What kind of aquatic frog do i have

These frogs need to have dimly lit areas in their aquarium so they are not in bright light all the time. Small sections 1 inch diameter PVC pipes are simple caves but not particularly pleasing to see. You may also use submerged logs, caves of stone, or aquarium-safe decoractions to provide these hiding places. Live plants such as Elodea or other plants used in tropical freshwater aquarium are nice additions but you need to be sure to provide enough light to sustain the plants' health, typically a 12 hr photoperiod.

Plants are nice because the frogs will often rest on portions of the plant near the surface of the water. Be sure not to confuse African Dwarf Frogs Hymenochirus spp. The latter grow much larger and require a species-only aquarium due to their predatory nature.

To tell the difference: African Dwarf Frogs have four webbed feet, whereas African Clawed Frogs have webbed hind feet and autonomous digits on the front feet. Furthermore, the eyes of the African Dwarf Frog are positioned on the sides of the head, and those of the African Clawed Frog are set on the top of the head. Finally, the snouts of African Dwarf Frogs are pointed, and those of the African Clawed Frogs are flat and more gently curved. The most obvious difference is that most captive Xenopus are albinos, whereas even the blonde form of Hymenochirus is always dark eyed and never as pale.

May also be seen as Congo frog or online by the acronym ADF. Feeding Carnivorous. If fish are present in the same aquarium, the frogs may need target feeding. Breeding African Dwarf Frogs mate in what is known as amplexus Latin for 'embrace'. This is a type of direct contact mating behaviour exhibited by some externally fertilising species, including amphibians. The male African Dwarf Frog grasps the female's abdomen just in front of her hind legs using his front legs, and at the same time, or with a little delay, he fertilises the eggs as the female releases them.

They have special sensory lateral lines along their body that sense movement and vibrations. Males and females show slight differences. Females are generally a bit bigger with a more distinct genital region, known as the ovipositor.

Males, on the other hand, have a small visible gland behind each front leg. The exact function of this gland is still not well understood however the common belief is that it has something to do with mating. They are found in tropical forests, within the freshwaters of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, all the way to the Congo River Basin.

Here the environment is rather humid and warm. Light is really important; they are nocturnal animals and are used to a hour cycle of light and darkness. As with all the fish, it is best to set up the tank and create the right environment before purchasing the frog.

As already mentioned, light is quite important. These frogs are used to regular periods of light and dark, so set up your lights on a timer to ensure the lights are on a hour cycle. These are the idea water parameters for your tank:. For substrate you can use either sand or gravel. If you are purchasing gravel, make sure that the grains are large enough for the frog to not swallow them. Even though frogs breathe normal air, you might want to consider buying an air pump or air stone to keep the water quality optimal, and bad anaerobic bacteria away from your tank.

However, they are quite sensitive to noise and vibrations so if you include a pump, you can isolate it from the tank glass to avoid this problem. For these reasons, you might also want to consider adding a layer of insulation, such as Styrofoam or a piece of carpet, between the tank and the stand.

These Frogs also appreciate live plants. You can either put floating plants in, such as Hornwort or other rooted plants such as Java Fern. If you choose rooted plants, make sure you cover the roots of the plants as your frog might dig them out.

Finally, you will need to add plenty of hiding spaces around the tank, these animals are naturally preyed upon so they will feel safer with places to hideaway.

You can create hiding spaces using plants, rocks, and pieces of driftwood. Most people start with a gallon tank, which is big enough to host a small community of frogs.

You can also use a gallon tank but, make sure the water is not too deep so your frogs can easily swim up for air. They are perfect for communal tropical freshwater tanks. Ideal tank mates include small peaceful fish such as livebearers guppies , mollies , and platies , as well as Corydoras , Danios, schooling tetras such as neon tetra , the Serpae Tetra, and the rummy nose tetra.

Also, if you are looking for other companions, the Cherry, Ghost, and the Bamboo shrimp , along with species of snails, can be a good addition too. Large aggressive fish such as cichlids are to be avoided.

They will stress the frogs out and likely prey on them. The answer is yes, you can keep these two together with caution. It really comes down to the individual temperament of your betta. Some Bettas are really aggressive whereas others will not bother a frog. If the Betta is aggressive, it could bully your frog and eventually kill it, so if you decide to add both to a tank, watch them carefully to make sure they are compatible. These frogs are best kept in a small community.

They are quite social and best kept in small groups of at least 2 or 3 per tank. Even though African Dwarf Frogs are considered omnivores, they prefer a meaty diet. Try to keep a varied diet to make sure they receive all the nutrients needed for a healthy frog.

There are plenty of pre-prepared foods available which should form the basis of their diet. These are usually pellet-based. You can also give your frog a variety of treats a few times a week, including a fish fry, mosquito larvae, bloodworms, brine shrimps, krill, and earthworms. As an extra tasty treat, feed them beef heart but only give this once a month as it is very fatty. As an adult, your frogs need to be fed once every two days. You should feed them small size bites and only feed them what they can easily eat in 15 minutes.

Do not overfeed them as this can lead to obesity and poor water quality which leads to stressed fish. If your frog is not eating well and being particularly fussy, you might need to use tweezers to feed them directly. Try to squeeze the food almost on their faces so they can see it and eat it. As an amphibian, your frogs might also be a danger to you. They are not venomous, but these amphibians can carry a lot of bacteria, usually on their skin or in their feces.

Salmonella is the most common bacteria found which is quite problematic for humans. If you need to handle them, use gloves and always wash your hands before and after handling. As they are rather sensitive, avoiding placing anything sharp such as gravel or decorations in the tank. Also, try to protect in and outlets so the frog cannot get stuck. One of the most common diseases is known as dropsy.

This condition is usually deadly and is the result of a mix of different conditions. Your frog will start to bloat showing sign of distress. The bottom of the tank should have a fine substrate like sand. Gravel works too, but the individual pieces need to be large enough to prevent your frogs from swallowing them. As for decorations, live plants are always best. Frogs can feed off the plants and use them to hide.

Just make sure that all of your plants are properly secured underneath the substrate. African Dwarf Frogs are notorious diggers that will dislodge your plants if given the opportunity. To complement the plants, add plenty of hiding spaces with rocks and wood. Anything too strong could cause problems for your frogs. African Dwarf Frogs are nocturnal, but they use that light to stay on a healthy time cycle.

Standard aquarium lights will do just fine. Technically speaking, African Dwarf Frogs are omnivores that can eat plant-based materials. However, they do best with meaty foods. To give your frog the best diet possible, offer a variety of different high-protein foods. This could include brine shrimp, fish fry, bloodworms , and even small earthworms. You can also give them a flavorful treat once a week! Frogs love fatty foods like beef heart, salmon, or tuna. Just make sure to reserve these foods to once a week treats.

With high-quality food, they do just fine eating three or four times a week. When you feed them, make sure to not give them too much food. You should only give them as much food as they can eat in one sitting. African Dwarf Frogs are passive eaters. So, if you leave behind food, it will only sit there and negatively impact the water quality. When you do feed them, consider doing so with a pair of long tweezers.

Make some noise to attract their attention and guide the food to them. As we mentioned, the frogs spend most of their time underwater. While they are aquatic by nature, they actually have a full set of developed lungs. If they feel threatened, these frogs will use their natural camouflage to hide from predators. Without any threats in their tank, you might see some quirky behavior.

The frogs are very docile by nature and work well with others. The only temperament issues you might encounter are with small fish. They might view the fish as food and try to eat them.