African dwarf frogs are tiny, fully aquatic amphibians that bring big personality to small aquariums. Although these unique and fascinating creatures have made their way into the common pet trade over the past 40 years, they are still less commonly known than bullfrogs, treefrogs and toads. When people hear the word frog, they picture a giant green frog with bulgy eyes hopping through the grass. Or perhaps perched upon a tree branch croaking at the edge of a stream. That was how I pictured frogs before I was introduced to African dwarf frogs for the first time and started raising them five years ago.
African dwarf frogs were first discovered in rivers, streams, puddles, and shallow ponds in various regions throughout Central Africa in the late 19th century. They are members of the Hymenochirus genus of aquatic frog species and are easily confused in appearance with the other frog species in their group, the African clawed frogs. Despite their shared origin, they’re not the same as African clawed frogs. Dwarf frogs stay small, maxing out around 2.5 in (6 cm), and have webbed feet and pointed snouts.
There are several distinct features that make it easy to identify male and female African dwarf frogs.
Key Differences Between Male and Female African Dwarf Frogs
- Size: Male African dwarf frogs are typically smaller in size as they mature.
- Body Shape: Females are typically larger in size with pear-shape bodies as they mature.
- Post-Axillary Subdermal Glands: Male African dwarf frogs develop small glands behind their front legs called post-axillary subdermal glands.
- "Buzzing" Sound: Male African dwarf frogs “buzz” quite loud when they are excited or trying to attract their mates. Females aren’t known to buzz.
- Tails: Females develop longer tails. Males have a small tail.
Detailed Look at Identifying Features
Post Axillary Subdermal Gland - small glad behind each armpit, can be whiteish or pinkish in color.
Male African Dwarf Frog with Post Axillary Subdermal Gland
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
When the males buzz, it is typically at night when they are most active. African dwarf frogs are nocturnal.
Breeding Behavior
When conditions are right a male will start to call out for a female. During breeding season, males sing to attract females with a low humming noise. Males will reach sexual maturity at 9 months old. They will sing to attract a female. When a female is ready to mate, she will rapidly swim to the surface of the water doing a series of summersaults right above her legs.
She will rapidly swim to the surface of the water doing a series of summersaults at the surface and scatter them around while the male fertlizes them on the outside of her body. bursts over a time period of 30 minutes to a few hours. The role this gland plays in mating is not well understood. The male climbs on her back. It will look like he has killed her, but no need to worry, she is in a resting phase. The male stays on her back. It will look like he has killed her, but no need to worry, she is in a resting phase. The male stays on her back. He will lean onto her until the process is done, then they will swim away and return to normal behavior.
African Dwarf Frog Breeding/Eggs
General Care for African Dwarf Frogs
As with all herps, maintaining a proper living environment for your African dwarf frog is key to preventing stress, disease and a shortened life.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
Aquarium Setup
The size of your aquarium will depend on how many African dwarf frogs you would like to raise. Since they are very small frogs and only grow to a maximum of 3 inches, a 2.5-gallon aquarium is recommended for housing one African dwarf frog. A 5-gallon aquarium is recommended for housing two, and a 10- to 20-gallon aquarium is recommended for more than two. Although African dwarf frogs are fully aquatic, they have lungs and need to rise to the surface of the water frequently for air. Their webbed feet make it difficult for them to swim in deep water. Avoid placing them in aquariums that are more than 12 inches deep.
Maintain water temperatures between 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit. The water should be similar temperatures to the African dwarf frog’s native habitat in Africa. Maintain PH levels between 6.5 - 7.8. Use large aquarium gravel to cover the bottom of the tank. Gravel comes in different sizes and colors. If the grains are too small, the frogs can accidentally consume it and have a difficult time digesting it. This could lead to impaction and can be fatal. Sand is another option for substrate. It is recommended that a substrate be used in any aquarium, but some African dwarf frog keepers opt out of using substrate in fear of their frogs consuming it.
Always secure the aquarium with a lid. African dwarf frogs spend their whole lives underwater and are not capable of surviving on dry land for more than 15-20 minutes. If they escape, their skin will dry out and they will not survive. Be mindful that African dwarf frogs require oxygen at the water’s surface, so it is best to use a screen lid. Avoid the use of large filters. African dwarf frogs are very sensitive to noise and they don’t have ears. They use the lateral lines on their bodies to sense vibrations. Large filters can induce stress and sickness. These frogs also prefer motionless water, so make sure the filters don’t cause strong water currents in the aquarium. An under-gravel filter is recommended. Always check with an aquarium specialist online or in store if you are uncertain. Provide 10-12 hours of aquarium lighting daily. African dwarf frogs are nocturnal and require a regular day and night cycle. They don’t need UVB lighting like many reptile and amphibian species do. A basic LED hood light is sufficient. Avoid placing the aquarium in a room without windows. Use filtered water in the aquarium. Raw water contains harmful chemicals such as chloramine and fluoride that can be toxic to all aquatic species. If you use tap water, be sure to treat it with anti-bacterial supplements and water conditioners prior to placing the African dwarf frog back in. Avoid the use of soap to clean the aquariums. Perform water changes bi-weekly. It is best to change at least 10-25% of the water every 2-4 weeks. If a filter is not being used, then it is best to change the water at least once a week. Frogs shed and can be messy eaters. Avoid performing full water changes. Avoid aquarium décor that is sharp and toxic. African dwarf frogs are hunted in the wild and require places where they can hide out in such as caves or logs. African dwarf frogs do well with artificial or real plants, but plants with sharp edges can tear at the frog’s skin. Some wood décor can contain harmful toxins that increase PH levels in the water.
Diet and Feeding
African dwarf frogs eat a varied diet in captivity. Offer high-quality food like frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp or sinking frog pellets. An African dwarf frog’s diet should contain a high protein and well-balanced selection of food consisting of specialized aquatic frog sinking pellets, freeze dried bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, and live blackworms. Because they can’t see well, feeding requires patience. Use feeding tongs or place food near them to ensure they eat enough. African dwarf frogs have poor vision and rely on their sense of smell and touch to eat. They can be fed off a ceramic terra cotta plate inside the aquarium, or hand fed from a pair of tweezers. Since their vision is very poor, their food should be dropped in front of them so they can use their senses to find it quicker. It is best to feed them in the evening as this is when they hunt for food in their native habitats. Their stomachs are tiny, so feeding them once a day or every other day is best for their digestion. Any leftover food in the aquarium should be scooped out as soon as possible to prevent the water from getting dirty. When selecting food, be sure to read the labels on the containers prior to purchasing them. They should be aquatic frog specific and contain at least 40-50 percent protein. These adult frogs aren't fast eaters.
Tank Mates
Choose nonaggressive fish like guppies or tetras as good tank mates. African dwarf frogs may be peaceful and non-aggressive frogs, but not all freshwater species feel the same way about them. When housing African dwarf frogs with their tankmates, be sure that the aquarium is not overcrowded and there is enough swimming space for them to thrive peacefully. Adequate space will help maintain a stress-free living environment. Although these tankmates are the most compatible with African dwarf frogs, Betta fish can become aggressive and territorial if they lack swimming space and feel threated by their tankmates. Always check with an aquatic specialist online or in store if you are uncertain.
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
Shedding
Two African dwarf frogs. African dwarf frogs typically shed their skin two to three times a month. Before they shed their skin, their bodies will appear whitish. African dwarf frogs shed their skin for various reasons. The main reason is because of their natural growing process. If you see them eating their shed afterwards, this just means that they are consuming the leftover nutrients they lost during the shed. It is perfectly normal, so the shed can be left in the tank. They can shed for unhealthy reasons also, which could be due to fungal infections, poor water quality or drastic changes to water parameters. If they are shedding more than a few times a month, there could be a water quality issue going on. Healthy shed should appear white and come off almost entirely in one piece. Unhealthy shed will appear discolored and come off in little flakes. Sometimes the frogs will struggle to get the unhealthy shed off. Another sign of unhealthy shedding is if the frog’s skin doesn’t return to its natural dark shade once the shed comes off.
Health and Lifespan
With proper care, African dwarf frogs can live between five and 10 years in captivity. The average lifespan for African dwarf frogs is about 5 years, though some live longer with good care. African dwarf frogs can be seen floating around at the top of the water periodically with their arms and legs stretched out. Rest assure that this is just their way of being lazy and is perfectly normal behavior. This is called, the Zen Position.
Potential Health Risks
African dwarf frogs can carry diseases on their bodies such as Salmonella, which can be transmitted to humans if they are handled in an unsafe manner. Although they are very friendly and make great pets, children especially should be supervised while interacting with African dwarf frogs.
Ideal African Dwarf Frog Habitat
