African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) are aquatic amphibians native to southern Africa, but they can also be found invasively in the United States, Chile, France, and many other countries. These frogs are quite hardy, making them a good choice for beginner-level pet amphibians.
African clawed frogs have smooth skin, a flat body, upward-oriented eyes, and claws on their webbed back feet. Notably, they lack a tongue or visible ear.
Enclosure
African Clawed Frogs are fully aquatic freshwater frogs. Meaning they require aquariums filled to the proper level needed for your filtration system. The minimum recommended aquarium size for a single African clawed frog is 20”L x 10”W x 10”H (10 gallons). Of course, larger is always better!
An important feature for African Clawed Frogs is a large space to allow them to bolt around their tank. It is key to not use small pebbles for substrate. African Clawed Frogs will consume them and become impacted, usually leading to death. I personally suggest placing a layer of Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum. This promotes plant growth and can be passed through the frog if ingested.
After placing around 2 inches of stratum on the bottom of the enclosure, you may add a piece of aquarium safe driftwood. I use these wood features as a base to my enclosure, typically going right down the middle. Then plant the tallest plants in the back corners (Of course keep the filter in mind, you do not want the filter sucking up the plants). And then place smaller and smaller plants into the center. This provides open space in the front for them to swim freely.
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A variety of live plants will add cover and good nutrients to your enclosure. Java Moss, Java Fern, and Hornwort have flourished in my enclosures with African Clawed Frogs. I then placed large pieces of natural slate over the stratum that was exposed. The goal is to cover as much substrate as possible, locking plants roots in, and providing a natural environment.
Be sure all stones are secure and will not move with a current. You may add other aquarium decor or driftwood once the base is complete!
Although substrate isn’t necessary to an African clawed frog aquarium, it’s good for making the enclosure more attractive. Because ingestion is a potential hazard, the best substrate for African clawed frogs is going to be fine-particled, clean sand, like Exo Terra Riverbed Sand. Use a siphon regularly to keep the sand clean.
A filtration system is needed for African Clawed frogs unless you pursue a bioactive aquarium. Picking the right filter requires personal research. I have had the best experiences with Tetra’s Whisper line of filters. If you are using a low flow aquarium filter, you can perform partial water changes every two weeks. If using tap water, water conditioner must be used. This removes harmful chemicals and makes the water safe for your amphibian.
An empty enclosure makes for a bored frog. African clawed frogs are surprisingly intelligent!
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Lighting
Although African clawed frogs are aquatic, they are still active during the day, and UVB wavelengths travel quite well through clear water. They are able to survive without it, but we still recommend providing appropriate UVB lighting as part of the setup. For best results, use a bulb about half the length of the enclosure and housed in a fixture with a reflector. We recommend lighting to be on 8-12 hours per day, depending on the time of year. You can do less hour on in the winter and more hours on in the summer.
Temperature
Like other amphibians, African clawed frogs are cold-blooded, which means that they rely on external temperatures to manage their own body temperature and metabolism. 65-75 degrees F (18-24 degrees C). A heat source is typically not needed for African Clawed Frogs because they thrive at room temperature. Usually this is room temperature, but if you need help keeping the water sufficiently warm, use an aquarium heater like the Zoo Med TurtleTherm.
Water Quality
Although African clawed frogs like stagnant water, that doesn’t mean they like dirty water. Dirty water will make your frog sick. We recommend changing the water every week, but it’s easier to use a low flow aquarium filter.
Feeding
Feeding Day: African Clawed Frogs
African clawed frogs are carnivorous, which means that they need to eat whole animal prey in order to get the right nutrition. These frogs will eat anything that fits in their mouth! This can include smaller tank mates. Ensure your frogs are relatively the same size when housed together. A juvenile African Clawed Frog should have around 4 live crickets, a pinch of blood worms, 3 small earthworms, or a combination every other day. 1-2 Small Comets or Rosies can be fed every 3 days.
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To feed live crickets, you may use tongs to place them underwater. Adult African Clawed Frogs can have a variety of feeds. A mixed diet of Comets, Rosies, feeder Goldfish, earthworms, crickets, and bloodworms help your frog thrive. With larger food like; Comets, Rosies, feeder goldfish, and large earthworms, I would feed 3-4 items twice a week. With smaller food including; Crickets and bloodworms, I would feed 10 crickets or 3 pinches of blood worms every other day. A diverse diet improves your frog’s health.
For example:
- Monday: 3 comets, and one earthworm
- Wednesday: 3 pinches of blood worms
- Friday: 2 Comets and 3 worms
- Sunday: Small snack of bloodworms
Regularly offer appropriate commercial diets like Tetra Reptomin as part of the rotation. Avoid live feeder goldfish and bloodworms (mosquito larvae) because they have been known to cause potential health problems. In general, overfeeding is more of a problem than underfeeding.
Social Behavior
We do not recommend cohabitating African clawed frogs, as this species is known to have cannibalistic tendencies. However, it can be done if you are familiar with the species, the frogs are about the same size, and you are prepared for what is necessary to keep more than one together.
How to Sex
Male African Clawed Frogs are usually smaller than females. They have a slim body and legs. They call out or “sing” for a female frog, which sounds like a cricket chirping underwater. They have no cloaca; a bump where the legs meet. When male frogs reach sexual maturity (around 10 months old), they have black nuptial pads on their forearms.
Female African Clawed Frogs have a pear-shaped body with chubby legs. They have a small bump in between their legs (cloaca) where eggs and waste pass. African Clawed Frogs are a species that females respond back to the male’s calls.
As explained above, African Clawed Frogs vary in size based on sex. An estimated length for an adult African Clawed Frog is 5 inches (12.7cm)
Health
Filtering your water and performing weekly maintenance can prevent some common health problems seen in clawed frogs. Recommended filters include power filters and biological sponge filters. Although there is much controversy regarding whether filters have ill effects on the frogs’ sensitive lateral-line system, many seem to believe that they do not.
Keepers have seen frogs swimming directly through the currents produced by filters and even sitting on air-stone bubbles seemingly unaffected. Weekly cleaning and maintenance can be achieved with a gravel vacuum to remove leftover food and waste debris from the bottom of the tank.
Given a proper diet and optimal water quality, Silurana species are normally quite resilient and long-lived. The best prevention for common health problems is to know your frogs’ normal behaviors. Inspect them daily, and look for any abnormalities, such as cloudy eyes, cottony tufts of fungus, excessive shedding or sloughing of the skin, abnormal abdomen or leg swelling, cuts or abrasions, abnormal swimming or buoyancy, and changes in feeding habits. Any of these signs might be an indication that your frog is not feeling well.
One such infection is chytridiomycosis. Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) is not only highly contagious, but it is also fatal in most cases. Another common infection comes from the anaerobic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila, which results in “red-leg.” This bacterial infection affects frogs with poor immune function due to stress, and it is also often fatal. A weekly regimen of Koizyme can be added to the tank to help prevent many bacterial infections common to clawed frogs.
Like with any animal, all new arrivals should be housed separately from your collection for at least seven days. Quarantining new frogs gives you the chance to notice any potential problems and to take note of a frog’s behavior. Feed and clean your established animals first, then take care of your new frogs.
Handling
We do not recommend handling your frog.
