If you’re thinking about getting into fish keeping, then the 10-gallon aquarium is the perfect size to dip your toes into the hobby. Not only is it large enough to allow you to keep a wide variety of fish, but it’s still small enough that any maintenance is quick and easy. But that doesn’t mean […]
African Dwarf Frog – The Care, Feeding and Breeding of African Dwarf Frogs
The popularity of African dwarf frogs has exploded in recent years, and where they could be difficult to find in the past, they can now be found in most pet stores and local fish stores. These frogs have proven to be especially popular with children, and can be found in many kid’s room, plotting their escape from tiny fish bowls.
In the wild, African dwarf frogs can be found in ponds and small streams throughout much of Africa. They normally inhabit the bottom water, using their unique coloration to blend in with the leaf litter and other detritus. Unlike many other frogs, African dwarf frogs will spend their entire lives submerged, usually only coming to the surface to take a quick breath of air or gobble down some food.
While African dwarf frogs are generally peaceful and easy to care for, a prospective owner should be sure that they are provided with a spacious aquarium and fed the proper foods. If proper care is taken, African dwarf frogs can live up to 10 years in a home aquarium.
Housing
African dwarf frogs are not demanding when it comes to housing, and they will be quite content in a 5 gallon aquarium. Since they are social animals, they should always be housed in a group of at least three frogs. The added benefit of having them in a group, is that they will exhibit more of their natural behaviors and are generally less stressed. And if they are exceptionally well taken care of in a group with males and females, they may even mate in the aquarium.
The most important thing to remember when picking an aquarium for African dwarf frogs, is that they are notorious jumpers. A tight fitting lid is essential, and if they are kept without a lid, it won’t be long before you see a frog quickly escaping across the floor. If an African dwarf frog is out of water for more than an hour, it usually proves fatal – so be sure to always cover the aquarium.
When it comes to filtration, a small HOB (Hang on back) filter or a sponge filter are ideal for African dwarf frogs. These frogs don’t do very well with a lot of current, so their aquarium shouldn’t be over filtered. When choosing a hang on back filter, I find that the AquaClear Power Filter
Feeding
The feeding of African dwarf frogs is the most difficult aspect of owning them. While many fish websites state that frog food, or shrimp pellets are readily accepted, the only foods that I find they reliably eat are frozen or live food.
The foods that I have had the most success with, are frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, blood worms. The most readily accepted live foods are mosquito larvae, daphnia, black worms (tubifex if you’re in Europe) and brine shrimp. You can always try dry foods, but I haven’t found one that all frogs will accept.
When feeding an African dwarf frog, it’s important to remember that they have poor eye sight and are generally passive when it comes to eating. To ensure that a frog is getting enough to eat – especially in a community fish tank, they should be fed with either a turkey baster, or with tongs. The easiest way I have found to do this is by training the frogs to equate light tapping on the glass with meal time. After a few days of doing this, they should come to the front of the tank each time you tap, and they can be fed individually with a turkey baster.
Compatibility
African dwarf frogs are compatible with nearly all peaceful community fish. This includes most algae eaters and bottom dwelling fish. They should never be housed with aggressive fish or most cichlids, as they will be harassed relentlessly. There are also unconfirmed reports of common plecos attacking African dwarf frogs, so plecos should be avoided if at all possible.
Another type of fish that should be avoided with African dwarf frogs, are fish with long flowing fins. Because of their poor eyesight, frogs will often mistake the long fins for food, and will latch on, only to be dragged around the aquarium. This will eventually result in torn fins for the fish – something that no fish owner wants.
I fed my frogs calves liver. Keep it frozen. whittle off some slivers, melt them in a shot glass of water for 10 minutes, and pour them into the tank. My frogs would eat the slivers from my fingers.
I’d be careful with that. I know copper is highly toxic to frogs, and calf’s liver contains a lot of copper. I don’t know if it’s in quantities high enough to make them sick, but it’s still something to think about.
This article helped me know about African Dwarf Frog.
I have a ten gallon fish tank is that big enough to support African dwarf frogs
That’s the perfect size for African dwarf frogs, and they’ll really thrive in a tank that size. Just make sure you cover the tank, or don’t fill it all the way to the top, or they may escape.
I have a black, white, blue and red crayfish ina 30 gallon tank. Put. Them in all at the same time with plenty of hiding places and are growing nicely and neighborly. The tapping works with the crayfish and the dwarf frog for food 🥘.
That’s great. It’s funny how food can motivate animals. 🙂
Great information, don’t know how I haven’t found this site before 👍🏻
I’m glad it was helpful for you, and I hope to see you around the site.
I have two platys, two neon tetras, two ghost shrimp, and a Mexican dwarf crayfish, would these do well with all of them?
I also have an American flagfish in the aquarium as well
There’s an excellent change they will eat the tetras, or at least do their very best to eat them. I’ve also never kept them with dwarf crayfish, but I think they should be alright. I don’t think either will prey on the other, but I’d keep a close eye on them for a while. That way, if something goes wrong you can do something about it.
how do you feed a frog with a turkey baser? do you put it in their mouth or just close to them? i always put the blood worms right next to them but i noticed they i have 2 dont eat it all so i have tgo sxiphen the left over food out they are also eating the fishes food there bellies look fool but they always seem to be looking for food, mating, sometimes slapping one another or hiding they mate all the time and sometimes io think the one on the bottom is getting bitten oir being hurt io wilkl go to break them up wsith a fish net but he donbt budged infacrt hed wilklk roll over with her with him is this natural.