commercial tadpole pellets <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nZoo Med makes a pellet-style food called “Aquatic Frog & Tadpole Food” that is filled with vitamins and minerals. I recommend using this in addition to some live foods. A diet consisting of a variety of quality sources is the best way to keep your pet frog happy and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breeding ADFs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n More often than not, ADFs will breed on their own, without manipulating their captive environment. In rare cases, however, ‘cycling’ might be required to get your frogs to breed. Should this be the case, I wrote a small guide for doing this, in the breeding section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sexing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first step in breeding African Dwarf Frogs is ensuring you have both male and female. To do this, examine your frogs for the following characteristics. Male ADFs are smaller than females, in length and bulk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, they have a white or pinkish gland just behind their armpits. Last but not least, males call out to attract females. Females, on the other hand, are slightly larger in length and overall size. They’re often described as “chubby” in comparison to the more slender males.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n For some keepers, their aquatic frogs breed with little or no help from them. It’s common to walk into the room only to find a bunch of eggs in the aquarium. For others, it’s not so simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sure-fire way to get your ADFs to breed is by ‘cycling’. Cycling refers to manually adjusting the water levels and temperatures to mimic the changing of seasons. This species mates during the springtime, when warm air and rainfall increase the water level and temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is how to adjust the water to get your African Dwarf Frogs to breed<\/strong>. Decrease the water level in the aquarium by 2 – 3 inches and allow the temperature to decrease to 65 – 68 degrees Fahrenheit. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf possible, decrease the daytime hours to 10 hours of light each day. Hold these conditions for 30 – 45 days. After that period of time, raise the water levels back to normal and increase the temperature to 78 degrees. Increase their day-time hours to 12 – 14 hours of light each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In most cases, the increase in water level and temperature will provoke your frogs to breed that night or the next day. Should you have any luck, you will find your dwarf frogs in the amplexus position; where the male grasps the female around the back as eggs pass through her cloaca; the eggs are fertilized, by the male, outside the body. Your frogs will remain in this position for 2 to 48 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the eggs are laid<\/strong>, I recommend removing them from their parent’s tank. Place the eggs in a separate container with clean, dechlorinated water with a temperature around 78 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTadpoles & Froglets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The eggs should hatch in 48 – 96 hours. After hatching, they might remain motionless for a day or two. Eventually, they will begin moving. You should begin feeding them at this point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most tadpoles do well with the following foods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boiled baby spinach leaves<\/li> Algae wafers<\/li> Tadpole pellets<\/li> Boiled leafy greens<\/li> Frozen bloodworm cubes<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nSome hobbyists have found success in using liquifry, which is meant for small egg-laying fish. At around 7 days, they will begin eating tiny, newly hatched brine shrimp. Continue feeding the tadpoles and performing partial water changes, being mindful not to spike the pH levels too drastically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will take around 60 days for the tadpoles to metamorphose into little froglets and then juvenile, fully formed frogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Handling African Dwarf Frogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n It probably goes without saying but you should avoid handling your ADF at all costs<\/strong>. Don’t be discouraged, though. Many keepers have been able to train their frogs to eat food from their hands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis, of course, requires you to stick your hand in the water which means you should definitely clean your hands before and after. But it’s still an option!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ultimate goal in this is to have small interactions between you and the frog while doing your best to keep chemicals out of their water. If you have soap residue on your hands, it will certainly come off in the water and might pose a problem for your pet(s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Wild<\/h2>\n\n\n\n African Dwarf Frogs, as their name suggests, are from Africa. They’re mostly found in the Congo river but they can be found in Gabon, the regions in between the two, and even as far north as parts of Cameroon. They spend their time in creeks, ponds, and other shallow bodies of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some species have a gray and black coloration while others are greener. Hymenochirus feae<\/i> can be darker in color, looking almost completely black. Because of their colors, they blend in with mud, twigs, and leaves resting at the bottom of streams and ponds.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This section will aim to answer some of the most common questions regarding ADFs and caring for them as pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How big do African dwarf frogs get?<\/strong> African dwarf frogs can get up to 2 inches in length. Females are bigger than males in both length and weight.<\/p> <\/div>
Where should I buy an African Dwarf Frog tank?<\/strong> If you want to buy an aquarium for keeping African Dwarf Frogs as pets, there are a few places you can go. You can buy them at pet stores, or online at websites like Amazon.<\/p> <\/div>
Are African Dwarf Frogs good Pets?<\/strong> African dwarf frogs are good pets for people who want a low-maintenance pet that is interesting to watch. These frogs do well in a community tank and can be kept with other small fish or invertebrates.<\/p> <\/div>
Why do African dwarf frogs sing?<\/strong> This usually occurs when a male is trying to attract a female companion. During the day they are usually quite silent, but as evening approaches they start making croaks which become louder and higher pitched.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n African Dwarf Frogs are some of the best frogs for beginning hobbyists. That’s because they’re hardy and fairly easy to care for. Performing regular, partial water changes to keep the water clean and feeding them every two to three days is usually enough to keep an ADF happy, assuming you’ve done a decent job creating their aquarium setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can find them in most pet stores in the aquarium section. Because aquariums are relatively cheap, and so are ADFs, it doesn’t break the bank to construct a decent habitat for these fully-aquatic frogs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Caring for African Dwarf Frogs is relatively easy; they’re the best aquatic frogs for beginners. Water quality and temperature, diet, and tank size are among…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9,7],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
African Dwarf Frog Care Sheet & Pet Guide - FrogPets<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n