African Dwarf Frogs are quite interesting pets. They are small, aquatic, and quite funny when they wish to be. African Dwarf Frogs are also easy to keep. If you have luck with them that is.
To start with, you might want to do your research on them. I luckily had someone to help me through the process because I am not too good on research. Research their background, habits, how they eat, what they eat, and their habits. Make sure to get it from a reliable source too. Pet store sites are good sources.
Make sure you know the difference between African Dwarf Frogs and African Clawed Frogs also. If you get a Dwarf Frog then you will be ok. The biggest African Dwarf Frogs do not grow to be any bigger than two or three inches. African Clawed Frogs can grow up to about four or plus inches in males and five or plus inches in females. This is big enough to eat all your small fish in your tank so be careful!
Now you have to make sure you get everything for your incoming frog. A single frog needs roughly a gallon to a gallon and a half of water to itself. So when getting more frogs, remember to ratio the water just right. Also, remember to have a conditioner for your water if you have city or town water. Aquatic frogs are like fish, they cannot have chlorine in their water. Do not forget to test your water for other things like Ph, nitrates and the like. Keep your water temperature in check also. Do not let it fall much past 75 degrees or you may have a problem.
Next, think about the tank. African Dwarf frogs like to hide and dig, so create an environment that is suitable for this. The tank should not be too tall if you can help it because it will take more effort for them to get air. Terra cotta pots are perfect for this. You can even use the terra cotta plates as dishes for the frog food. Live plants are good for the tanks too but just do not be carried away with them. The lid should fit securely too on the tank. These frogs like to climb, and have been known to get out of tanks. Escaped frogs, in the end, ends up shriveled like jerky somewhere on the floor. Filtration should be used if you do not wish to change the tank frequently. Use a filter that won’t disturb the water much but make sure it does clean the tank.
If you are wondering about companions for your frogs know this, they like companionship of their own kind. For more entertainment, try groups of three or more frogs. However, you can also keep other fish in the tanks such as algae eaters and other bottom feeders. Regular tropical fish can be aggressive but not always. You just have to try them out with your frogs and watch them carefully. No Goldfish. Goldfish require colder temperatures than that of an African Dwarf Frog so you may have croaked Frogs (no pun intended) if you put them in with goldfish.
Some people say not to put a betta in with your frog and others say its ok. Well, I have an African Dwarf Frog in with my betta and she is doing just fine. Her name’s Neville but that was before I knew it was a she. It all depends on the betta really. Sometimes they will ignore each other, other times they will attack. Mariel (my betta) and Neville actually sorta play and neither of them have harmed the other so it is ok.
When feeding your frogs you have to remember to keep their diet balanced. Bloodworms are ok on occasion but not all the time. They have little to no nutrients in them at all though they are a good treat and the frogs love to stalk these little morsels. I personally use HBH Frog and Tadpole bites. It is a formula for these types of frogs and mine has thrived on it. Brine shrimp and diced night crawlers are also good for these little frogs. Just make sure they are on a terra cotta saucer so your frog cannot accidentally eat a stone. That would be very bad.
Overall, the African Dwarf frog is an easy pet to take care of. They are fun to watch and care for. Hopefully this information has actually got you thinking about getting one of your very own. Save the Frogs! (And the bettas too, they deserve a good home.)
