate about how often to feed African dwarf frogs. Some feed their frogs a little bit each day. Others feed their frog until they’re full every other day or three days a week. You’ll have to go through a period of trial and error to see what’s going to work best for you and your frogs. It’s important to watch your frogs and make sure that they’re not getting too chubby. If so, decrease the amount of food or switch to every other day. It’s generally recommended that you feed your frogs as much as they can eat in 10-20 minutes. They can be little piggies, so don’t let them stuff their faces too much. Pro Tip: Don’t let uneaten food sit in the tank. Remove it with a gravel vacuum so that it doesn’t start to rot in the tank, fouling your water with extra ammonia. Related Post: Best Food For African Dwarf Frogs Reviewed African Dwarf Frog Tank Mates African dwarf frogs are pretty small and don’t have any kind of natural defenses other than hiding. So they really cannot handle any kind of aggression from tank mates. They will just get injured and stressed until they die. Your best bet for adding tank mates are snails and small, peaceful community fish: Nerite snails Mystery snails Neon tetras Cardinal tetras Corydoras catfish Chili rasboras Harlequin rasboras Rummy nose tetra Black skirt tetra I don’t recommend mixing cherry shrimp with ADF. Adult female cherry shrimp might be OK but younger shrimp might end up being a tasty treat for the frogs. Bigger species of shrimp, like glass shrimp or Amanos, should be big enough to not look like food. Related Post: Best African Dwarf Frog Tank Mates Breeding African Dwarf Frogs Spawning Breeding African dwarf frogs is easy. It’s raising the tadpoles that’s the real challenge. You will need a seperate tank to raise the tadpoles. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A 10 gallon (39 liter) with a heater and an air-driven sponge filter will be just fine. To stimulate the frogs to begin spawning, it’s best to simulate a drought and flood cycle. Lower the water level by about half in their tank for around two weeks. Then, add in dechlorinated water that’s around 5 degrees colder than the tank water. The tank heater should then be allowed to gradually turn the temperature up to 80°F (27°C). This should spark a romantic mood in the tank. Before the whirlwind froggy romance occurs, males will often go to the water’s surface and “sing” or “hum.” Hey, ya know, sometimes you gotta go out of your way to impress the ladies. When the magic moment arrives, the male will grasp onto the female around the “waist,” just in front of her hind legs. He’ll stay latched on like this for the entire mating process. The female will swim to the top of the tank, towing the male along the way, so she can release eggs at the water’s surface. The male will release sperm into the water to fertilize the eggs. Raising Eggs Collect the eggs from the surface of the water. The ones that sink to the bottom usually don’t hatch. The eggs are really sticky so you may want to collect them with something you can place under the water in the other tank, like a glass jar. Keep the water in your tadpole tank around 80°F (27°C). It’s best to just keep a bare bottom tank and there’s really not a need for decor. The single most important thing is to keep the water as clean as possible. The tiny tadpoles are very sensitive to poor water conditions. Frequent water changes will get rid of wastes and maintain a healthy environment. The eggs will hatch after 2-7 days and be free swimming 5 days after that. It’s best to feed them commercially prepared fry food designed for baby fish. When they grow large enough, they can start to eat things like frozen daphnia and baby brine shrimp. Related: How To Care For African Dwarf Frog Eggs Are African Dwarf Frogs Right for You? There’s no denying that ADF are super cool little critters that will provide many hours of entertainment. I would recommend that you keep them in at least a 15 gallon (57 liter) tank so that you can keep a group. They’ll be so much happier if they have buddies. On the flipside, it’s also really important that you don’t put them in a tank that’s too big. The frogs might struggle to make it to the surface to breathe in something like a 55 gallon (208 liter). These little guys are very vulnerable physically. They don’t really have any natural defenses other than hiding. So don’t put them together with large or aggressive tank mates. It’s important to do regular water changes to maintain clean water and a healthy environment for your frogs. Frogs are very sensitive to water parameters and need good filtration and tank maintenance. I hope that you’ve found all this information helpful. I wish you and your froggies the very best!
African Clawed Frog Care 101: Foolproof Guide For Beginners – Acuario Pets
African clawed frog is one of the best options for beginners who want an easy-to-care pet. But, before buying an African clawed frog, you should get clear ideas about their requirements and needs. Hence, if you are a beginner, you may be badly in need of a foolproof guide of African clawed frog care.
If so, then this article is for you. After researching a while, I have summed up detailed information about the habitat set up, feeding guide, handling, reproduction, and care guide of several sectors.
Thus, I urge you to go through this article to achieve a crystal clear concept of African clawed frog care.
African Clawed Frog Overview
If you have decided to keep an African clawed frog as a pet, you should have checked its overview in short. It will help you understand whether keeping African clawed frogs as pets will be worthy or not. Let’s check the following table.
Scientific Name Xenopus laevis Common Name African clawed frog Required Temperature 68-78 degrees Fahrenheit Required pH 7.0-7.8 Diet Omnivores Temperament Highly aggressive Care Level Easy-going Lifespan Up to 15 years
African Clawed Frog Habitat Setup
The very first thing that you need to take care of is to set up African clawed habitat properly. In the wild, these frogs can survive in varieties types of places including wetland, alpine, desert, and so on. Usually, you can find them in creeks, ponds, shallow rivers, etc.
So, when you keep an African clawed frog as a pet, you should mimic the natural environment of habitation in captivity.
Let’s see what you will need for the habitat setup of an African clawed frog.
A tank of the right size
Screen lid
Hideouts
Substrate
Heater
Air pump
Filtration
Rocks
Woods, branches, logs, etc.
Live or artificial plants
Tank
Firstly, you need to choose a tank of the right size.
The minimum requirement for an African clawed frog is a tank of 10 gallons capacity. On the other hand, if you keep more than one frog or different species of tank mates, you will need to buy a tank of 20 gallons. Make sure that the height of the tank must not be higher than 12-15 inches.
As African clawed frogs are fully aquatic, these frogs do not require land area. But, they often reach the water surface to breathe oxygen.
So, the water level must be suitable for African clawed frogs so that they can easily reach the surface. However, the experienced owners suggest keeping the water level about 12 inches deep.
If you are looking for a suitable tank for your African clawed frogs, you can check out the tetra aquarium tank.
Tank Cover: Do African Clawed Frogs Need a Lid?
You must have already known that African clawed frogs can not survive without water. So, if these frogs go out of water in any situation, they will die. Besides, there are possibilities of injury because of jumping over the floor.
On the other hand, African clawed frogs are great jumpers. So, these frogs tend to jump out of the water pretty often when there is no tank cover. To avoid accidents, African clawed frogs need a lid over the tank.
You can buy a glass aquarium cover, screen-type tank cover, aquarium hood, and so on. Make sure that the lid becomes fits over the tank. Otherwise, you should buy such a tank that has a cover with it.
Lighting
You might have noticed that the experienced owners recommend keeping UV lighting for pet frogs. On the other hand, basking light is a must for several pets like bearded dragons. So, this is pretty normal to worry about adjusting special lights for African clawed frogs.
As African clawed frogs are nocturnal animals, they need normal aquarium lights. It will help these frogs maintain a cycle of 12 hours of the day and 12 hours of the night.
Otherwise, African clawed frogs do not need any special lighting. Such as basking lamps, UVB lamps, heat lamps, etc.
So, African clawed frogs do not have any special requirements for lighting. These pets are exceptions in this case.
Temperature: What Temperature Do African Clawed Frogs Like?
Generally, African clawed frogs do pretty well at room temperature. As these frogs are entirely aquatic, they depend on the warmth of the water. So, the required temperature for African clawed frogs is around 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. But, these frogs can thrive well in temperatures between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Aeration: Do African Clawed Frogs Need An Air Pump?
Usually, African clawed frogs breathe oxygen from the top of the water through their lungs. These frogs come to the water surface to breathe in every 15 minutes. Hence, these frogs do not require any aeration system.
Besides, African dwarf frogs may struggle to handle the turbulence of the air pump. It can lead to an accident causing your pet frogs to jump out of the tank.
So, if you feel the need for an air pump for your African clawed frogs, you can keep a low-powered air pump. A standard air pump will keep your pet frogs happy too.
Aquarium Heater: Do African Clawed Frogs Need A Heater?
The heater is not an essential item for the habitat set up of African clawed frogs. The water temperature of the African-clawed frog tank must not be lower than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, if the tank water has to be at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit warmer, the room temperature should be around 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thus, African clawed frogs can survive at room temperature if the water temperature remains within the ideal range. But, if you live in a cold country, you should attach an aquarium heater to keep the tank water warm.
Do not forget to keep an aquarium thermometer to maintain the ideal temperature of the water between 18-24 degrees Celsius (65-75 degrees Fahrenheit).
Substrate
An essential item of the African-clawed frog habitat is the substrate. Substrate covers the floor of the tank and helps the plants grow.
While choosing a substrate, you should ensure that the substrate does not change the quality of the water. Also, the substrate must be undegradable.
For African clawed frogs, you can choose sands, gravels, baked clay, etc. When you choose gravel as substrate, pick the larger sizes and weight of gravels. Consequently, your pet frog will not be able to digest those larger particles.
Besides, you should not worry even if your frog eats up sand. The sand particles are too small that these will pass down after ingestion.
However, you must check that the substrates do not have any artificial coatings, dyes, or colors. Also, the substrate should be smooth and easy to clean.
If you want to go for sands, I’ll recommend the Carib Sea Super Naturals Crystal River Sands. Besides, for gravel, the Carib Sea Peace River Gravel must be the best choice for your African clawed frogs.
Décor
To bring out a naturalistic vibe, you can put several tank accessories. In the list of décor, there are hideouts, plants, branches, logs, stones, pipes, hollow woods, etc.
Hiding spaces will help African clawed frogs take shelter or rest. Also, other accessories, including rocks and branches, will create a natural appearance at the bottom of the tank.
Water Quality: What Kind Of Water Do African Clawed Frogs Need?
As African clawed frogs are fully aquatic, you should take care of their water parameter. The experienced owners and researchers suggest keeping these frogs in distilled or spring water.
Also, tap water is strictly forbidden for African clawed frogs. That is because tap water contains a high level of chlorine.
But, you can use tap water after removing chlorine and other heavy metals. Keep in mind that your African clawed frogs are highly sensitive to metal ions and chlorine.
So, you can make the tap water safe by applying two methods. These are-
Keeping the water sit for 24 hours
Using dechlorination agents
Using aquarium starter bacteria additives
Let’s take a look at the following chart of required water parameters for African clawed frogs.
Optimal pH 6.5-7.8 Optimal KH 4-12 Optimal GH 5-20 Optimal Temperature 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit (20-25 degrees Celsius) Nitrate Less than 20 ppm Ammonia 1 ppm Nitrites 0 ppm
Do African Clawed frogs Need Filtration?
Being fully aquatic, African clawed frogs can not survive if the water condition is poor. On the other hand, these frogs produce ammonia naturally as wastages.
To keep the water parameter accurate, African clawed frogs need filtrations. The aquarium filters filter out the toxic particles from the water by biological filtrations.
In this process, the friendly bacteria colonies of the aquarium filter digest the produced wastages in the water.
If you keep an aquarium filter, you will not need to change the water frequently. However, you should choose filter carefully before buying.
Some aquarium filter makes too much noise and vibration. Hence, this may put your African-clawed frogs under stress.
Besides, make sure that the inlet slots of the filter are smaller than the legs of clawed frogs. Otherwise, the legs of your African frogs get stuck in those holes.
I recommend you zoo med canister filter for the tank of your African clawed frogs.
Can African Clawed Frogs Live Without A Filter?
Filtration is essential to keep the water clean for African clawed frogs. But, there is an alternative way to keep the water parameters right without any filtration.
Your African-clawed frogs can live without a filter if you change the water regularly. Every week, you should change about 20% of water. Also, you must change the water whenever you notice a higher level of nitrates, ammonia, etc.
If you want to change the water periodically, you can use water-change kits. Otherwise, you can change with a bucket or pot.
Tankmates For African Clawed Frogs
African clawed frogs are highly aggressive. If you want to keep several pets in an African-clawed frog’s tank, you should choose the tank mates carefully.
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Due to the aggressive temperament of African clawed frogs, you should choose slightly larger and semi-aggressive fish as tank mates.
You must not keep multiple male species of African clawed frogs together due to their rivalry. But, you can keep several female African clawed frogs with one male, African clawed frog.
Make sure that you are not keeping tadpoles or baby African clawed frogs with adult African clawed frogs. Besides, these frogs make wonderful cohabitation with betta fish.
On the other hand, small fish like guppies, mollies, etc, will not be good options as tank mates. That is because African clawed frogs can easily gobble them up. Moreover, large cichlids can nip your African clawed frogs.
Besides, you must not include dwarf shrimps, freshwater snails, small fish in the choice list of tank mates.
Sometimes, many owners think of keeping African clawed frogs with African dwarf frogs. Although African dwarf frogs are cousins of these frogs, they are peaceful. Hence, African dwarf frogs will not be compatible with African clawed frogs.
Can African Clawed Frogs Be Kept Alone?
African clawed frogs can not cohabit with all types of animals. The temperament of these frogs is immensely aggressive and outrageous.
Because of their vulgar nature, African clawed frogs can be kept alone. Otherwise, there are high risks of fighting between an African-clawed frog and its tank mate. Moreover, your African-clawed frog might kill the other tank mates.
So, if you want to keep their tank mates, you can keep their species as tank mates. Otherwise, it will be better to keep these aggressive frogs alone.
Can African Clawed Frogs Live With Fish?
African clawed frogs can share their tank with fish. But, not all fish are suitable tank mates for them.
Firstly, the fish has to survive in the same water parameters. Besides, the fish must not be super aggressive. Semi-aggressive fish can coexist well with African clawed frogs.
However, make sure that the size of the fish is almost the same as your African clawed frogs.
Handling: Can You Touch African Clawed Frogs?
African clawed frogs are not the types of pets to be cuddled or handled. These frogs do not prefer handling or touches. You should not touch or hold your pet African clawed frogs.
Their skin is pretty sensitive to chemicals and toxins which can be passed by your hands. Moreover, there are risks of spreading salmonella bacteria from these frogs to the owners due to handling.
Besides, you must be well aware that African clawed frogs are fully aquatic. So, if you keep them outside of water for more than 15 minutes, these frogs will die. Hence, the experienced owners do not encourage to touch or hold these African clawed frogs.
Feeding: What Can I Feed My African Clawed Frogs?
For beginners, it is a serious concern to decide what types of food should be fed to their pets. Also, you should know the right quantity to feed your frogs. Undoubtedly, if you want to take the best care of your African clawed frogs, you must have a proper idea of their feeding guide.
Hearing about the omnivorous diet of African dwarf frogs, you might have mistaken assuming the same diet for African clawed frogs. If you are interested to know the details of the African dwarf frog diet, you can click here.
Although African clawed frogs are basically carnivores, these frogs have a great appetite. Moreover, being cannibals, sometimes African clawed frogs kill and eat their species.
So, these frogs eat up other animals or meats of fish, worms, shrimps, etc. In the list of African clawed frogs’ diet, there include feeder fish, larvae, brine shrimp, bloodworms, waxworms, crickets, tadpoles, earthworms, small guppies, small crustaceans, snails, etc.
Moreover, these frogs eat both living and dead prey. As African clawed frogs are scavengers, these frogs eat up organic wastages, dying or dead arthropods, and so on.
In short, African clawed frogs gobble up anything that fits in their mouth. Also, your pet-clawed frogs enjoy dog foods and cat foods too. Do not forget to give them supplementation as well.
However, if you are looking for buying pallets for African clawed frogs, I will recommend omega one frog and tadpole food.
Besides, you must have appropriate knowledge of their staple foods and occasional foods.
How Often Should African Clawed Frogs Eat?
It depends on the size and age of your pet African clawed frogs.
You should feed your pet African clawed frogs twice a day if your frog is still a baby. Otherwise, it will be enough to feed an adult African clawed frog every other day. Besides, you can give them the highest three minutes to eat as much as they can.
If your pet frog is skinny and weak, you should feed your frog more often. However, African clawed frogs survive up to 3-5 days without eating anything.
African Clawed Frog Care In Reproduction Phase
The care reproduction phase includes mating, breeding, fertilizing eggs, and hatching tadpoles.
An African clawed reaches its sexual maturity at the age of 10-12 months. Naturally, the early spring to late summer is the mating season for these frogs. So, you should remain careful, especially during this season.
In this period, you should increase the temperature of the water a bit. So, set the temperature at 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit. Besides, you should keep the aquarium lights off.
If the temperature and water condition are accurate, the female African clawed frogs lay eggs up to 200 eggs. The very first thing to ensure is creating a no disturbance zone. It will help fasten the breeding time. Generally, it takes 2-4 days to hatch the eggs. Besides, the water temperature should be around 80-82 degrees Fahrenheit.
As African clawed frogs have fame for their cannibalistic nature, you must separate the eggs and tadpoles from them. That is because these frogs tend to eat up their eggs and also baby African clawed frogs.
So, when the eggs are laid, you must separate the adult African clawed frogs. By providing proper diet and facilities, you can raise tadpoles to adult African clawed frogs.
You might get a detailed idea of African clawed frog tadpole care from African dwarf frog eggs and baby care. As both of these frogs are cousins, the eggs care guide will be almost the same.
Maintenance Of African Clawed Frogs
Proper maintenance is a vital part of the African clawed frog. Here are some tips that you should follow to ensure a healthy environment in captivity. These are-
Check the filter, thermometer, heater, and other equipment of the African clawed frog tank regularly. If you notice any unusual thing, you should take necessary actions immediately.
Make sure to wash your hands with warm soapy water before handling your pet African clawed frog. The same thing goes for after touching your pet frog. You can also use gloves.
You can keep an automatic timer to check the day and night cycle of the aquarium lights.
Most importantly, you must rinse the filter every 15 days. In case you do not use filters, do not forget to change the water.
Also, you should ensure that the tank lid becomes fit over the tank. Otherwise, your pet frog might jump over the tank.
Lastly, you must clean and sanitize the African-clawed frog tank regularly.
Moreover, you should monitor your African clawed frogs carefully. If your pet frog shows any signs of sickness, you must seek professional help from a reptile vet.
Final Words
African clawed frogs are very easy to care for. I hope this article helped you get enlightened about the full details of African clawed frog care. These are some basic information of a varied array of frog maintenance. You will be able to take care of your frog better when you get enlightened more about this.
Do african clawed frogs need an air pump? Explained by FAQ Blog
Do african clawed frogs need an air pump?
Last Update: May 30, 2022
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
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Frogs have lungs and breathe air from above the water, so they don’t absolutely need aeration in the tank. A standard aquarium air pump and an air stone will help make your frogs healthier and happier, though.
Do African clawed frogs need air?
African clawed frogs mostly breathe via their sophisticated lungs. They rarely do so through cutaneous respiration, which involves breathing by way of the skin. When these frogs are in situations of minimal oxygen, they breathe by taking air in from the top of the water, courtesy of their lungs.
Do African clawed frogs need a heater?
Heat. A heat source usually isn’t required for African clawed frogs, as they do well at room temperature. Use an aquarium thermometer to make sure the tank stays at around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius).
Can African dwarf frogs live without a filter?
You can keep your frogs’ water clean by using a filter; however, with sufficient diligence, it’s possible to keep the water clean through periodic water changes. …
Can you take African dwarf frogs out of water?
Like other frogs, African Dwarf Frogs are amphibians, but unlike many amphibians, they spend their entire lives in water. They must come to the surface to breathe but spend most of the time underwater. … African Dwarf Frogs should not be taken out of water since they cannot tolerate dry conditions.
Air pumps/bubble walls: necessary?
Hello Afr…The bubbles will add a bit of oxygen to the tank water and remove roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide . This is good for the fish and not so good for the plants . Some like bubble effect. If you want to put something like this in the tank, then go for it.A 10 gallon tank would be a challenge for anyone to keep clean. The water chemistry in such a small tank tends to change drastically in a short time, making things hard on whatever is living in it. Keeping the tank water free of dissolved wastes is a must.Good luck.Old
Is an air pump and air stone nesseary for a aquarium with frogs in it?
Airstones don’t produce as much oxygen into the water as you think. Oxygen gets dissolved into the water through surface agitation, so unless the airstone is really powerful, it doesn’t make much of a difference.
Filters are good for getting oxygen into the water, so are powerheads.
Frogs require a lot of oxygen so it would be in the best interest of the frog to get more oxygen if enough isn’t being supplied.
Do African clawed frogs need an air pump? – Idairco.com
Do African clawed frogs need an air pump?
Frogs have lungs and breathe air from above the water, so they don’t absolutely need aeration in the tank. A standard aquarium air pump and an air stone will help make your frogs healthier and happier, though.
Is Melafix safe for African clawed frogs?
What dosage is safe for African Clawed frogs? Some websites say to never treat them with Melafix or Pimafix and other websites say it is perfectly fine.
Is Melafix safe for tree frogs?
Melafix is for bacterial infections in fish, not for frogs.
How do you use Melafix for frogs?
Dip a toothpick into the Melafix and mix it into the container, that’s all you need. Let froggy man sit in there for about 10-15 mins. Completely rinse him before putting him back in the enclosure. I recommend a second soak in normal water.
Why is my African dwarf frog hanging around the top of the tank?
They’re Hanging Around at the Top of the Tank African Dwarf Frogs have to swim up to the surface to breathe air. They also like to explore, and if they can get out of the tank, they will. This is normal. What isn’t normal, however, is if they seem to want out all the time.
Where did the African dwarf frog come from?
Two ways of spotting the difference are, if they are albino then they are not a dwarf species, also the dwarfs will have smaller eyes compared to the clawed frogs. They originally came from the Congo region in Africa, but unfortunately due to land clearing and the change in the eco system it is thought that they may have become extinct in the wild.
What should I do if my African dwarf frog gets injured?
If handled incorrectly or if incorrect décor is in the tank, the frogs will be injured. Wounds should heal themselves if the injured frog is placed in a hospital tank and the water quality is high, avoiding the injuries in the first place is the best prevention.
Why does my African dwarf frog have pale skin?
Its Skin Is Turning Pale Sometimes African Dwarf Frogs will give the illusion that they have grown pale, but a day later their dead skin will shed and their darker skin will be back, brand new. However, if your frog remains pale after a full day and they’re not shedding it off, then something is very wrong.
Are there African clawed frogs in South Africa?
Reports of large groups of African clawed frogs in South Africa has led to clogging up irrigation pipes, fish farm invasions, and invading random houses. On the other hand, some species of these frogs were proven to significantly decrease the populations of Buro boreas, commonly known as the Western Toad.
What are the signs of an African clawed frog infection?
Bacterial infections are often marked by cloudy eyes and redness or sores on the skin. The signs of a serious fungal infection include white growth that resembles cotton on the skin, as well as discolored eyes.
What kind of frog has eyes on the top of its head?
African clawed frogs are sometimes confused with dwarf clawed frogs. The African clawed frog has eyes on the top of its head, while the dwarf frog’s eyes are on the side of its head.
How big of an aquarium do I need for an African clawed frog?
Due to their hardiness and relative ease of care, they make good pets for first-time frog keepers. A 10-gallon aquarium is considered the minimum appropriate size for one African clawed frog. While African clawed frogs don’t need a land area, the water should only be about 12 inches deep for the frogs to easily reach the surface to breathe oxygen.
A Guide to Caring for African Clawed Frogs as Pets
African clawed frogs get their name from the three claws on their hind feet, which are used to tear apart food. These aquatic frogs, which are found mainly in ponds and rivers throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, have become popular pets in large part because they’re easy to care for and live a long time. They can be quite enjoyable for owners to watch, and a proper tank setup for them is fairly simple to accomplish. African clawed frogs are sometimes confused with dwarf clawed frogs. However, the African clawed frog has eyes on the top of its head while the dwarf frog’s eyes are on the sides of its head. Moreover, African clawed frogs have flat snouts while dwarf frogs have pointed snouts. And African clawed frogs have webbed back feet and digits on their front feet (similar to hands) while dwarf frogs have four webbed feet.
Species Overview Common Names: African clawed frog, African claw-toed frog Scientific Name: Xenopus laevis Adult Size: 2 to 5 inches long with females larger than males Life Expectancy: About 15 years
African Clawed Frog Behavior and Temperament
In the wild, African clawed frogs are considered an invasive species on four continents. They are hardy predators, with some even able to survive cold weather other frogs could not. Plus, they can adapt to a variety of food sources and are even known to eat the young of other frogs.
African clawed frogs can be fun pets to watch, but they’re not meant for handling. As aquatic frogs, their skin dries out quickly when they’re out of water. However, some African clawed frogs can learn to take food from their keeper’s hands, which can be a fun alternative to holding your pet. They do sometimes accidentally nibble on fingers, but this is not an issue because they lack teeth. Due to their hardiness and relative ease of care, they make good pets for first-time frog keepers.
Housing the African Clawed Frog
A 10-gallon aquarium is considered the minimum appropriate size for one African clawed frog. While African clawed frogs don’t need a land area, the water should only be 7 to 12 inches deep for the frogs to easily reach the surface to breathe oxygen. A secure lid is a must, as these frogs are adept at propelling themselves out of the water and escaping when given the chance.
The water must be dechlorinated using a product from a pet store designed to remove chlorine. Or it can sit out for at least 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate. Moreover, African clawed frogs are sensitive to the toxic effects of metal ions in the water, so ensure that the water you use does not come in contact with metal.
African clawed frogs have a sensory system that allows them to sense vibrations in the water. Thus, some experts believe using filters causes constant stress to the frogs, similar to a human constantly being exposed to noise from a jackhammer. However, some owners opt to use gentle filtration, which keeps the water a lot cleaner than going without a filter. If you don’t use filtration, change the water at least every week.
Heat
A heat source usually isn’t required for African clawed frogs, as they do well at room temperature. Use an aquarium thermometer to make sure the tank stays at around 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 27 degrees Celsius).
Light
African clawed frogs typically don’t need special UV lighting. Some people choose to provide indirect lighting or use a simple aquarium light to maintain a normal day-night cycle of around 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness each day.
Substrate
Substrate is the material that lines the bottom of your frog’s aquarium. It can help to mimic the animal’s natural environment and anchor plants and other decor. A gravel substrate can be used. However, avoid small gravel; you don’t want your frog to ingest it. Use items, such as rocks, wood branches, and logs, to decorate the tank and provide hiding places. (Frogs with no place to hide can become stressed.) Live plants can also be added to the tank, though the frog might dig them up. Many people go the artificial route instead.
Food and Water
Many owners feed their African clawed frogs floating reptiles or amphibian sticks. While these sticks are typically well balanced, feeding a variety of foods is still a good idea. Items, such as waxworms, earthworms, feeder fish, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and freshwater snails are all good options. In addition, commercial food for clawed frogs can be purchased from some companies. As long as you provide a good balance, supplementation with vitamins and minerals is usually not necessary.
In general, overfeeding is more of a problem than underfeeding. Feed daily, and keep an eye on the body shape of your frog. If it seems to be overweight, cut back your feedings to once every other day. Also, consult your veterinarian on the proper amount to feed.
Common Health and Behavior Problems
African clawed frogs are prone to bacterial and fungal infections. They can also get dropsy, or severe bloat. Bacterial infections are often marked by cloudy eyes and redness or sores on the skin. The signs of a serious fungal infection include white growth that resembles cotton on the skin, as well as discolored eyes.
Moreover, like most aquatic frogs in captivity, African clawed frogs are prone to red-leg disease. This is a parasitic infestation that gets its name from an early symptom of reddened legs. This condition is easily confirmed and treated by a veterinarian.
Disease is often due to poor water quality in the tank. If you’re concerned that your frog is unwell, don’t try to treat it with a home remedy. Always consult a qualified veterinarian for advice.
The Spruce / Kaley McKean
Choosing Your African Clawed Frog
It’s best to select a captive-bred frog from a reputable breeder or rescue organization. The group should be able to tell you the animal’s origin and health history. Expect to pay around $20 to $30. Healthy frogs are active swimmers that hide frequently and have clear eyes and smooth skin. Be wary of a lethargic frog that doesn’t readily accept food when it’s offered, as such an animal is likely sick.
Similar Species to the African Clawed Frog
If you’re interested in similar pets, check out:
Otherwise, check out other types of reptiles and amphibians that can be your new pet.
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